I just purchased a set of used djm lowering ibeams with spindles attached. The previous owner does not know what year of truck the spindles are from. I currently have a 72 f100 that i plan on lowering and putting disc brakes on. How can I find out what year of spindles these are so I can make sure to get the rest of the parts right. Or does anyone have any helpfull ideas of what to do now. I also found someone local with a 74 f100 that I can use to take what parts I need. Any wisdom or help would be appreciated.

 

Most Ford parts have a casting number

look on the spindles for a cXXXXXX or dxxxxxxx
i am pretty sure the king pin size changed from 60s to 70s

 

Early disc spindles have a rounded steering stop whereas later disc spindles (75-79) have a pointy steering stop to contact a stop cast into the corresponding I-beams.

Heres' a pic from Fordification to illustrate:
Comparing I-beams and Spindles - FORDification.com

 

I was thinking about it today and it seems like the spindles are the hard thing to come by the rest I can just purchase new for fairly cheap when I have a hook up on prices. Because of this do I even need anything off the donor truck ...... The only think I can think of is maybe the proportioning valve? or should I just buy that new? And thanks for the info so far!

 

Very few Ford parts have casting numbers which are foundry marks only and so, cannot be cross referenced to Ford part numbers.

Spindles have ID engineering numbers that are cast onto them / 1973: First year that F100 2WD's came with disc brakes.

Spindle ID numbers: 1965/67 F100: C5TA-3107-A (R/L) / 1968/72 F100: C8TA-3107-D (R/L) / 1973/74 F100: D3TA-3107-CD or DD (Right) & D3TA-3108-CD or DD (Left).

1975/79 F100/150: D5TA-3107-FB (Right) & D5TA-3108-FB (Left).

 

casting number = number cast into the part when they were made , what my dad called them , what the guy at junk yard calls them what i call them .

are you that bored , that you have to point out every little detail ?

"Lighten up francis "

 

If I didn't point it out, people may assume every number they see on a Ford part is a casting number. Most numbers marked on Ford parts after 1956 are ID engineering numbers.

And, as you can see, I listed every 1965/79 spindle ID number. Now all the OP has to do is look at his spindles, find the number that matches.

 

Well thanks for your help guys.....Just checking though no one has mentioned weather or not I need anything else off the donor truck or would I be just better off buying the rest new

 

The most thorough way to do it is to pirate the entire front suspension as an assembly - disconnect the radius arms from the frame brackets, the tie rods from the spindles, and the upper front spring brackets. Rebuild it, and then slide the entire assembly under your truck. I'd opt to replace all bearings and races, bushings, and brake pads. Btw, rebuilding calipers is super easy.

Dont' forget to grab the master cylinder and actuating rod, proportioning valve, and hoses. I'd also get the front brake lines and the lil brackets that hold the hose/hardline union to the frame. Disc brake hoses are slightly longer and mount in an offset location.

Lastly, measure the donor's brake pedal pivot and mounting point to verify the pedal arm in your rig will have enough stroke to properly operate the master cylinder.

 

Are these spindles for disc or drum brakes? I purchased the i-beams and these were attached but im not sure what they go to. They dont look like the pictures people previously attached.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11394107@N07/8390133335/http://www.flickr.com/photos/11394107@N07/8390133335/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/11394107@N07/, on Flickr

 

(sigh) Look on the spindles for their ID numbers, then compare them with the ID numbers I listed in post 5.

If the numbers are not listed, the spindles are from an F250 or F350. And if so, post what the numbers are.

Looking at the large caliper anchor plates, spindle diameters, those look like they're from a 1976/79 F250/350.

When doing a disc brake swap, get everything from one truck, then you'll know what the parts came from, if something fails.

Buying parts piecemeal, especially off ebay, where most sellers haven't a single clue: Who knows if the parts are correct, or not?

 

I don't think those are DJM beams (looks like AIM beams)... and them are drum spindles.

 

Thank you HIO Silver. After looking at the other pictures i was also kinda sure they were drum spindles. Well I was excited cause I thought I got some free spindles but I guess not now back on the hunt for the rest of the parts.

 

Drums, dunno, you may be right, but...the U shaped bracket looks like D6TZ-2B292-B.

If jawilliams00721 takes a coupla minutes to get the ID numbers off the spindles, they can be identified.