The weak point in these cars ... and by that I mean ALL 60's-80's production cars from GM, Ford & Chrysler ... are the:
1. Front spindle snouts (very small, made with low grade steel - Prone to overheating, becoming brittle & snapping)
2. The front spindle/hub bearings (Small - not made for this kind of load or heat - Prone to overheating & self destructing)
3. The ball joints (Small shanks, made with low grade steel, over heat treated - Prone to snapping off)
4. The rear 1-piece flange type axle (Design not intended for high power twist & high-G side loads we put on them. Made with low grade steel - Prone to breaking flange off at bearing.)
5. Rear axle bearings (Open Roller or Ball Bearing Roller) - Never designed for the high-G side loads we put on them - Prone to disintegrating.)
They were very safe for street driving with G70-14 tires ... like they were intended. But we put modern suspensions, wide/sticky tires, hotter brakes & big HP in these these cool cars ... and the 5 areas I listed above are the weak links.
I'm not surprised they break. I'm surprised they last as well as they do. But it's like playing Russian roulette with a 24 bullet cylinder. Yes, the odds are better than a 6 bullet cylinder, but eventually it's going to bite you.
There are cheap ways to reduce your risk. And there are spendy ways to upgrade these areas where they are no longer a weak link.
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Ron Sutton Race Technology
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