Author Topic: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!  (Read 2037 times)

Offline 70_challenger

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Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« on: March 06, 2010 - 10:28:19 PM »
I am putting disc brake spindles onto the front of my Challenger.  Unfortunately, they were disassembled when I bought the car, and some of the hardware is missing. 
I have a few questions that I hope the kind folks around here can help with:

1)  What size bolt and nut are used to hold the caliper adapter to the spindle?  (See the first picture below)
2)  What size bolt and nut are used to hold the dust shield to the spindle?  (See the first picture below)

3)  The rotor/hub assemblies I purchased (Wagner) seem to have the inner and outer bearing races already installed - Is that right?  (See the second picture below)

4)  Which way should the inner bearing grease seal be installed?  The FSM says: "...with lip of seal facing inward."  In looking at the seals I purchased (Timken), I cannot determine which side is the 'lip of seal'.  In the picture at the bottom of this post, I showed direction 'A' and 'B'.  Can someone tell me which way this seal should be installed to the hub/rotor?

I am hoping to get the front wheels on the car this weekend, so I appreciate your information!!!   :cheers:
« Last Edit: March 06, 2010 - 10:43:40 PM by 70_challenger »




Offline boydsdodge

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2010 - 11:43:35 PM »
Rotors are correct, I'd go with "A"
I don't know the size off hand right now, but you can use parts-store bolts, be sure they are Gr.8. I got mine from fastenal.
 Use Loctite.
When I get to the shop I can tell more.
Jackson from Toronto.

Offline Changin Gears

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2010 - 07:41:52 AM »
Yes, your races are already installed. 

Photo A is correct for seal intallation.


The goal never changes - Stop the 60' timer with your back tires

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2010 - 08:16:19 PM »
I should have some spare caliper bracket bolts around

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Offline cudazappa

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2010 - 08:43:42 PM »
1)  What size bolt and nut are used to hold the caliper adapter to the spindle?  (See the first picture below)
1/2-20 x 1.25" long.  There's about 1/4 lead on top of that.  That's from the back of the integral washer to the end of the thread.  I torque these to 85ft/lbs.

2)  What size bolt and nut are used to hold the dust shield to the spindle?  (See the first picture below)
1/4-20 x .5" long.  Again from the bottom of the washer.
1971 Challenger - AutoX project
2015 Dart GT - Daily Driver

Offline 70_challenger

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2010 - 10:23:04 PM »
Thank you for the information, guys!  I put the seals in today, in direction 'A'.  Not the easiest thing to do, but they went in, and the wheels are on.

My hub/rotor assemblies were Raybestos (not Wagner), and one of them was rusty.  The 'anti-rust' coating they put on in Venezuela when they produced them had really stuck onto the rotors, and caused a rusty goop.  Quite a bit of light sanding and 3 cans of brake-clean later...they are on.   :swear:

Cudazappa:  Not sure I exactly follow your directions, regarding the 1/4 lead.  Can you clarify what you mean there?   :clueless:

Thank you SO much again.  The people on this board are the absolute best!   :cheers:

-Tom

Offline Topcat

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2010 - 11:29:33 PM »
Pack both beaqrings with grease of course. Put on rotor, then washer, Install nut.

The way we tightened up the spindle nut when I was a tech was to use a pair of channel locks. As you spin the rotor with one hand, Tighten nut on then slightly back off, then tighten till it just begins too grab and load the outer bearing into the race.

You don't want to over tighten them or you could burn your bearing out.
Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline 70_challenger

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2010 - 01:52:08 AM »
Thanks, Mike.  That is exactly what I did tonight. (And then, of course, I put the nut retainer and cotter pin in it, and the dust cap)

It still amazes me that the wheels stay on these old cars.  When you think about it, the entire assembly depends on the cotter pin that holds the axle nut on!  It seems to me like some hard cornering could make the whole thing fly off, but it doesn't seem to!

-Tom

Offline swede-cuda

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2010 - 10:16:53 AM »
 :wave:are you guys sure about mounting the seal in the A position? it seem hard to get it flush with the hub that way? :clueless:

Offline Tom Quad

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2010 - 10:22:38 AM »
pic A is correct

now about the spindle nut...best way to set is while rotating wheel torque nut to 40 ftlbs
Back off nut and with a beam type torque wrench set torque to 90 -120 inch pounds.
This has been discussed many times amongst those of us who run fast for long periods of time i.e. road course driving and this is what works.  If you want to do it the other way go right ahead, just make sure i am behind you when you brake hard...

Offline cudazappa

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2010 - 10:59:30 AM »
Cudazappa:  Not sure I exactly follow your directions, regarding the 1/4 lead.  Can you clarify what you mean there?   :clueless:

1/4" lead I meant.  Its an unthreaded portion to help get the bolt in the hole before you start tightening it down, like a body bolt has.  You don't need it, I mentioned it only because the OEM had it.  So a 1/2-20 x 1.25 or 1.5 bolt will work.
1971 Challenger - AutoX project
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Offline 70_challenger

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #11 on: March 08, 2010 - 01:58:56 PM »
Thanks again, guys.

TomQuad:  I'm not sure what you mean by '...the other way.'  Actually, the method that our friend Tom (Topcat) described is very similar to yours.  He said to tighten the nut on (similar to your 40ft-lb), and then slightly back it off (like you said), and re-tighten until it just begins to load the bearing (similar to your 90~120 in-lb).  So I really don't see any difference between those methods (besides measuring the torque, of course).  I actually put it to 90 in-lb, which is what the FSM recommended.  And it had just started to load the bearing, which tells me that both methods are spot-on.

Cudazappa:  Thanks for the clarification.  I made a quick trip to the hardware store at lunch today, and I think I'm all set!

Swede-cuda:  Yes, direction 'A' is correct.  It made sense once I started installing it.  It is not easy to install, but that direction provides a correct cup seal to keep grease in the rotor/hub, and allows that other (rubber) side to slide onto the spindle, providing sort of another seal.

Sorry for my ignorance in this area, but I have now learned a lot, thanks to you guys!   :cheers:

-Tom

Offline Topcat

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #12 on: March 08, 2010 - 02:08:09 PM »
Yes you can check the torque after the bearing is loaded if you wish.

Done right, you shouldn't have a problem. I did it for many years and I never had one come back burnt or scored.
Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline steveca

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Re: Front Spindle Hardware and Seal Question -- Help!
« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2011 - 12:20:22 PM »
do you happen to know the part number on the seal you used?  I'm getting conflicting #s for 11" discs (it's a conversion from drums).  I'm told 6840s or 8121s, but neither one works, they are both too small of a diameter to fit properly.  And besides, your pics look to be the one I need.
thanks