Want to Know How To Change Spindles On A Truck?
Whether you want to lower or raise your truck, changing the spindles is an easy way to accomplish this ( by up to three inches) without changing any other components. And sometimes a spindle needs changed because of wear from a bearing going bad. Either way it’s a job that can be completed in an afternoon.
What are the steps to changing a truck spindle?
- Raise truck on jack stands
- Remove dust cover
- Remove cotter pin and castle nut
- Remove brake assembly
- Undo tie rod ends
- Remove old spindle
- Install new spindle assembly
- Reattach tie rods
- Reinstall brakes
This is a job that you can do yourself and can be completed in an afternoon. Read along as we go into greater detail.
How To Change Out The Spindles
If your brakes are showing a lot of wear or are squealing a lot this would be a good time to change them while your truck is in the air and the calipers are off. Whether you have disc brakes on the front or drum brakes these steps will help you do either one.
Step 1 – Lift your truck: On a flat surface with the rear wheels chocked, loosen the lug nuts on both front wheels then raise the truck with your jack and set on jack stands. Lift the truck by putting the floor jack under the front crossmember and putting the jack stands under the frame and behind the wheels on both sides near the front of the truck. After lowering the jack check the truck and make sure it is stable. Remove the front wheels.
Step 2 – Remove dust cover, cotter pin, castle nut: Remove these three pieces and set them aside as you will be reusing these parts when reinstalling.
Step 3 – Remove brake assembly: Remove the front brake assembly by grasping the inner edge and pulling toward you. If its disc brakes the rotor will slide off easily toward you. If its a brake drum it may need to be tapped with a hammer from the backside to get it to come loose. Now you can see the parts of the drum brake assembly. Remove the bolts securing the backing plate( four of them) to the steering assembly and then you can remove all of the brake parts.
Step 4 – Separate tie rod from tie rod arm: Put a jack under the front lower control arm. Take out the cotter pins holding the upper and lower ball joints in place with the needle-nose pliers, then undo the ball joints from the spindle with the 3/8-inch socket and ratchet.
Smack the side of the spindle with the hammer and this will break the ball joints free from the spindle, then you can remove the spindle from the truck. You may need to use the pickle fork to get an initial separation started.
Step 5 – Installing the spindle: Install the replacement spindle into the front suspension. Bolt the ball joints to the spindle with the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket, then install the replacement cotter pins using the needle-nose pliers. If you have any concern about the wear of the bearings, seal or brake pads now is a good time to change these parts.
Slide the rotor onto the spindle and tighten down the spindle castle nut with the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket. Back the bolt off 1/4 rotation so that the rotor still spins on the spindle, then install the cotter pin with the needle-nose pliers. Tap the dust cap onto the rotor.
Place the brake calipers back on the rotors and tighten with the 3/8 ratchet and socket. Put the front wheels back on and tighten to torque specs.
Tools And Supplies You Will Need
Here is a list of the tools and supplies needed to change out the spindles. You will have most of these tools in your tool box other than a pickle fork/ball joint separator and possibly wheel bearing grease. You will want to purchase a good quality grease specially made for packing wheel bearings.
- Jack
- Jack stands (3)
- Lug wrench/tire iron
- Pliers or wire cutters
- Wrench set
- Large slipjoint (Channellock) pliers
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Socket set
- Pickle fork/ball joint separator
- Wheel bearing grease
- Latex or vinyl gloves
- Torque wrench
- Cleaning solvent for brakes
- Safety glasses
Different Spindle Choices
Owners change their spindles for a few different reasons. Some want to lower their truck just a few inches to give a more modern look, while others may want to raise the front of their truck to give it a more level look.
Sometimes we have to change a spindle because the spindle has gotten worn and the bearing race will not hold tight any more. What ever the reason for changing your spindles, it’s not a real hard job if you are well prepared.
Here is a three inch drop kit sold on Amazon. It fits a lot of Chevy models from 1973 and up to 1988.
This kit will drop a 1972 C10 about two inches.
Final Thoughts
That’s a lot of improvement for an afternoon’s work. Whether you are lowering or raising your truck it feels good to do it yourself. I get a lot of enjoyment from doing these types of repairs and upgrades on my truck and I hope you do to. Happy Trucking!
The Tool Box:
American made Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack:
Related topics
What mechanism is used to apply the parking brake on a vehicle equipped with rear disc brakes? The parking brake in most vehicles is still completely mechanical and is on the back axle. The park brake is normally engaged by pulling a lever, then the cables manually engage part of the car’s braking system, usually the rear disc or drum brakes. This allows the driver to apply a brake even if the hydraulic brake system fails.
Are rear disc brakes better than drums? Yes one reason is that disc brakes do a better job of managing heat than drum brakes. This causes them to experience less brake fade, which results in more consistent performance. They will give you much better performance in wet conditions. With disc brakes, the rotor repels the water, and the brake pads tend to wipe water away like a squeegee wipes water from a window.
