Recently picked up a 2000 rcsb. While replacing the front shocks one day I noticed the ball joint and spindle setup. It doesn't look right to me. The thread and nut portion is facing up, on the upper and lower ball joint. And the orientation of the spindle is sitting on top of the ball joints now rather than below. The lowers are moog brand and seem to have a short shank. So someone through a tack weld in there to ensure the nut doesn't spin. Anyone have any input ?

Thanks - kyle

 

Let me add that it does have drop spindles. Unsure if brand. Just says GM - 99 DROP.

Thanks. - Kyle.

 

I forget the brand but some spindles were that way, they wanted you to flip the ball joints to make them work.

I prefer the stock style spindles.

 

That is the first time that I have seen that. Anybody know the brand?

Advantages to that style?

 

You know, in my mind, you're trusting the front end of your truck to the tension strength of 4 little bolts.

Instead of the normal way which is trusting the compression strength to those same bolts. And the weight of the truck is pushing the shank into the spindle instead of trying to pull them out.

I'd take em off and buy normal drop spindles where the ball joints face down.

 

And if you decide to flip them back over or they need changing, you can tell the guy who tack welded them to do an unspeakable act with their head. There's a reason they use coder pins

 

These things safe to run then?

 

Short answer is no.

Tack weld means he couldn't hammer on that nut enough to get it where the coder pin could get through the crown nut

 

The uppers don't carry any load laterally. Their loads are mostly perpendicular keeping the top of the spindle assembly aligned with the lower ball joint. Those loads are highest in cornering and braking, and going over bumps. There is usually not much load on the uppers at all unless running some crazy offset wide wheels/tires which is always hard on both uppers and lowers.

 

New drop spindles are on their way!