CK - If you simply want to lower the car without changing brakes - why not put the aluminum lowering bars in the front A-arms? They are easy to get and simple to do...... Yes, it will change the distance to the bump stops.

You can get similar results and a better ride by installing the Aerostar front springs. The variable spring rate springs are a useful modern mechanical change to the little cars. And they change the distance to the bump stops as well.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

I have spoken to these guys. Yet no drum brake spindles.

CK,

Have you checked with these folks?

http://www.dropnstop.com/page2.html

They have been around for a long time.

Another one that is mentioned some is Fatman.

http://www.fatmanfab.com/

I have no experience with them but others may have.

HTH

Jim
Norfolk, VA

"MABLE"
1956 Thunderbird Green / Brown Interior (ZE-XG)

"MEAN GREEN"
1956 Mainline (FG-BE)

Guys I have been trying to find a set of lowering spindles for my 55' Tbird and there are none to be found. I'd like to keep the drums for a few reasons and so I'm working toward making a set of drum brake drop spindles. The first hurdle is when the drum is dropped 2-3" the ball joint is directly in place of the outer channel for the shoe area, and therefore the spindle will be pushed out 20-25mm, sorry about an inch. Though this can be accommodated by the wheel centre. However widening is a desirable effect when in moderation of the original design.
I think the spindle and backing plate could all be cast together and appropriately machined to to take shoes etc. at the desirable height with the tie rod end aligned with the ball joints as original.

Oh and you can by spindles for the disc brakes with the original alignments too.
I have read the Granadas have this hassel, your only ment to use the disc's and calipers with the new spindles.

I actually put the Tbird on a friends alignment rack this morning when I stopped by to get his thoughts. That's when we found the ball joints out of whack. My alignment was reasonably close, the wheels were straight and it didn't pull. Here is a link that goes a long way in explaining bump steer. Mustang(Pinto)II front ends use the same kind of spindle but with rack and pinion steering and bump steer kits are available for some those applications. Mustangs often use the Granada swap and bump steer kits to reposition the tie-rods are popular with them. Once I have the new ball joints in, plotting out the bump steer will be on the list just because I want to know. Also included is a link to a popular bump steer kit for Granada spindles and Mustangs.

http://dazed.home.bresnan.net/bump

http://www.opentrackerracingproducts.com/baertracker/

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

I put Granada spindles on my 54 Ford (same suspension as a TBird) and don't have any bump steer problem. Had the alignment done by a pro shop.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I did some looking around on the Internet and the Rare Parts joints look to be good quality and made here in this country. They are also in Stockton, Ca which is also semi-local. After thinking about this for awhile, I didn't question the ball joints because I had rebuilt the front end when I bought the car maybe 12 years ago. I got the ball joints from a Tbird parts house and most likely they are Chinese in origin and worn out. Maybe 30 thousand miles. I bit the bullet and ordered the Rare Parts ball joints on line at 128 bucks a piece. Shipping is minimal for my location. At least they are bolt-ons and not riveted. Hopefully the steering problem will be corrected with the new joints and another alignment. I went to the MOOG website and they don't make them any longer.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

I don't know about the ball joints but in my quest to find the best control arm bushings I used moog from rock auto and napa. They were made in mexico but looked a lot better than the ones I got from one of the big name ford resto parts places.

After further inspection......I need lower ball joints. Can't get a reliable measurement so that needs to be tackled first. Rockauto doesn't list them but NAPA does for 150 bucks a pop. Yikes. The online catalogue at Thunderbird Headquarters (near me) lists them for 50 bucks a piece. Scratching my head about the price difference. China vs American? The NAPA parts are listed as Rare Parts, no indication of where the Tbird parts house gets theirs. Any advice?

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

I'm in the same boat, with the bump steer a result of relocating the rack to clear the FPA headers. I've seen bump steer kits installed on later model Fairlanes with lowered spindles, and on Charger. The owners seemed to be happy with the improvement. I think the kit came from Alston's Chassis works. There are some other mods going on to the front end, and when they're done, I'm going after the bump steer. I'd be interested in what you come up with.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ