Early Ford V8 Spindles --Do they crack? Really?

How many of you have seen 37-48 spindles cracked or broken? I have a friend, who is building a car that is going to have a pair of spindles magnafluxed. I’ve never thought about it. His are stock, never chromed, and he hasn’t modified them yet. <!--EndFragment-->

 

I've used tons of them, never seen one crack. Now aftermarket, thats another story.

 

i have never heard any stories of one cracking ,but it would not hurt to magnaflux them anyway. as for modifying them , i will never use them if the steering arms have been heated/bent by someone else...they may have not have followed proper procedures

 

Some people just like to worry . Does he walk around with kleenex boxes on his feet too?

 

I think my friend has just read to many stories. He starting with a nice set of square-back spindles.
I've built a few cars too, the thought has never crossed my mind to check.

 

If they're heated and dropped, it's a good idea to Magnaflux as rapid cooling, etc. could lead to problems. For stock, I've never heard of one breaking, so I wouldn't bother.

 

I used to race dirt track stock cars using '46-7-8 spindles. Was in some pretty good wrecks, bent axels, rims you name it. Never hurt a spindle in 20 years.

 

I have maxnafluxed several sets of henrys fine spindles. One showed an indication near the steering arm. The indication turned out to be a very shallow fold from the forging process. A little metal finishing removed this line and the indication was gone

 

Several years back, a buddy driving his '36 Ford Coupe in a 20 mph zone past a hospital had an original front '36 spindle break.......It can happen guys!!!!

 

I'm only taking photographs as evidence. Everything else is hearsay...

 

lots of miles since build in 65
lots runs on the street&strip....
quit a few mild wheelies.........
would trust henry's stuff made from raw steel by those people backintheday that still had pride in their work>rant>rant

 

never heard of any problems with them, course that was baknthday. [but they werent very old then]

 

All the years I've been messing with cars I've never seen any year of Ford spindle that cracked, bent yes, cracked, no.
I have however got a 57 Chevy spindle with the last 1 1/2" broken off due to an outer bearing running dry and CRACK. I'd add a picture if I can find the end of the spindle.

 

'36 spindles are a one year only, I dont know if they are any weaker or not. I have a friend with a '54 ford f1 and spun a wheel bearing and snaped the snout right off the spindle. I know its not early V8 but they are very simular to the square backs.

 

My bet would be on the bad bearing like my 57.

 

I Just had a pair crack tested today 29 April 2010, both had hairline cracks in them, the guy doing the testing said he sees them all the time with cracks.

 

never ever ever heard of a an incident first hand of early ford spindles breaking. I'm from new england, pothole capital of the country. If ever there was a place to find a bad spindle it would be here. rear axles on the other hand are another story altogether.....

 

Actually two years--'36 spindles are same as '35. The '36 front hubs and drums are one year only.

 

One guy that used to work for me , Model A Coupe had a spindle let go on the freeway , 40 drums , got it pulled over to the side OK . They DO CRACK having hit curbs etc during their 70 yrs on the road they have seen plenty of abuse. We always get them magged before we use them. Better safe than Sorry, had plenty Mag Bad !!

Safety 1st

 

Spindles are pretty tough, more prone to problems when the bearings fail and seize up. Outside of piece of mind it wouldn't hurt to have then crack checked but a good visual inspection will show any major cracks, chemical inspection some times gets a false reading from machining markings.

To 38PU, trad27 is correct, 36 spindles are only 36, the difference between a 35 spindle and a 36 spindle is the length of the spindle snout. The 36 is shorter. They usually are identified by a casting mark on the king pin boss as 48 for 35 vs 68 for 36.

 

Yes V8, certainly advisable to check for crax!

 

Any spindle can crack. Its just a piece of metal. I've actually had one break just after a hair raising trip through the Cascade mointains ( long story).

But it wasn't an early V-8 for spindle it was a later model (not to be confused with late model) Chebby.

I have never magnifluxed a spindle but it doesn't mean that I shouldn't I guess.