Link pin drop spindles $109, but raised ones $670? WTF?

[don1357]

I was looking at JBugs, they have dropped spindles for that most perfect retarded look for $109, but raised spindles are $670?! Why!

If that's the going rate I would imagine somebody would be making them for a lot less?

[Vanillagurilla]

[don1357]

[dustymojave]

You quoted the price for the Latest Rage Forged lifted combo link spindles. Cold forged 4140 steel, needle bearings for king pins, 1.5" diameter king pins as compared to 3/4" diameter stock, way stouter spindle shank, and more.

But the drop spindles are EMPI. That one word right there should explain MUCH of the difference in price. Plus they don't include links, king pins, link pins, bushings or anything else and have stock size skinny little spindle snout. Just adding the link and king pin kit is another $62, or 2/3 again the price of the spindles without them.

Not to mention that as was pointed out before, the lifted spindles are for offroad use and thus need to be far stronger than for parking lot lowrider Bugs.

Even the EMPI heavy duty (NOT combo link) spindles without the lift go for 3x the price of the lowered spindles. But then, like the lifted combo spindles you quoted the price for, they include HD forged links, king pins, heavy duty bushings, that the drop spindles DO NOT include. Non lifted combo link spindles cost $420. Note that the lifted combo link spindles cost 50% more than non-lifted combo link spindles.

Need to compare a little closer to apples to apples before you raise a fuss about the difference.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet.

[don1357]

Thanks for pointing that out. I just looked at JBugs and the most expensive dropped spindles for drums they have is $109. On the other hand the least expensive lifted spindles is $639.

Is there an inexpensive option for lifted spindles anywhere?

[dustymojave]

There are some folks who have cut the spindle snout off, cut the back off another spindle, and welded the snout from the 2nd spindle onto the flat face of the other in a raised position. But that has sometimes left those folks on the side of the road (if they're lucky) with a broken spindle.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet.

[Vanillagurilla]

If you want lift you can buy a new beam with adjusters for under $300 and swap all your parts onto it.

[Mal evolent]

[Vanillagurilla]

[petrol punk]

There's also barndoor spindles but good luck finding them, if you do I doubt they'll be cheap due to rarity. Only real cost effective solution is custom fab'd. You can buy LP, BJ, or Combo spindle spuds for <$100. Would be cool if someone would just waterjet out a plate that bolts to a stock spindle using the backing plate bolts, has a register for the new spud. Then just cut the old spud off and weld the plate to the spindle and the spud to the plate. Could probably make a kit for close to $100.
_________________
36hp '56 European DeLuxe oval, '70 bug 1835cc dual 36DRLA, and a '98 4x4 5spd single cab Tacoma

[don1357]

I'm guessing that the best bet would be starting with a brand new set of weld-on spindles and a brand new set of mounting plates. Basically cut spindle off the link pin leaving a flush surface, weld the spindle to the mounting plate, weld the mounting plate to the link pin...

That would be about $83 in parts (plus the link pin to operate on). Still cheaper than hacking a pair of spindles to get the spindles on a plate, plus the new metal should lead to a stronger weld. The only thing is that it looks like even a mellow lift could interfere with the lower link assembly.

I need to find me a donor link pin beam to try it, find out the clearance issues with the bottom link pin assembly.

[heywebonya]

Great Idea, I would love to see this succeed.

Best regards, Jeff
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If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy!

[PhillipM]

You do start getting close with the lower pins depending on your geometery - my new hubs even have a recess in the back of the spindle itself to clear the link pin

[petrol punk]

[don1357]

[tobiism]

[BFB]