Spindle upgrade?

Anyone know if the spindles off any Jeep truck or wagon are more heavy duty than those found on our CJ's Dana 25 or 27. Just thought it might be a good upgrade if they are interchangable and heavier or stronger.

 

The closed knuckle CJ and Wagon/Pu spindles are exactly the same strength/dimensions. The open knuckle Wagon/PU spindles are larger and stronger but won't work with the CJ bearing hubs and bearings and outer axles due to length and diameter differences. The CJ open knuckle disc brake spindles are the right length, and with the right bearing races and bearings can work with the earlier bearing hubs and CJ axles, but they use a bearing for the outer axle instead of a bushing and not sure if they would be compatible as there is no thrust surface for the axle to ride against like the bushing has on the closed knuckle spindle. Might be able to put the closed knuckle bushing in the open knuckle spindle, never checked the dimension differences. Normally, the regular closed knuckle spindles are plenty strong. Are you bending or cracking them somehow? Nickmil

 

Nah, not having any problems. Just thinking out loud. When I finally build a new D27, well, I just thought it might be a quick and easy improvement along with going to studs, etc. I'm gonna use those 4.27's I got from you soon and am going over my plans, notes. Thanks Nick, you da man.

 

Geez, I was dismantling a PU ('62???) and found the spindles (closed knuckle) to be thicker wall than my '57 front end??? So of course I changed them!!!???

Dale

 

Hmm, interesting Dale. I may have to do a little digging around. I just gave a '60 wagon to a friend ( it was pretty much junk ) so I may have to take a look at it's spindles. He also bought a '62 truck from me a while back. I'll check them too. This could get interesting.

 

the weak link is really the bolts that hold the spindle to the knuckle IMO.
You can do the knuckle stud upgrade to make that stronger if you want.
search "knuckle stud" should bring it up.
It does require some spot facing of the knuckles where the bolt heads will ride

 

Also check out Dr. Verns write up.
http://www.vernco.com/frontaxle/id404.htm

Russ

 

That's interesting. There's about 50 of them on the shelf at work and they are all the same......Nickmil

 

Humm, nickmil,
When I took the spindles off my '57 CJ5 m25 and looked at the spindles I (sorry this was 30 some years ago) just took off a.....PU or was that a 27....or was that a wagoneer....wow, sorta all blends together NOW!!! PLEASE don't quote me!!!

Dale ,but they were thicker?