Bent Spindle??
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Bent Spindle??
I found a problem today on my car. I have been working ona full body off restomod on my 81 after bouncing it off a palm tree, it toook the left front fender, front bumper and bent the lower control arm shaft. I redid all the suapension, straightned the shaft and have everything all back together. Then I noticed the left front wheel binds in the caliper, figured it was just pads and blew it off until I am about ready to be able to drive it out of the garage. Took the left front wheel off and pulled the pads out of the caliper and found that the outter half of the caliper drags on the outside of the rotor. It looks like the Vertical part of the spindle is bent in a bit above the spindle, but the spindle itself is straight.
Think I can just put it in the press she straighten it back out? Is there a place on the thing to use for a registration mark to know when I have it straight?
Think I can just put it in the press she straighten it back out? Is there a place on the thing to use for a registration mark to know when I have it straight?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
OK, I took both sides apart and took a couple measurements. Is this valid? I got exactly 1 5/8" on both sides. The part I thought was bent is the curve on the upper part. But this looks like it is the same on both sides.
Drivers side 1 5/8" exactly
Pass side, again 1 5/8" exactly
The Caliper brackets are idintical, I clamped them together back to back ans there might be a bit of variance, but it looks like they are very close.
Drivers side 1 5/8" exactly
Pass side, again 1 5/8" exactly
The Caliper brackets are idintical, I clamped them together back to back ans there might be a bit of variance, but it looks like they are very close.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Just get a replacement, any Corvette breaker should have a box of them. It isn't exactly a high-demand part, they rarely get bent.
Other possibilities: mis-manufactured rotor, bent caliper bracket, mis-machined caliper mounting holes.
Other possibilities: mis-manufactured rotor, bent caliper bracket, mis-machined caliper mounting holes.
Last edited by I'm Batman; Apr 20, 2008 at 08:59 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
OK, I am having a case of the stupids. I just put it all back together and Both sides are rubbing on the caliper casting. What the hell am I doing wrong here? The bracket mounts to the outside of the spindle at the top and the inside on the bottom right? Only way I can see it going together. The caliper goes on the outside of the bracket? I thought I put it back exactly like it was but now both sides rub, WTF?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Is this only on the side that was rubbing before disassembly (nothing swapped around)? ...and is the caliper square with the rotor? (keeping in mind lateral runout) The caliper bracket may be bent rather than the spindle, odd as it sounds.
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Apr 21, 2008 at 12:31 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,672
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
That's what I meant above. Calipers are obvious because of the bleeder. Rotors are much less obvious, especially with aftermarket ones.
If you measure the thickness of the flange where the wheel stud holes are, the front is 0.40 inches and the backs are 0.30 inches.
Ask how i know
If you measure the thickness of the flange where the wheel stud holes are, the front is 0.40 inches and the backs are 0.30 inches.
Ask how i know
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,293
Likes: 6
From: North of the Bay California
OK, I am having a case of the stupids. I just put it all back together and Both sides are rubbing on the caliper casting. What the hell am I doing wrong here? The bracket mounts to the outside of the spindle at the top and the inside on the bottom right? Only way I can see it going together. The caliper goes on the outside of the bracket? I thought I put it back exactly like it was but now both sides rub, WTF?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
That's what I meant above. Calipers are obvious because of the bleeder. Rotors are much less obvious, especially with aftermarket ones.
If you measure the thickness of the flange where the wheel stud holes are, the front is 0.40 inches and the backs are 0.30 inches.
Ask how i know
If you measure the thickness of the flange where the wheel stud holes are, the front is 0.40 inches and the backs are 0.30 inches.
Ask how i know
BTDT, don't ask.....
Danny, wonder if the brackets are correct r/l?? any chance they rong?? or maybe the calipers somehow??
I don't think i'ts possible, but if those spindles are that a way measuring like that, I can't see them bent either....wonder if the lower bracket hole near the knuckle is somehow bent??
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I eliminated the spindles with the measurements, both sides idintical. Then the brackets, again, both idintical. Placed them on drill press platform clamped down and measured several points along the edge and sama same. They will not go on there swapped, the bend at the top prevents that and if they would the CL difference would be 3/4" off.
Now I am thinking that I have the outter castings on the calipers swapped. I'll investigate that next week. This is a fukoff weekend, my son and his GF and annother couple are coming in and we are spending 4 days in a rented house on the beach in the keys.
I'll post when I figure it out tho. To get it back together I put in a 1/8" washers between the bracket and caliper, works for now but it will not get driven that way.
Now I am thinking that I have the outter castings on the calipers swapped. I'll investigate that next week. This is a fukoff weekend, my son and his GF and annother couple are coming in and we are spending 4 days in a rented house on the beach in the keys.
I'll post when I figure it out tho. To get it back together I put in a 1/8" washers between the bracket and caliper, works for now but it will not get driven that way.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,672
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Danny,
You are where I was about three weeks ago. I assume that your problem will be solved in the same way mine was; by swapping the rotors. This is especially tru because the 1/8 washer that allowed you to put it back together happens to be 0.125 inches. Almost exactly the difference between the front and back rotor backspacing difference.
Have fun in the Keys.
You are where I was about three weeks ago. I assume that your problem will be solved in the same way mine was; by swapping the rotors. This is especially tru because the 1/8 washer that allowed you to put it back together happens to be 0.125 inches. Almost exactly the difference between the front and back rotor backspacing difference.
Have fun in the Keys.
