Spindles

[smitty2]

Hey All!
I have just become the proud owner of some old Ford parts... mainly front axles, wishbones. etc. I'm pretty sure they are 40 to 48 vintage because of the "ahead" of axle spring mount. Complete with knee action shocks, and king pins that are wobbly but not froze .
My question is should I keep the spindles, or toss them and start with new? On inspection I see nothing wrong with them... even the bearings are still able to turn, but I don't know if I want to trust something with that much age. ( I know... I know... Just because it's old doesn't mean it's no good. Don't mean to piss anyone off with an age comment. )

Thanks....    Smitty

[Dynoroom]

I just magged a set that looked great. There was a small crack at the forging line on one and at the cross shaft bore on the other. Be safe and check them.

[Stan Back]

I've been told time and again by chassis guys that the old ones are better than what you can buy new.  Seen a bunch of them on some pretty fast roadsters.  Mag 'em by somebody that knows what they are doing.

[38Chevy454]

The old ones are forged, some of the new ones are cast.  Forged is better, although both can work.  I agree, take it apart and have the magnaflux checked.  If no cracks, run them.  They should also have the "square" flange where the backing plate bolts on, earlier spindles had round flange.

[SPARKY]

Just be aware of the scrub radius with old combos----see scrub radius posts elsewhere !!!!!!!!!!!