Classic Roadster front spindles ID help...

MaSnaka · #1 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 11:21 AM

Looking for some brake upgrades and was wondering what year/model my front spindles might be. The car is a CR first titled in 1997. I'm the 3rd owner and have no way to trace it back. Just looking for a place to start so I can purchase a direct bolt on kit from Wilwood. I'll call their tech line Tue. to see what they say. According to the CR manual I have it says the front strut rods are from a Pinto sedan '74-'78, but it says nothing of the origin of the spindles. Maybe they are too. It does have the Mustang II front suspension. Currently there are 9" rotors which just don't stop the car very well. Any help or advice would be appreciated, thanks.

John

Hray · #2 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 11:45 AM

John: All three of my CRL's had stock mustang II spindles, I will bet yours does too. I also have on hand a complete stock mustang II front end assembly and months back did a visual comparison. they were identical.

There also might be some casting numbers on the spindle, this may indicate if what you have is stock or not.

Ray.

Double Venom · #3 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 05:19 PM

WD,
Struts are Pinto, Spindles are M-2.s. Heidts has a great set up where you can eliminate the struts! Best thing you can do for the front suspension.
DV
Ps And your alignment guy will love ya for it!

MaSnaka · #4 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 06:01 PM

Thanks for the replies. Am I to assume the year of the spindles makes no difference. They are all the same?

John

Double Venom · #5 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 07:35 PM

NO!
The very early spindles are almost an inch lower, same year as the Mustang 2 please. (If memory serves me right?)

LMH · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 10:00 PM

There are lots of brake kits for Mustang II spindles. Wilwood makes a nice set up w/ 12.19" rotors and large four piston calipers. About the biggest brake you can use with 15" wheels.
One word of caution with brake kits though; find out if the kit adds to the track width or not. Some do and some do not.
Larry

MaSnaka · #7 (**permalink**) 02-16-2010, 08:16 PM

I spoke with Wilwood today and the tech I spoke with said they have both style kits, offset and zero offset, so no problem there. Kits are in stock. He also said 11" was the max with 15" wheels. I don't have the exact price in front of me but it was somewhere between $750 and $800. Ouch! But if it helps to stop on a dime that's well worth it. I'm thinking that's for smooth rotors although I didn't think to ask. Their website says the slotted and drilled rotors are more for show with todays pads, smooth rotors should perform just as well. I'll let you know how it turns out, when it turns out. Hopefully in the next couple weeks.

John

LMH · #8 (**permalink**) 02-16-2010, 10:17 PM

I have 12.19" Wilwood rotors on the rear of my car and also have two sets of Trigo 15" wheels. Both fit. I think they are being conservative on the "11" max" rotor.
Larry

MaSnaka · #9 (**permalink**) 02-17-2010, 08:51 AM

Larry,
You may have it set up that way, but the WW website even states the 12.19" is for 16" wheels. I have the 15" American Racing Torque Thrust wheels which may or may not fit the same as yours. Thanks for the heads-up on that offset info.

John

onetrackrider · #10 (**permalink**) 02-17-2010, 09:02 AM

John
Did you ever get your shock problem figured out?
Matt

rustyBob · #11 (**permalink**) 02-17-2010, 10:04 AM

MaSnaka.......

Speedway Motors has a heavy duty disc brake kit for the M2....
it has:
anodized aluminum hubs with 5 on 4.5 or 5 on 4.35 bolt pattern(your choice)
bearings,seals,aluminum brackets, 4 piston calipers, brake pads,
hardware and 10.375 x .81 thick vented rotors and 1/8 npt inlet on calipers
all for a mere $683.00 bucks the part number is 835-1402129..........
this kit should be more than enough stopping power for your Cobra.....

MaSnaka · #12 (**permalink**) 02-17-2010, 03:49 PM

Matt,
Yes I did get it figured out I just haven't done anything with it yet. The shocks I have are too long and after talking it over with the tech at Pro Shocks I know what I need to buy. It's the shorter shock basically. I can use the same spring coils and just swap out the shock. I have a 14" ride height between shock mounts. My existing shocks are for a 15" ride height. The new ones are for 13 1/2" ride height. ASB-SR5AB is the part number. I'll get to it eventually.

Rusty,
Thanks for the info. I'll check it out. I live not too far from Wilwood's warehouse so I can pick up the parts and exchanges without having any shipping costs. Plus they are a pretty well known vendor. Your source could save me $100 bucks though, I'll look.

John