BillGrissom
Well-Known Member
65 Dart 10" drum brakes. Does anyone know if the tapped hole in the spindle should be at the front or rear? My sketch from when I disassembled it (year ago) show it at the front, so went by that.
Other info now suggest I swapped L & R. The TSM has no figures that make L & R clear. I could have already mixed them up when I made the sketch (unlikely) or perhaps a prior owner swapped them.
Reasons for thinking I swapped are that the stamped PN's on the spindles appear to be 2071648 (left) and 2071649 (right). Odd no.s should be left side on Mopars, so above seems wrong. However, the numbers are barely visible and the 8 could be 9 & 9 an 8. Also, 6's might be 5's. The brake backing plates have clear numbers 660 left and 661 right, which also seems swapped, but seem too short for PN's. They only fit the spindles one way. Finally, the upper arm of the spindle leans aft (as my sketch), but the upper ball joint is fwd of lower so leaning fwd seems like a better match.
If I did swap them, what is the result? I know one can swap disk brake spindles and people do so to orient calipers fwd or rear. I see two areas of concern. The steering arm will be higher up (think). After I assemble I will see if fits. The caster angle may change, since the wheel centerline may be in a different place, relative to the ball joints. This could be good if it increases caster (moves wheel back, will try to measure). Cars in bias ply days were designed with little (or negative) caster because the tires deflected and moved the contact patch aft while moving. Today's radial tires don't do so and if the contact patch is ahead of the pivot, the car tends to wander on the highway. The opposite of shopping cart wheels.
Has anyone purposely swapped L & R? If I did so inadvertenly am I better off now? I would hate to pop the ball joints out now.
Other info now suggest I swapped L & R. The TSM has no figures that make L & R clear. I could have already mixed them up when I made the sketch (unlikely) or perhaps a prior owner swapped them.
Reasons for thinking I swapped are that the stamped PN's on the spindles appear to be 2071648 (left) and 2071649 (right). Odd no.s should be left side on Mopars, so above seems wrong. However, the numbers are barely visible and the 8 could be 9 & 9 an 8. Also, 6's might be 5's. The brake backing plates have clear numbers 660 left and 661 right, which also seems swapped, but seem too short for PN's. They only fit the spindles one way. Finally, the upper arm of the spindle leans aft (as my sketch), but the upper ball joint is fwd of lower so leaning fwd seems like a better match.
If I did swap them, what is the result? I know one can swap disk brake spindles and people do so to orient calipers fwd or rear. I see two areas of concern. The steering arm will be higher up (think). After I assemble I will see if fits. The caster angle may change, since the wheel centerline may be in a different place, relative to the ball joints. This could be good if it increases caster (moves wheel back, will try to measure). Cars in bias ply days were designed with little (or negative) caster because the tires deflected and moved the contact patch aft while moving. Today's radial tires don't do so and if the contact patch is ahead of the pivot, the car tends to wander on the highway. The opposite of shopping cart wheels.
Has anyone purposely swapped L & R? If I did so inadvertenly am I better off now? I would hate to pop the ball joints out now.
