Mid-Year Rear Spindle Differences (Drum vs Disk)

[kbuhagiar]

Hello, all,

I have a running debate with a local citizen regarding the differences between drum & disk brake versions of trailing arm spindles for the mid-year Corvettes. I am aware of the existence of two distinct versions of trailing arm spindles for the mid-years, i.e. the early drum brake version ('63-'64), and the later version for disks ('65-'67). Local citizen is claiming that they are mechanically interchangeable, although cosmetically different (I have compared the two side by side, and the disc brake version seems to have a thicker wheel mounting pad). In all the parts books & references I have consulted, the two are listed as distictly different part numbers, with no interchange indicated.
As a point of comparison I give you the spindle support, of which there appear to be 3 or 4 cosmetically different versions (webbing vs. no webbing, larger ears, etc.), but usually shows up as a '63-'82 part number (in other words, will interchange across the years).


So, what's the verdict here...are the spindles mechanically interchangeable? As always, thank in advance for the info.

 

[Ron Miller]

A drum brake spindle will work on a disc brake car, but the rotor has to be shimmed out about 1/16" to prevent interference with the caliper. (To center the rotor in the caliper). I guess a disc brake spindle would also work in a drum brake car, but I'm not sure why anyone would want to go either direction with such a swap.

I changed a drum brake spindle out of a 65 disc brake car once upon a time, guess someone had used the drum brake spindle early on in its life due to lack of availability of a good used disc brake spindle. Took me a while to figure out the problem, had some assistance from "Yogi" Bear (spelling?) who does a lot of trailing arm/rear end work on mid-years.

So, I guess the answer is that it can be made to work, although there are differences in the two; hence, the reason for the two different part numbers.