Thread: a-arm suspension

When building up a new front a-arm suspension, Can u buy a set of custom uprights that are complete with the hubs and everything and then build the upper and lower a-arms off of them? Cuz I was at Kartek a couple of weeks ago and I saw their new spindal/upright and it comes complete with everything from the upright,hub, rotors,etc. So I was wondering when I do my complete front suspension redo in 2005 if I can get these uprights from Kartek and then build the uppers and lowers off of them. I know its possible but how hard is this for an expierenced fabber? If I want a suspension system that they already have built could they build around these uprights? Sorry for the long post.....just curious.

those spindles are expensive

It will seriously depend on the vehicle yor building. I dont recomend that you buy any suspension parts until you have the shop or person thats doing your arms take a look at the car or truck and what they have to work with. There are critical things in designing a spindle to consider. Tire size, spindle heigth, wheel offset, steering, brakes, and frame limitations. These all vary depending on one another. Dont go spend a couple thousand dollars an some parts that might not work or might not be right because they are readily available. Like a customer of mine did he bought spindles and arms off raglands trophy truck when they redid there front end with plans to put it on his 7 truck the reality is I could mount it all and make it work but it wont be set up properly. And probably look funky do to having to make it work rather than building to what we have. So he opted to sell those parts and start over. Just my 2 cents.

I know what spindals you are talking about, and they are VERY expensive, somewhere along the lines of $4200!!!! I was just there the other day and saw the ones that you are talking about. They are very beefy and a good piece to have, but it is all up to the fabricator to whether or now he can make them work.......

was it that much? oh shit I thought it was half that much. When I was talking to Pat I remember him telling me a price but I forgot that it was that much. Thats no bueno. Well Ill just have to see how the career hunting goes but that wont be untill next year probably towards the end.

itd be way cheaper to have custom ones made by a fabricator who knows what their doing. the ESB spindles available this fall will be around $1000, thats 1/4 the price for those things...and mine come complete lol .

get those spindals done Mike so I can run Austins kit on my truck

Yeah, those spindals are soooo sick though, but in my mind not worth the money. They come complete also with Wilwood 2 or 4, can't remember, disk breaks, all the goodies, and are CNC made. But yet, too much money for your everyday guy.........

with those spindles wouldnt u have to build new arm mounts to compensate for the spindle. cuz if u didnt wouldnt the set up not cycle right. those spindles are sick tho if u can make them work right

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (toyotaco @ July 19 2004,11:32)]with those spindles wouldnt u have to build new arm mounts *to compensate for the spindle. cuz if u didnt wouldnt the set up not cycle right. those spindles are sick tho if u can make them work right

Yes. You cant just buy a set and slap em on. I think Mike is right. If your gonna go custom uprights, have a fabber build you a set and you can get them exactly how you want them, and they'll be cheaper.

those spindles are not worth the price. cool brakes and hubs...whoopdee do, still not worth the money. anyone here with a steel cab truck for prerunning/racing isnt going to notice the significant difference in braking power over their stock ones (for the money at least).

heres the basic setup of what the ESB spindles will consist of..

full upright with snout. complete with brackets for brakes. double sheared lower, countersunk upper, double sheared steering. for 4wd, tacoma, and gen 2 2wd modles. uses toyota 6 lug 4wd brakes (giant 4 piston caliper) and bearings and rotor.

why toyota parts? instead of willwoods? many reasons.
1) simplicity. dont have to change where you buy parts, wont confuse the parts guys that go nuts when you say you have parts off of different trucks.
2) the toyota 4wd spindle snout, hub, and brake setup is BURLY. much larger than your average snout, it bolts on (not pressed in or one piece).

the only downside is that the 2wds will also have to be 6 lug...BUT, if you get a t-100 axle to go with the 3 link kit (we will be selling soon a "race" package that includes front and rear suspension, axle, and spindles) will make it all 6 lug. 6 lug is stronger, end of story.

3)easy. brake lines work the same, parts are readily available and easy to come by ( you cold get them in any junkyard if there was a failure in the middle of nowhere). try buying a willwood caliper in lucerne valley or el centro to get home...not gonna happen.

spindles will fit our tacoma kit, the 19" 4wd kit, and the 2wd 20" kit. the base spindle kit will only be the actual spindle parts, not the brakes, and such. the full kit will be priced once i find out exactly how much every part is but a complete setup will be available.

Get er dun Mike cant wait to get one of those kits on my 4runner!

working on it. the prototype is on my truck right now, just trying to get it finished so i can test it

speaking of your race truck MIke, when u gonna be out there trading paint w/ us?

I wanna see an ESB built Tundra

Mike is the kit that is on your race truck gonna be available to the public? What I mean is the 19" 4wd kit with the upper aluminum arm.

The uprights are not that much money and in the grand scheme of things they are priced very well. As far as just building around a set you could do it but it would better to figure out all of your geometry and then you can order the upright with correct height and kingpin inclination. A high end shop that would use those uprights will get around $8-$10k for a front end kit not including shocks, but that includes aluminum front hub, race rotors, good calipers, and bulletproof snount and big bearings. Its a high dollar setup for a built prerunner or race vehicle. Overkill for your four runner? Who makes the rules is to whats overkill, it would work but maybe not in your budget, ESB and guys like that are perfect for the guys not looking for full on out custom Newline, Stewarts Raceworks front ends. Kartek is doing amazing things for this industry and only can help the sport grow by leaps and bounds, those uprights will save people good money on a custom front end by saving many hours of custom work. Just my opinion.