Front drum brake questions...rambling....variou thoughts.....

[cudazappa]

So it looks like the big bearing, short height spindles from a yard are the best way.....with the big brackets, rotors and calipers....

Seems like the link goes to smaller stuff...I figure if I am going to do all that, might as well go with the big rotors for better braking.

Ok, I think I am straight now...LOL

Of course, now the  14" spare tire/wheel I picked up cheap and modified to fit my drum car wont work when I switch...LOL

I have aftermarket 15" wheels right now...they should fit?

And 'slider' type calipers are preferred, right?

15" Wheels should fit the larger rotors.  And the slider calipers are prefirred.
The prefirred setup is the 73+ A and E spindles (short height, large bearing), but don't knock the 73+ B,F,J,M,R spindles, they will work, too, and are much easier (and cheaper) to find.
the caliper adapters you'll want are found on the Late B and R bodies (late 77 - 81)
You are well on your way to above adequate braking for your mopar!

[shadango]

Ok, whats the "r" body? 

[cudazappa]

Ok, whats the "r" body?

1979-1981 Dodge St. Regis
1979-1981 Chrysler Newport
1979-1981 Chrysler New Yorker
1980-1981 Plymouth Gran Fury

[HP2]

shadango, do you know if your drum spindles have the big or small inner bearings?

[shadango]

I measured them last night and I believe they measured  1 1/4"...so the small ones I guess...

[shadango]

Juast double checking --- any A or E body disk brake spindle from 73 up would be large bearing, short height, right?

Was reading somewhere that the big bolt pattern was only available 73-up.

Well, I have the big bolt pattern on my drums now....and the car is a 72.....   

Were small bearings available on the 73-up A/E bodies at all?  Or , if I find a 73 E/A body with spindles I should be golden?

[cudazappa]

Just double checking --- any A or E body disk brake spindle from 73 up would be large bearing, short height, right?

correct

Was reading somewhere that the big bolt pattern was only available 73-up.

Well, I have the big bolt pattern on my drums now....and the car is a 72.....   

only applies to A-bodies.  B/E bodies and all the newer body styles got 4.5" Bolt pattern

Were small bearings available on the 73-up A/E bodies at all?  Or , if I find a 73 E/A body with spindles I should be golden?

nope.  You'll be golden with the 73+ E/A spindles.  And as stated earlier, the 73+ BFJMR spindles are a cost effective and acceptable substitute.

[shadango]

Ok..I guess I just didnt know if you could get small bolt patterns in 73-up A bodies...sounds like ANY 73-up a body spindle will do it.

(Yeah,I am think sometimes..LOL...thanks for your patience!)

I am going to start trying to collect the parts I will need. Great winter project.

[duodec]

The spindle does not determine the bolt pattern on the fronts; that depends on the hub (with separate rotors) or the one piece rotor-hub assembly used in the later cars.

[shadango]

Which is preferred, or does it matter?

[cudazappa]

Ok..I guess I just didnt know if you could get small bolt patterns in 73-up A bodies...sounds like ANY 73-up a body spindle will do it.

(Yeah,I am think sometimes..LOL...thanks for your patience!)

I am going to start trying to collect the parts I will need. Great winter project.

only 73+ disc brake spindles.  the 73+ drum spindles were small bolt pattern. (again, applies to A-bodies only)

as for preference, many people like the 73+ A/E spindle ONLY and they shun the 73+ BFJMR (because of the 3/8 height difference)  Many run the later spindle because its much more readily available (IE cheaper) and no one has yet to report any problems.  I personally would run the BFJMR one because I have a set, but my 71 has discs already so I don't need them, and thus they are redundant.

[shadango]

Seems like the guy who wrote the original mopar action article on this type of swap is now also saying the same thing about using the taller one......saw it in my latest issue.

[HP2]

I'm suprised to hear that he reversed his position as he was a stalwart hold out on not using them. Of course, every point he made on why they shouldn't be used has been addressed with technical responses as to why they are okay to use many times over by many people since, oh, about 2001 or so when it was about a 10 page debate on moparts.

[shadango]

I missed all of that ....

So in the end is using either one the same?  Do adjustments or anything need to be made with the taller spindles?

And here is another question.....do the balljoints change as well between drum spindles, short spindles and tall spindles??  Or are they all the same?

I am looking for the least fuss.....

[HP2]

IMO, there is not a big enough change that most drivers will ever notice. The tall spindles are lighter, do have more camber gain, have a slightly different toe pattern, and raise the roll center height a couple of inches. All of which are benefits for various reasons in my opinion, which is why I prefer to use them. One of the best overall write ups I've seen is here; http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/spindles.shtml

On the ball joints, on an e body they are all the same, drum or disc, no swapping around needed there.