ball joints. 9" drums??

[Bigredlid]

i am doing disk brakes on my valiant. It has 9' drums. Summit sells a wilwood kit specifically for the 9'' drums.

Problem is i heard that the ball joints on the small drum cars are no good. Is that true?

Should i swap out a arms, ball joint and spindles and buy the other kit for the bigger drums?

 

[mopardude318]

i know that the 9" drum brake spindle are a bit weaker...i have a set of the 10" drum brake spindle i took off my 68 cuda if you are interested...

 

[dgc333]

A bodies prior to 73 used a smaller ball joint than the rest of the mopar line. This irrespective of the brakes (9", 10" or disk).

In 73 mopar consoldated all cars on the bigger joint. If you want the bigger joint you need the newer upper control arms and spindles.

 

[grumpuscreature]

Problem is i heard that the ball joints on the small drum cars are no good. Is that true?

Should i swap out a arms, ball joint and spindles and buy the other kit for the bigger drums?

The only difference is the size of the bolts used to attach the lower ball joints to the spindle. 9" brakes used 7/16" bolts and the rest used 1/2". I have yet to see a 9" lower ball joint or spindle have a catastrophic failure unless there was a major impact involved that took out a few more parts with it. It's your money and time.

 

[Bigredlid]

i do plan on drag racing the car every weekend. Also it will have a big block instead of the slant 6. i was thinking all the extra weight/ abuse would call for the bigger ball joint.

If i were to do the switch all i need is a 73+ a arms and spindles, correct? then just buy the brake kit for a 73+ a body.

 

['64 Cuda]

Back in the day (1970's, I was young & STUPID) I launched my car about 40 + feet through the air on more than one occasion with J.C. Whitney supplied ball joints & 9" drums. Dented the oil pan but never a problem with the ball joints. It's up to you what you do with this info.

 

[Blownfish]

If i were to do the switch all i need is a 73+ a arms and spindles, correct? then just buy the brake kit for a 73+ a body.

If you get the upper control arms and spindles from a 73 up car, you might as well go with the disc brakes off the same car and save some money.

 

[mopardude318]

i do plan on drag racing the car every weekend. Also it will have a big block instead of the slant 6. i was thinking all the extra weight/ abuse would call for the bigger ball joint.

If i were to do the switch all i need is a 73+ a arms and spindles, correct? then just buy the brake kit for a 73+ a body.

Yes. If you get the 73+ a arms and spindles, the brake kit you would need would be for a 73+ a body. I would recommend you do this if your gonna drag race it...

 

[Nitro-green]

I just fiinished reading this post and I'm still left wondering if you can use a large ball joint A-arm on a 10'' drum spindle ?

 

[alsdemon]

have to check to see if the ball joint stud fits in the spinal/ or go to parts store and check size on both ball joints have them pull the bigger ball joint and the stock on that fits your car. best i can come up with. als

 

[Blownfish]

I just fiinished reading this post and I'm still left wondering if you can use a large ball joint A-arm on a 10'' drum spindle ?

Not unless you have B-Body spindles to fit the large ball joints.

 

[BrianT]

If you're really set on using the bigger ball joint, you could have your existing spindle machined to accept it. Wouldn't be the cheapest or the easiest solution, but it could be done.