C5 spindles on C3
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2020
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C5 spindles on C3
After coming to the conclusion that if I wanted a more modern wheel I needed a one inch wider track at each wheel. So I started looking at C4 and C5 spindles. This may not give me the wider track I want but sent me off on a tangent of how easy would it be to put a later gen spindle on? Looking at this picture, it seems fairly easy???? I think this is on a Camaro, but all they used was a SPC upper control arm along with C5 spindles, hubs/brakes and it bolted right up??? The steering linkage is in the front. Is it possible just to swap the spindle to the other side so the steering mount would be towards the rear? I think the lower mount would have to be drilled out and a bushing placed in to correct the angle. I have no idea, just thinking out loud.
Last edited by JC 1975; Oct 14, 2020 at 03:38 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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cant you just change the offset of the rim you want to use so they stick out further? Or use a spacer? seems llike an easier solution
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2020
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I think it would be easier, but not necessarily cheaper. Road racing and wheel spacers make me nervous. I’m wanting to put 18x10’s on the front and 18x10.5’ on the back (275’s and 295’s), which means would I need to purchase custom offset wheels with the factory track width. The cheapest I’ve seen are $950 a piece. I’m wanting to put on aftermarket A-arms anyway, so that cost is a wash. Duntov Motors makes a rear spindle that pushes the rear wheels out an inch on each side, so that is an easy fix. I found many companies make custom steering arms for C5 spindles such as Detroit Speed. So if I am able to flip them, I would just have to cut off the arms on the knuckles and bolt on the new steering arm. Used C5 knuckles are around $75 a piece. New hubs $60 a piece. C5 brakes are relatively inexpensive. Already have spherical tie rods so no issues there. The only thing hanging me up is, can they be flipped to the opposite side for rear steer applications???
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 9,274
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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I dont know if the caster is made into them. But it seems you da have everything else Ironed out
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 9,274
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
I fouund a related topic that might answer our question. The question was on Ackerman but swapping to the opposite side didnt seem to be an issue
https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=426302
https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=426302
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 9,274
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Heres another one that says yes, more applicable as well
https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...o-side.182619/
https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...o-side.182619/
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: South Western Ontario
C5 front and rear knuckles are the same 2 parts RR and LF match and LR and RF match. So, no reason you can't swap side to side same as GM did.
Not sure how exactly to get them onto your C3 though. I thought you might be looking at AFX spindles in your first picture, but an AFX would have the upper arm above the spindle, not below it so that is likely a C5 spindle. The steering arm for sure is not stock though. The stock arm has been cut off and replaced by that CNC made arm which you can see has been bolted onto the back side of the spindle. Maybe that is an early conversion that led to the AFX spindle???
Not sure how exactly to get them onto your C3 though. I thought you might be looking at AFX spindles in your first picture, but an AFX would have the upper arm above the spindle, not below it so that is likely a C5 spindle. The steering arm for sure is not stock though. The stock arm has been cut off and replaced by that CNC made arm which you can see has been bolted onto the back side of the spindle. Maybe that is an early conversion that led to the AFX spindle???
Last edited by lionelhutz; Oct 15, 2020 at 10:43 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2020
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If the rears fit, I don’t think I need a custom steering arm because the steering arm is rear facing. If I do, I think I could just cut off the steering arm on the knuckle and bolt another one on. See the picture below. The only thing hanging me up at this moment is the need for a custom lower control arm that would use the C5 ball joint. The uppers seem to be pretty with using SPC control arms and just swapping out the ball joint flange to a C5 style.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
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From: New York
That's an AFX spindle a stock c5 knuckle is not going to just bolt on. Even if it did you gain offset for wheel but loose braking. C3 brakes are better than C5 in stock form. So you will also need to upgrade the brakes unless that's also part of your plan?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 597
After coming to the conclusion that if I wanted a more modern wheel I needed a one inch wider track at each wheel. So I started looking at C4 and C5 spindles. This may not give me the wider track I want but sent me off on a tangent of how easy would it be to put a later gen spindle on? Looking at this picture, it seems fairly easy???? I think this is on a Camaro, but all they used was a SPC upper control arm along with C5 spindles, hubs/brakes and it bolted right up??? The steering linkage is in the front. Is it possible just to swap the spindle to the other side so the steering mount would be towards the rear? I think the lower mount would have to be drilled out and a bushing placed in to correct the angle. I have no idea, just thinking out loud.
Here is the rear product.
https://www.ridetech.com/product/rea...2-c3-corvette/
The front uses this
https://www.ridetech.com/product/tra...ular-spindles/
Installed in this
https://www.ridetech.com/product/196...ruturn-system/
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
The upper ball joint is mounted in the spindle with the pin facing down, so no you can't just change the ball joint on an aftermarket racing arm and bolt them together. The arm would need to have a tapered hole for the ball joint.
Once again, front and rear spindles on a C5 are the same, so you don't need to find rears to face the steering arms to the back.
Don't confuse C5 with AFX spindles, they may look similar but are not swappable.
CPP also makes a spindle that may work as your starting point.
Once again, front and rear spindles on a C5 are the same, so you don't need to find rears to face the steering arms to the back.
Don't confuse C5 with AFX spindles, they may look similar but are not swappable.
CPP also makes a spindle that may work as your starting point.