The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1960 Front End repair

I have tried the search route and hit on all sides of my question but nothing diffinative. What are the mods suggested to replace ball joints etc..and keep my torsion front end. I don't want an engineering nightmare. Can any one help with a proven method. I wont mind some fabrication.

I have never dealved into my front end on the 61 but I amgonna have to replace ball joints and such soon. I am curious to see what people have to say. So I will throw you a nice little bump tothe top!

Kyle

I found in the Links page an outfit called Early Classics. They have a full kit and 'ala cart listings for the components (sans the torsion bars) I havent checked actual availabilty but they say they have them...Lower Ball joints were $140 ea and the Kit $1025 more than twice what the 63 and up cost. My question will be if i choose to go to disks in the future did I pour good money after bad by replacing parts that will be tossed in the upgrade?

There ARE disc brake spindles available for the T-bar front suspensions.

As far as modifications...are you looking to use new ball joints with the stock control arms? Won't work.

I've got a '62, and am in the same situation as you: this is my thinking on it...
The torsion bar front suspension is about the most comfortable truck I've driven in. Ball joints are horribly expensive, but then again, so are the ones on my new Dodge Dakota.
If I spend a truck load of money to rebuild the front suspension, how long will it last? Probably about 100,000 miles...which in my case is 5-7 years. Then it's time to rebuild again.

During that 100,000 miles, I'll have a comfortable ride.

My one concern is replacement torsion bars, because I haven't found anyone that carries them. But I'm working on that.

Now, to swap in a later cross member, I've heard it's very easy. Initial cost of the new cross member, steering box, total rebuild and rebuilding the disc brakes (another reason the swap is so popular--factory discs) is probably going to cost you what rebuilding the stock set-up is, with the benefit being cheaper ball joints during future rebuilds, cheaper coil springs, more commonly available upgrades such as disc brakes and sway bars (I'm working on sway bars, too).

The short money is going to be pretty close. The long term money is going to be a bigger savings, just in the cost of the ball joints.

I have to buy expensive ball joints for my new truck, so I got over the dread of buying expensive ball joints for my vintage truck.

-Brad

I am almost finished with a total rebuild of my suspension and added front disc brakes as well. The disc brake kit came from classic performance parts, as did the front end rebuild kit. I have a booster from Master power brakes. The rear trailing arms are from early classics. The control arm shaft assemblies are from NAPA. So far, all of the parts are supposed to fit stock applications and everything has fit together well. The suspension is finshed and I still have to plumb the new brake lines before the brakes are ready. The ball joints are a little spendy, but not that significant compared the cost of the whole project. Here are some before and after pics. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2303418960071636143QwqNye
I have been told sway bars from later trucks could be modified a bit to fit the torsion bar IFS. Would love to know which years specifically if anyone has experience.