Hey All,

I think the spindles on my 88 305 formula TBI might be shot and I have been trying to look for new spindles but can't seem to find any. Is there anywhere I can find some stock spindles? Am I forced to just buy some used spindles from an auto dismantler or upgrade?

I know some of you might talk me into just upgrading my brakes but I already put money into my stock brakes and would like to keep these for a while. Maybe in some time or if there is no other option I will consider upgrading to 1LE brakes since that seems to be the trend or only option.

Thanks

 

Welcome to TGO, Neo.

All things considered, unless the spindle has been ruined in an accident or the bearings have somehow messed things up, I doubt there's any need to replace.

JamesC

 

There are many brake upgrade options; IMO the 1LE is probably the least satisfactory (for reasons not having to do with braking effectiveness).

The LT1 and LS1 systems are both easy to retrofit onto these cars; and have the advantage of about a 100:1 advantage in terms of # that are on the road. I.e., tomorrow, when you need pads or lines or something, and you blow into yer local corner parts store, what do you suppose they'll have on the shelf? The 1LE parts that they sell ONE about every 3 months, or the LS1 setup that they sell EVERY SINGLE DAY?

Costs are about the same for all of those (and the C4 & c5 systems as well, for the most part); effort is all but identical; but maintainability into the future is VASTLY different.

First thing you need to figure out though, is why you think you need to replace your spindles. Like James said, unless they've been wrecked, or the wheel bearings were let go to the point that they seized, there's most likely nothing wrong with em; in fact you could use them as the raw material for an upgrade.

Visit www.bigbrakeupgrade.com for a clue. Not recommending em, or saying that's what you should do; but their site is a great education in the possibilities if nothing else. And who knows, you may well decide that they're the supplier for you.

 

I changed the bearings and looked at the spindles and it seemed the driver side front spindle was more worn than the other. I can see a discolored spot and a groove wearing where the inner bearing sits. I still get slight noise and vibration from my wheels. Is it normal or OK for the spindle to have wear on it.

Thanks for the replies.

 

No it is not normal.

Someone sometime somewhere somewhen in the car's lifetime, ABUSED it, by failing to maintain the wheel bearings.

Sorry... sux to be there, blee me, been dere done dat got da receeets.

If the spindle (or ANY part... but ABOVE ALL, any part THAT YOUR LIFE and that of all the other people around you on the road, drivers and passengers, LITERALLY DEPENDS ON) is destroyed, replace it.

A used spindle, that doesn't suffer from "deferred maintenance", will restore your car to "like new" condition. Which unfortunately, is ENTIRELY INADEQUATE when compared to cars less than 20 yrs old or so.

Apart from "upgrades", HUMAN LIFE SAFETY must take priority. If your spindle is visibly damaged, gotta do SOMETHING. I guess it boils down to a matter of, WHAT.

No guarantees of course, that un-destroying your spindle(s) will fix whatever noise or vibration you may happen to be experiencing </blues brothers> but no matter, it's GOTTA be done.