How common is a bent spindle

[wfo9]

Tried to get an alignment today. Guy claimed passenger side would not cooperate because of what he thought was a bent spindle.

I'm not convinced this is the case.... I'm going to try another guy tomorrow and see if he can get it to cooperate. If not, I'll start thinking about replacing it... and gussets...

Anyway, curious to hear if others have experienced a bent a spindle. I don't wheel at speed, but I do push it pretty hard at times.

 

[Swarty]

I think it can occur with side loading...

Anyway, curious to hear if others have experienced a bent a spindle. I don't wheel at speed, but I do push it pretty hard at times.

I think the metal tech guys had to use the Total Chaos setup on theirs. I talked to JT and he said they had issues with larger tires side loading when the truck was off camber. Didn't sound like it happened at speed.
Total Chaos FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, 4Runner Spindle Gussets
it says 03-09 but it fits everything 03+.

 

[Landy]

Bent a spindle on my FJ. The curvature of the spindle lends itself to bending in certain scenarios. Mainly a direct upward force like coming down on a rock. It's definitely a weak point and I will be gusseting my spindles.

How common is it? Not that common due to the specific way you have to hit to get it to bend, but it's cheap insurance when you have a long drive home. I've seen way more busted CV's than bent spindles, but I have seen a few over the years not including mine.

 

[wfo9]

I'll report back after I take it to the "expert" tomorrow.

I will do the gusseting, next chance I get. Seems well worth it.

 

[Swarty]

The pieces are cheap...

I'll report back after I take it to the "expert" tomorrow.

I will do the gusseting, next chance I get. Seems well worth it.

The gussets are inexpensive but I think my cheapest quote was $600 to do the welding... If I were a competent welder it would probably already be done. :flame:

 

[joneseyyy]

Like other have said, the gussets are great insurance.

 

[FactoryRide]

The gussets are inexpensive but I think my cheapest quote was $600 to do the welding... If I were a competent welder it would probably already be done. :flame:

Somebody was trying to screw you. Keep calling fab shops. Those spindles shouldn't cost more than an hours worth of Labor to weld up. Even if you have them disassemble, weld, and then reassemble, it shouldn't cost that much.

 

[JSparky]

$600 sounds really high to me as well. Demello offers them already fixed-up with a core charge for your old ones, might be a solution for you. I think TheJosh mentioned this service too but may have been another shop.. Can't recall.

DeMello Off-Road T/C Spindle Gusseted, Demello Offroad

 

[4Surfin]

I just had upp and lower gussets don on my JKU. Parts were about $100 and labor was $250.... $600 is just silly

 

[Swarty]

$600 sounds really high to me as well. Demello offers them already fixed-up with a core charge for your old ones, might be a solution for you. I think TheJosh mentioned this service too but may have been another shop.. Can't recall.

DeMello Off-Road T/C Spindle Gusseted, Demello Offroad

Well that's a much better price. Prob the shops I was looking at were going to send them out so it was marked up twice. I'll prob do that!

 

[wfo9]

Well that's a much better price. Prob the shops I was looking at were going to send them out so it was marked up twice. I'll prob do that!

Looks like some of the gussets will not work with swaybars or anything but uniball style UCAs. Might want to verify they are compatible with your setup before you buy....

 

[FactoryRide]

Looks like some of the gussets will not work with swaybars or anything but uniball style UCAs. Might want to verify they are compatible with your setup before you buy....

All-Pro makes spindle gussets that retain the factory sway bar mounts. Total Chaos is not sway bar compatible. Aftermarket UCAs are also a must.

Also, wheel choice is important. In order to run stock wheels with these, you must run wheel spacers.

 

[Swarty]

2 different kits from TC

All-Pro makes spindle gussets that retain the factory sway bar mounts. Total Chaos is not sway bar compatible. Aftermarket UCAs are also a must.

Also, wheel choice is important. In order to run stock wheels with these, you must run wheel spacers.

Total Chaos makes two different gusset setups:
These do not let you run sway bars:
Total Chaos FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, 4Runner Spindle Gussets
These new style ones do:
Total Chaos FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, 4Runner Spindle Gussets

I'd double check but I thought the spacer thing was only true on Tacoma's cause they came with 16" wheels. Demelo warns you need spacers on when it's listed as a tacoma accessory but if you look at it under the 4runnner accessory they don't say that.
4runner spindle gusset
On the other hand total chaos thinks you always need spacers on stock...hmmm....

 

[Swarty]

Running ICON UCAs

Looks like some of the gussets will not work with swaybars or anything but uniball style UCAs. Might want to verify they are compatible with your setup before you buy....

I'm running Icon upfront so I'm fine. The demello ones are the sway bar compatible version, although I wonder if those problems were only for non KDSS vehicles. My sway bar sits so low I'd be surprised if it interfered with either type.

 

[Landy]

Looks like some of the gussets will not work with swaybars or anything but uniball style UCAs. Might want to verify they are compatible with your setup before you buy....

That note is on Demello's site because of me. I had Light Racing/SPC UCA's at the time. The added material of the gusset makes fully tightening the castle nut on the upper ball joint impossible. Any UCA that uses an OEM style ball joint, these will not work with. Unless you know of an OEM style ball joint with a longer threaded portion. I ended up picking up the Icon uniball UCA's.

As far as the sway bar situation, as stated All Pro and Total Chaos both have spindle gussets that are compatible with the sway bar.

 

[FactoryRide]

Total Chaos makes two different gusset setups:
These do not let you run sway bars:
Total Chaos FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, 4Runner Spindle Gussets
These new style ones do:
Total Chaos FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, 4Runner Spindle Gussets

I'd double check but I thought the spacer thing was only true on Tacoma's cause they came with 16" wheels. Demelo warns you need spacers on when it's listed as a tacoma accessory but if you look at it under the 4runnner accessory they don't say that.
4runner spindle gusset
On the other hand total chaos thinks you always need spacers on stock...hmmm....

I was not aware that TC was making a new style to allow for the sway bar. I haven't looked at them in awhile since I haven't splurged on UCAs yet. Good to know.

I'm running Icon upfront so I'm fine. The demello ones are the sway bar compatible version, although I wonder if those problems were only for non KDSS vehicles. My sway bar sits so low I'd be surprised if it interfered with either type.

KDSS shouldn't interfere with your spindles. The sway bar on a KDSS truck is not connected to the spindle like the other model trims. KDSS has its sway bars bolted to the LCA. I believe if your KDSS is interfering with the spindles, then you have a larger problem than spindle gussets.

The reason for the spacers is for the stock wheels backspacing. Diameter of the wheel would not be a factor anywhere in there except for clearing the calipers. The stock wheels do not have enough back spacing and would hit on the rim. Aftermarket wheels with the proper backspacing/offset will remedy that.

That note is on Demello's site because of me. I had Light Racing/SPC UCA's at the time. The added material of the gusset makes fully tightening the castle nut on the upper ball joint impossible. Any UCA that uses an OEM style ball joint, these will not work with. Unless you know of an OEM style ball joint with a longer threaded portion. I ended up picking up the Icon uniball UCA's.

As far as the sway bar situation, as stated All Pro and Total Chaos both have spindle gussets that are compatible with the sway bar.

I wonder if they work with the Camburg UCAs that have the Moog joints? I don't see why they wouldn't as their design is identical to a uniball minus the uniball.I would like to know though, those are what I plan to get while I decide if I want to go the LT route.

 

[Swarty]

So much room for activities!

The reason for the spacers is for the stock wheels backspacing. Diameter of the wheel would not be a factor anywhere in there except for clearing the calipers. The stock wheels do not have enough back spacing and would hit on the rim. Aftermarket wheels with the proper backspacing/offset will remedy that.

Yeah the offset is more direct but the diameter matters a little because of the shape and angle of the spindle which curves/slopes away from the wheel. I thought if this brace followed the spindle closely I might get away with it. I have a bit over an inch of clearance right now to the rim, not sure how thick this bad boy is... Tire flex will probably be the bigger issue, I'd get rubbing with the 285s I have on there now.hwell:

 

[05Rrunner]

I'll report back after I take it to the "expert" tomorrow.

I will do the gusseting, next chance I get. Seems well worth it.

Keep us updated !

 

[Landy]

I wonder if they work with the Camburg UCAs that have the Moog joints? I don't see why they wouldn't as their design is identical to a uniball minus the uniball.I would like to know though, those are what I plan to get while I decide if I want to go the LT route.

I don't think they will, unless the ball joint is longer/has a longer threaded portion. I was under the impression that the camburgs also use an OEM style joint.

 

[wfo9]

Keep us updated !

Will do. I could not make it to the other alignment shop yesterday due to traffic and other work stuff.

Funny thing is a friend with an FJ was told the same story as me about the bent spindle (by the same shop I went to) and the other shop was able to align it without issue.

The guy I went to seemed to be legit and and to know what he was doing, but.... he may just be full of BS trying to make some money.... I got a little suspicious when he handed me an estimate for replacing it.

I wish I had access to an alignment rack to try it myself. It seems like it would be simple enough. I understand each cam impacts the other, but there are only so many combinations and a basic understanding of geometry would get you there.... but I have never had access to an alignment machine, so I'm just theorizing.