Name that spindle!

no picture........

When you asked us to, "Name That Spindle", I was going to say "Sammy Spindle" because I thought you were going to introduce us to a new mascot. LOL

OOPS! 

Here are the pics and Robert, you can call it by any name you like!

Now I'm being told by Aircooled that these are Ghia disc spindles and probably won't work with the kits I'm looking at.

Panhandle Bob posted:

Now I'm being told by Aircooled that these are Ghia disc spindles and probably won't work with the kits I'm looking at.

When I put new front disc pads on my VS built Speedster I had to buy pads for a Ghia.

What year is your VS Robert?

Panhandle Bob posted:

What year is your VS Robert?

Mine was built in 2001. I have the original 4 lug rims on mine with the four lug disc. I've never considered doing the wide five conversion so I don't know what has to be changed out to make it happen.

@Panhandle Bob

The spindles on your car is late Ghia disc brake  Spindles, you will need to convert to drum brake spindles to run most Disc brake conversions . You will need 1969 and later drum brake spindles so you wont have to change your tie rod ends. 

Greg

Well, mine is the four lug disc with a spacer and a wide five adapter. I've got a swing axle rear with a wide five drum setup.

Schizophrenic.

This should be simple, but it isn't. If I had stock beetle spindles on the front I could just buy a bolt on system and be done with it. But I can't find a setup that bolts to what I've been told these spindles are. So I would need to swap spindles as well.

However, I have found a disc the same diameter, but 1/4" thicker. I'm trying to confirm a couple of additional measurements, space enough for the front of the caliper between the rotor face and the wheel mounting plate, and the wheel bearing sizes.

Just read Greg's message. Not what I was hoping for.

Thanks for the confirmation, Greg.

Don’t despair.......   

Just get a disk kit you like that includes the spindles.   You have a ball joint front end, so get a disk conversion for a 1968 or later ball joint front end.  You can buy a “narrow” ball joint “pickle fork” at NAPA (they’ll know what you want) to pop the ball joints free from the spindles, but I usually loosen the nuts, bring a jack up under the nut to lift it a bit, use a hammer to belt down on the trailing arm and the ball joint bolt usually lets go of the trailing arm and is easily removed.  Installing the new spindle is as easy as poking a bolt through a hole and tightening the nut, honest. 

Yep. And sell the Ghia spindles on. Someone will want them.

I recommend a small 2 jaw puller for the upper ball joint. Sometimes the camber adjuster doesn't want to come off the ball joint. Oh wait nevermind, you can leave the adjuster on and swap the spindle.

The bottom ball joint usually comes out without using a pickle fork. Pickle forks almost always rip the boots, so I don't use them.

Now is the time to ditch your wide5 adapters and change them all the way out. If you swap the front, all you need in the back is new drums. Easy peasy.