71 Spindle Support Question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 6
From: Chesterfield Virginia
71 Spindle Support Question
Feedback really appreciated on this question. I know the 71 vets have a left and right rear spindle support on each trailing arm. I also know the shock support goes in one direction only with a flat area cut in one leg to position this support. Other than this easily visible difference, I can find nothing else different from left to right supports. I can overcome the shock mount difference very easily if they are switched from left to right. Laying them side by side, I see no other difference. My question is this, can you use a right on the left and a left on the right? I can hear it now, why would you want to do this? Long story, don't ask!
Norm
Norm
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Feedback really appreciated on this question. I know the 71 vets have a left and right rear spindle support on each trailing arm. I also know the shock support goes in one direction only with a flat area cut in one leg to position this support. Other than this easily visible difference, I can find nothing else different from left to right supports. I can overcome the shock mount difference very easily if they are switched from left to right. Laying them side by side, I see no other difference. My question is this, can you use a right on the left and a left on the right? I can hear it now, why would you want to do this? Long story, don't ask!
Norm
Norm
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Hmmm maybe I was too quick to say no.Gary are the castings the same right and left?Years ago I thought I noticed that the angle of the strut mount was different.In other words if you swapped sides it would be drasticly different at the strut mount.I dont have any seperate or I would compare-all mine have arms on them ready to go on the car.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 6
From: Chesterfield Virginia
Like I stated in my question, yes, the holes are different for the shock mounts. That can be corrected with some simple machine work on the shock mount bolt itself. My main concern is any other difference in the spindle supports that I may have missed. They both look the same to me.
Thanks,
Norm
Thanks,
Norm
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
I think I know what you want to do, but the end of each shock mount is knurled to fit tightly in the support. I have seen worn out mounts that would rotate with the shock movement. The tight fit is necessary to prevent rotation. Other than that, I think they are symmetrical.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 6
From: Chesterfield Virginia
I have a very tight fit so that should not be a problem. My main concern was something that may alter the geometry of each trailing arm and cause an alignment problem when this beast hits the road again. I have put a left and right on a flat surface and checked every angle possible and came up with no differences. It is always comforting to get a second opinion. I hate to pull all this apart and start over. Trailing arms are a pain in my butt.
Thanks for the all the info.
Norm
Thanks for the all the info.
Norm
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
I have a very tight fit so that should not be a problem. My main concern was something that may alter the geometry of each trailing arm and cause an alignment problem when this beast hits the road again. I have put a left and right on a flat surface and checked every angle possible and came up with no differences. It is always comforting to get a second opinion. I hate to pull all this apart and start over. Trailing arms are a pain in my butt.
Thanks for the all the info.
Norm
Thanks for the all the info.
Norm
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I have a very tight fit so that should not be a problem. My main concern was something that may alter the geometry of each trailing arm and cause an alignment problem when this beast hits the road again. I have put a left and right on a flat surface and checked every angle possible and came up with no differences. It is always comforting to get a second opinion. I hate to pull all this apart and start over. Trailing arms are a pain in my butt.
Thanks for the all the info.
Norm
Thanks for the all the info.
Norm
It looks like you could weld it up and remachine and turn a right into a left and vise versa.
The half a$$ way would be to flat the shock mount all the way to the shock end and remove the knurl.On the nut end fill the large hole with a bushing setup to take up the slop.The flat in the support will be doing all the anti rotation work.
Sorry I spit out a quick NO- I understood your question but truely thought the casting itself was different.Good Luck and let us know how it turns out it will be nice to know for sure after the car is aligned.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 6
From: Chesterfield Virginia
Thanks to all. You have put my mind at ease. Yes, I will certainly let you know how the alignment works out. The shock mount is a simple fix with some precision cutting and grinding. The adjustable strut rods hooked up with no problem.
Thanks again,
Norm
Thanks again,
Norm