disc brake spindle swap

[canadian_ranchero]

tryed some mid 80's crown vic spindles on my 57 doner car.you need to ream the lower ball joint hole and swap them side to side.the problem is that the upper part of the spindle where the upper ball joint mounts is longer than the 57 spindle.so what happens is the top of the tire is out about 1 1/2 inches and cannot be aligned.i just found some 77 granada spindles and am going to try them   

[Lgcustom]

I used mid-70's Thunderbird/Cougar spindles with disc brakes. Bolted right up.

[canadian_ranchero]

i was told you can have alignment camber problems with t-bird ones

[FORDNUT]

I've never had a problem with alignment, and have used the Bird/Cougar setup on every one I've owned.

[canadian_ranchero]

do the t-bird ones lower the car like the granada ones do?

[FORDNUT]

I always get around 1.5" - 2" drop.

[JPotter57]

The only alignment issues with the T-Bird spindles occur when you lower the car.  If you use shorter springs, the camber is way out and cant be brought back into spec without modifying the lower control arm.  Granada spindles are really the best choice, but I am using `70 LTD spindles on mine, bolt on, no reaming.

[Ford Blue blood]

Do the LTD spindles give any alignment problems when dropped with springs?

[canadian_ranchero]

The only alignment issues with the T-Bird spindles occur when you lower the car.  If you use shorter springs, the camber is way out and cant be brought back into spec without modifying the lower control arm.  Granada spindles are really the best choice, but I am using `70 LTD spindles on mine, bolt on, no reaming.

thanks to every one for the information.is there anything else that needs to be done to install the granada spindles?i know about the lower ball joint needing to be reamed.

[dgasman]

No alignment problems with the LTD spindles

[JPotter57]

No alignment issues with the LTD spindles, like dgasman said.  No other issues with the Granada parts either, but you will need to eyeball the toe to get it to a front end shop, or set it yourself.  I did mine and it drove great.  When I put it on the alignment rack at work, it was dead on on the toe, and just needed one shim on each side to bring the camber where it needed to be.

[Frankenstein57]

I used the mid 70's torino spindles on mine, they do change the camber and toe. On the 58 I milled 3/8 of an inch off the a arm cross shafts to fix it. Mark

[jwtdvm]

65-66 galaxie kelsey hays will work but kinda pricey----65-66 t bird will not---now a 67 tbird and 67 galaxie are same aqnd will work--again kinda pricey to do the calipers---68-72 full size will work but be aware after 70 I think the disc hub is bigger around and will not fit thru the older wheels--have to use appropriate ford wheel or after market---I just got done installing "scarebird" system and I think I like it---chevy s-10 calipers and 68 mustang rotors--the rotors were about 100.00 apiece which suprised me (be careful some computer parts list want to pull up 71-73 mustang rotors which are cheaper but will not work--ask me how I know)--at first I thought mustang rotors not big enough but actually they are same size as full size galaxie/tbird rotors of the mid 60's. While the rotor does appear small compared to a modern performance rotors but seriously I am not racing the car with repeated stops--I just want to make sure when I need one panic stop I got something there that will work with the scarebird no need to change spindles which is nice and It looks well made and there support is good as well guess I should mention that all the above is gonna require 15 inch wheels

[canadian_ranchero]

i have a chance to pick up a 77 lincoln versailles.the lower ball joints are different and i have been told they will fit a 57 with out reaming them.i am also told that the disc brake rear end is a bolt in.has anyone done this swap?

[Frankenstein57]

I have the versallies rear end in my 57, we went with a 4- link rear suspension so it didn't matter. But the distance between the centerpins is the same as a 57 leaf spring deal. So yes it will drop right on your springs. Mark