That were the spindles I was referring too.. I also found another place that charges $125 (with 1 year warranty - so they don't seem to be junk)... and BTW - the studs on my spindles were in perfect conditon.. I know that for a fact because I always changed the tires when going to the Drag Strip...and there was no damage to the threads...

:cheers:

Olivier

BTW - I can get used spindles that are well within specs from Contemporary Corvette for $50 each.. Those are the same type spindles that they would receive as a core... Therefore - the replacement value for used spindles that are within specs are approx. $50 and not $110.. THAT IS A FACT!! I can provide add'l places where to get good used spindles for $50...



[Modified by GrandSportC3, 5:03 PM 12/23/2002]

 

I just checked at
http://www.car-parts.com

and they have good used stock type spindles within spec for $40/each...

:cheers:

Olivier

 

Oliver now I know where the spindles I throw away go :eek: Seriously I have been doing this for a very long time. I know there are allot of people selling spindles for $50, I have seen them at all the shows. To be honest I would not build any of Trailing Arm assemblies or Bearing Assemblies with those. So many of them have been fixed cosmetically so that they can be sold. Also why would a new spindle only carry a 1 yr warranty?????? Makes you think. I don't know about the Tom's spindle assembly so I will not comment on it. However it must be a well kept secret to all the major Corvette companies. Oliver nobody is out to rip anyone off, the Corvette hobby(business) is very small compared to others and you can't afford to do that. If you call Arty and tell him you will send him spindles to replace yours I am sure he will credit you your core back. Like I said earlier I would much rather have your good core than your money, and I can vouch that Art would also. The core situation has gotten so bad that all of us are in the process to make complete brand new trailing arms so we do not have to deal with the core issue. The cores are not worth the money that we have to buy them for with the amount of labor that has to be put into them. I just finished buying a 15 thousand dollar machine just to clean the trailing arms and spindles. Believe me I would much rather have spent that on new parts.

 

You got a excellent point there...Most of the cores won't be in "great shape" and most of them probably won't be even worth rebuilding... Why would somebody want to replace theirs if they are well within spec and have a lot of life left??? I will contact Art when he gets back and check if he would accept a replacement spindles that are within factory specs to receive my $220 back... I will keep the forum updated how this will be handled...

:cheers:

Olivier

 

Oliver, I had responded earlier in the thread and I don't think you understood what I was trying to tell you about cores. I agree with the above post about the cost of cores and the poor condition they come in to the vendors.

The thing I appreciate about a good rebuilder is that if my cores aren't good he will not rebuild them. If he did they would not be reliable in my opinion. I don't want a rebuilder that will take a piece of junk and build it up or one that is close to tolerence and set it up anyway to sell to me or you.

I have dealt with Art for quite sometime and had very good service. If Art called and told me my parts were not to spec, then I would go to the next step and have him build me one from another core he had or send him another one to be built.

Arts reputation is not that he is a crook, his reputation is that when it comes back it's reliable and you won't have to do it again. If it ain't right I don't think he will rebuild it or send it out. If it ain't right I don't want it either!

Maybe things will work out on this. Talk to Art and explain your position and why. But remember the cheap spindles available are just that "cheap" I would much rather pay the price of quality myself. Quality is the reason I recomended VanSteel to you, not the price. JIM :seeya

 

Jim,

again... my issue is NOT with the quality of their work - which was excellent... It is about the way too high core charge for the spindles... $110 for a part that's worth $40 - $70 in used condition within factory specs..

:cheers:

Olivier

 

Maybe "Factory Specs" are not good enough for VanSteel and the work they do? So that from the pool of available cores to "factory specs" they must sort out a smaller number that are of a quality for which they can do their work... That would drive the price up a fair amount. Just a thought...

I hope you and the vendor can come to some agreement. It is always tough to feel you paid for more than what you got. In any case have a good Holiday!

 

You have a real good point here, with brakes, some vendors charge a $30 core charge and some charge $50, why? But I think Jabbott makes a REALLY good point here. Not only is it a hassle to reinstall a rebuild part gone bad, but it's mighty dangerous as well. I remember about a year or two ago when one member lost a rear wheel due to a bad trailering assembly. When I go to replace something like this I just want a good part to put back on the car. not something that is unsafe or is going to fail in 30K miles, no matter what it cost!


[Modified by killain, 1:00 PM 12/25/2002]

 

If factory specs aren't good enough.. they should tell the potential customer before that their requrements for core parts are above factory specs and that it is very likely that the customers cores are not within their specs - even though they would still meet factory specs...

:cheers:

Olivier

P.S. I'm actually thinking in e-mailing them and suggesting to provide replacement spindles within spec to get my $220 back...