Tweaked Spindle ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Tweaked Spindle ?
For the purpose of this question please presume you are going to use the spindle and not replace it. I may replace it.. but that's not the question. 
When cleaning and redoing my T/A's, I just noted my right rear spindle has a bit of a twist to it near the bottom of the splines. Kinda like the power was dumped in and the wheel had a good bite that day.
So... IF you were going to re-use that spindle.... would you put it back on the same side or put it back on the other side to reverse the torque / twist on it.?
-W
When cleaning and redoing my T/A's, I just noted my right rear spindle has a bit of a twist to it near the bottom of the splines. Kinda like the power was dumped in and the wheel had a good bite that day.
So... IF you were going to re-use that spindle.... would you put it back on the same side or put it back on the other side to reverse the torque / twist on it.?
-W
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,502
Likes: 138
From: Butler Pa
t's eventually going to break regardless of which side it's put back on so it doesn't really matter.
The yield strength has been exceeded (it's permanently deformed). Once this happens, the integrity of the material is greatly compromised.
If you insist on using it, put it back on the same side.
The yield strength has been exceeded (it's permanently deformed). Once this happens, the integrity of the material is greatly compromised.
If you insist on using it, put it back on the same side.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
For the purpose of this question please presume you are going to use the spindle and not replace it. I may replace it.. but that's not the question.
When cleaning and redoing my T/A's, I just noted my right rear spindle has a bit of a twist to it near the bottom of the splines. Kinda like the power was dumped in and the wheel had a good bite that day.
So... IF you were going to re-use that spindle.... would you put it back on the same side or put it back on the other side to reverse the torque / twist on it.?
-W
When cleaning and redoing my T/A's, I just noted my right rear spindle has a bit of a twist to it near the bottom of the splines. Kinda like the power was dumped in and the wheel had a good bite that day.
So... IF you were going to re-use that spindle.... would you put it back on the same side or put it back on the other side to reverse the torque / twist on it.?
-W
DON'T use it!!!!!! You know it's bad now, it's bad enough to have parts break when you didn't know something wrong now you want to use something you know is wrong!!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
When I replaced my trailing arms with units from Van Steel they examined my returns and found that one spindle was bent slightly. The new trailing arms cured what I thought was a constant imbalance but was in reality the bent spindle. I chased that problem for years with no success until I replaced the whole unit. It doesn't take much to mess up your ride. I would replace it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Hey.. don't give me a Bubba shirt yet. I never said I was going to use it. But based on my driving habbits.. I know it's been like that for at least 15 years if not 20-25. It's been a long time since I really beat on the car hard.
But I also know that the moment I dump power in, needing to go somewhere in a hurry, is the day the wheel will hook up solid and snap it.
-W
But I also know that the moment I dump power in, needing to go somewhere in a hurry, is the day the wheel will hook up solid and snap it.
-W
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Kansas
Not a bubba shirt question, not everyone is a Metalurgist. The axle is damaged and trying to straighten it will only weaken it more. If that axle breaks, it is possible for the wheel and tire to come out and rip off a fender. That would be bad.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
He is all set now. I had 2 good used spindles that I removed from my car that the splines are perfect. The threads on one are very good the other one the threads should be able to be cleaned up. They got slightly peened over when removing. I bought new ones figuring these were bad so I put the new ones in anyway. 
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
But yes... I tend to agree that IF it had been used - putting it back on the same side would have been better than trying to twist it back the other way.
-W
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Clams,
All I can say is there is no way I would run this on either side. The spindle has been stressed and regardless of which side the spindle is placed on failure is looming.
One thing that crossed my mind when reading this was the consideration of the spindle after it twisted. If the splines twist on a spindle, I highly doubt the spindle is running true.
Food for thought!
One other thing.. I did snap a spindle in a c2 one time dumping the clutch racing a car. I was lucky the half shaft just flopped around real hard a few times but if you dump one and hear this noise you'll get out of the gas pretty quick.
You really don't expect a spindle to twist or break in the rear suspension of the c2-c3 cars and in most cases the u-joint will break before the spindle.
Willcox
All I can say is there is no way I would run this on either side. The spindle has been stressed and regardless of which side the spindle is placed on failure is looming.
One thing that crossed my mind when reading this was the consideration of the spindle after it twisted. If the splines twist on a spindle, I highly doubt the spindle is running true.
Food for thought!
One other thing.. I did snap a spindle in a c2 one time dumping the clutch racing a car. I was lucky the half shaft just flopped around real hard a few times but if you dump one and hear this noise you'll get out of the gas pretty quick.
You really don't expect a spindle to twist or break in the rear suspension of the c2-c3 cars and in most cases the u-joint will break before the spindle.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Mar 4, 2010 at 07:37 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
One other thing.. I did snap a spindle in a c2 one time dumping the clutch racing a car. I was lucky the half shaft just flopped around real hard a few times but if you dump one and hear this noise you'll get out of the gas pretty quick.
You really don't expect a spindle to twist or break in the rear suspension of the c2-c3 cars and in most cases the u-joint will break before the spindle.
You really don't expect a spindle to twist or break in the rear suspension of the c2-c3 cars and in most cases the u-joint will break before the spindle.
And ya... I figured a 1/2 shaft flop would be the result, the caliper and bearing press outta hold the wheel on untill all stop. I'm quite sure it would have lasted another 15 years... untill, of course. the one time I really needed to trounce on the gas and mean it.
-W
Last edited by Clams Canino; Mar 4, 2010 at 11:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Who here can apply measured stress to the spindle to finish snapping it?
I'll pay postage, so long as we can all get a report on how much it took to finish it off. Seriously.
-W
I'll pay postage, so long as we can all get a report on how much it took to finish it off. Seriously.
-W
Last edited by Clams Canino; Mar 5, 2010 at 12:15 PM.