M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Topic: M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade (Read 4124 times) previous topic - next topic

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

August 06, 2007, 11:24:34 PM

OK, I am finally getting around to putting these control arms in. Basically, I am replacing the whole setup (control arm/spindle) at once. I am just wondering if there is any other approach to the problem of the shorter ball joint than just machining the spindle mount thinner?

Here is the spindle sitting on the control arm:

Should I just continue with the fly-cutting until I can get a good amount of the bolt through the locking part at the top of the nut?

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #1 – August 06, 2007, 11:36:47 PM

Switch to sn95 ball joints?

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #2 – August 06, 2007, 11:49:39 PM

No, he needs to switch to Fox ball joints.....or yes, continue to machine the spindle down.

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #3 – August 07, 2007, 12:04:12 AM

Quote from: 04FordHarleyF250;163357

I installed the FMS-3075-D "A" arms complete out of the box with my T-Bird sport spindles and KYB GR-2 struts. The only difference I can see is that the spring cups appear to be 1/2" deeper on the new A arms compared to the old. I was hoping it would have lowered the front end that 1/2" but I also used new spring isolators so the front end remained at the stock height. If I were to do the job again, I probably would cut 3-4" off the end each coil to get the lowered height I was looking for but the handling and ride is better than new.

Hmm...

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #4 – August 07, 2007, 12:15:27 AM

Quote from: JeremyB;166708

Hmm...

Thanks for that post - I didn't see that one when I searched. Have you got any comment of your own? I'm interested in any advice.

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #5 – August 07, 2007, 10:01:51 AM

I was reasonably sure you couldn't (safely) put a SN95 ball joint on a Fox spindle. A better response from 04FordHarleyF250 would convince me otherwise.

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #6 – August 07, 2007, 10:04:33 AM

Quote from: JeremyB;166781

I was reasonably sure you couldn't (safely) put a SN95 ball joint on a Fox spindle. A better response from 04FordHarleyF250 would convince me otherwise.

You can't. Not without some mods to the spindle. The SN-95 ball joint shanks are too short.

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #7 – August 07, 2007, 06:11:51 PM

Quote from: Chuck W;166782

You can't. Not without some mods to the spindle. The SN-95 ball joint shanks are too short.

Right. The taper seems to engage properly - just compressing the seal-ring a small amount - but the top of the spindle needs to be cut about 1/4" to expose a couple of threads above the nut when assembled. If you do not do this, you will have the nut back-off - as happened to a couple of folks here IIRC. I guess there is no simpler way - it's just a bear to chuck this thing in the mill and I have to sharpen the cutter I was using - otherwise it's not a bad job.

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #8 – August 07, 2007, 07:45:13 PM

I give up - it's just too difficult to chuck this stupid spindle. I also noticed a nice little area where it looks like the bearing dug into the axle just enough to feel. There is a bit of copper color there too. I guess the spindles etc were just one big rip-off as I bought them from somebody here who PM'd me (I don't even remember at this point).

What's the deal with SN95 spindles and 4-lug 11" brakes anyway?

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #9 – August 07, 2007, 10:11:43 PM

Quote from: Cougar5.0;166922

What's the deal with SN95 spindles and 4-lug 11" brakes anyway?

Are you talking about modifying SN-95 Brakes to the 4-Lug pattern?

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #10 – August 07, 2007, 10:15:59 PM

Not sure what the choices are - I already have some nice 11" rotors though...

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #11 – August 07, 2007, 10:18:26 PM

I would just replace the balljoints. Sucks, but it's the simplest solution.

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #12 – August 07, 2007, 10:56:59 PM

Your only choice if you want to use those arms with the Fox spindles is to install Fox ball joints.

You can use SN-95 spindles on Fox ball-joints (with a spacer under the nut), but you can't do the opposite (Fox spindles on SN-95 ball joints).

Sorry.

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #13 – August 07, 2007, 11:19:24 PM

Well, I decided that they don't keep me at work after shipping all the rest of the engineering to China because I give up easily. I realized a couple of things about the geometry of the spindle that allowed me to chuck it up and machine it failry easily. (Well, I also had to be willing to use features of the mill than I normally wouldn't).

The tierod mount is aligned in the x-axis and the ball-joint angle is -15 degrees (figured the American engineers would use a "standard" angle).

With the auto-feed on the x-axis with this new mill I just got, this job is now a matter of machining time. I have never tilted the head back on a mill like this before, so it was an interesting experience for me :D

M-3075-D Control Arms & 11" Mustang Brake Upgrade

Reply #14 – August 10, 2007, 05:31:53 PM

Did you get these mounted yet?