1966 427 front knuckle / spindle and bearings

[Jef S.]

I am working on my 66 big block project. I am currently working on the front suspension. My question is what is the correct diameter of the spindle and or the correct inside diameter of the interior bearing on the hub? The spindles on my car are 1.473 on right side and 1.25 on left side i where the interior bearing would ride,. One side is obviously replaced. I dont know if the knuckle and spindle have been changed or what. I do know that the new spindle and bearings they supplied dont fit. I dont know how to proceed, replace the existing hubs bearings with larger od bearings or replace the whole knuckle spindle assemblies. It really doesnt appear that the whole assembly was ever disturbed before me.

[Patrick C.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

I just redid my front end on my 1966. The skf bearings I ordered for a 66 Vett from Rock Auto did not fit and were too small. I checked the part numbers of the spindles and found that I had C3 1969 and up spindles. They have bigger bearing and this is kind of an upgrade. I understood racers used to do this regularly back in the day. I ordered bearings for a 1969 to 1973 and all was good.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

I just redid my front end on my 1966. The skf bearings I ordered for a 66 Vett from Rock Auto did not fit and were too small. I checked the part numbers of the spindles and found that I had C3 1969 and up spindles. They have bigger bearing and this is kind of an upgrade. I understood racers used to do this regularly back in the day. I ordered bearings for a 1969 to 1973 and all was good.

Patrick------

The 69-82 front steering knucles can be used on 1963-67 Corvettes. However, it will also change the front suspension geometry.

The 1969-82 steering knuckles can be used on a 1968, too. In that case, there is no change in suspension geometry as the 1968-only steering knuckles and the 1969-82 steering knuckles are identical with respect to suspension geometry. However, using the 1969-82steering knuckles on a 1968 does provide the benefit of the larger spindles.

When the 1969-82 steering knuckles are used on a 1963-67, the steering arms and hubs have to be also changed to the 1969-82. When the 1969-82 steering knuckles are used on a 1968, only the hubs have to be changed to the 1969-82 size.

[Jef S.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

I think that's what happened here to the right side the reproduction spindle hub and bearings supplied by corvette central fits the left side the right side is the larger size. I didn't notice the difference when I was doing the ball joints and replacing the coil springs (that's a fun job!) I guess I'll get the larger bearings for the right side I REALLY don't want to take apart the whole arm setup and coil spring again.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

I am working on my 66 big block project. I am currently working on the front suspension. My question is what is the correct diameter of the spindle and or the correct inside diameter of the interior bearing on the hub? The spindles on my car are 1.473 on right side and 1.25 on left side i where the interior bearing would ride,. One side is obviously replaced. I dont know if the knuckle and spindle have been changed or what. I do know that the new spindle and bearings they supplied dont fit. I dont know how to proceed, replace the existing hubs bearings with larger od bearings or replace the whole knuckle spindle assemblies. It really doesnt appear that the whole assembly was ever disturbed before me.

Jef------


The inner front bearing (GM #7450630) has an ID of 1.250". The outer front bearing (GM #7450627) has an ID of 0.750"

Both of the above referenced GM bearings are discontinued. There is no GM replacement for the outer bearing. However, the inner bearing is replaced by GM #457196 which remains available.

The 1969-82 inner bearing (GM #7450700, now GM #457052) has an ID of 1.375". The 1969-82 outer bearing (GM #7450697, now GM #457049) has an ID of 0.8437".

[Jef S.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

So does that seem viable to use the correct original size spindle on the driver side and the large diameter spindle on the right side with a set of larger bearings.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

So does that seem viable to use the correct original size spindle on the driver side and the large diameter spindle on the right side with a set of larger bearings.

Jef------


As I mentioned, using the 69-82 steering knuckle on a 1963-67 also changes the suspension geometry. Can a 1963-67 spindle be used on one side and a 1969-82 on the other side? Yes, it can be done. However, I do not recommend it, at all.

[Patrick C.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

Joe

I should have mentioned it but I found that I had 69 to 82 spindles, hubs, dog bones ect on my car. I had rivited hubs which I thought were original so I ordered the stock bearings but obviously that was not the case. When I did the detective work I found out what I had. Someone in the past had made the change. I am not sure however that the geometry changes much as the spindle dimensions are real close from what I have seen. Pictures and diameters attached.

[Jef S.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

When you say change the geometry, how so? And what is the disadvantage. Im not arguing the point Im trying to weigh taking the A arms and coil spring apart again on an empty frame, I found it difficult and kind of dangerous in my home garage.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

Joe

I should have mentioned it but I found that I had 69 to 82 spindles, hubs, dog bones ect on my car. I had rivited hubs which I thought were original so I ordered the stock bearings but obviously that was not the case. When I did the detective work I found out what I had. Someone in the past had made the change. I am not sure however that the geometry changes much as the spindle dimensions are real close from what I have seen. Pictures and diameters attached.

Patrick------


The 69-82 steering knuckles do change the front suspension geometry when used on a 1963-67. Is it a major change? No, but it's different. If you compare a 1963-67 steering knuckle to a 1969-82 steering knuckle side-by-side, you will see the difference is more than just the spindle size.

[Patrick C.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

Joe

i would like to be a learner here. Can you teach me where there is a dimension (i.e. Geometry) change between the C2 spindles and the 1969 and up spindles outside of the bearing dimensions? Just trying to learn what I am facing on my car when I get it back together.

pat

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

Joe

i would like to be a learner here. Can you teach me where there is a dimension (i.e. Geometry) change between the C2 spindles and the 1969 and up spindles outside of the bearing dimensions? Just trying to learn what I am facing on my car when I get it back together.

pat

pat------


My recollection is that the centerline of the spindle shaft relative to the ball joint bosses is different. At the moment I'm not sure if it's lower or higher but my vague recollection is that the 69-82 is slightly lower.

One of the reasons that the 69-82 steering knuckles are sometimes used on 1965-67 Corvettes is that the 65-67 steering knuckle was discontinued without supercession 32 years ago. The 69-82 steering knuckles were around a lot longer and the supply of used 69-82 steering knuckles is FAR greater.

The 65-67 Corvette steering knuckles are Corvette-only pieces, so you can't find them on other GM cars (however, the 63-64 Corvette steering knuckles are the same as 58-64 passenger car).

[Patrick C.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

Joe

Thanks Joe. Is it correct that the later spindles (69-83) also had larger bolts holding the steering arms to the spindles along with different splash shields?

pat

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

The difference in splash shields is that the hole in the middle is larger for the 69 up shields, and I believe the steering arm bolts are larger for the later spindles and arms.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 427 front knuckle / spindlle and bearings

Joe

Thanks Joe. Is it correct that the later spindles (69-83) also had larger bolts holding the steering arms to the spindles along with different splash shields?

pat

pat------


Yes, the 1963-67 steering arm bolts are 7/16" and the 1968-82 are 1/2". The steering arms are also different, both in the size of the holes as well as a difference in configuration.

As far as the shields go, there are actually 3 different sets----the 1965-67, the 1968-only, and the 1969-82.