Can anyone confirm or deny whether the front 4 lug spindles off of a 1970 Maverick are the same as the 5 lug?
Yes, I can both confirm and deny it .... Depends on what engine you had in the 70 car. My book shows 2 spindles for 1970 models - a small bearing and a big bearing. Small bearing has a bore of .750 on the outer and 1.250 on the inner bearing. Big bearing has a .8611 bore outer bearing and the inner bearing is 1.3772 bore. Most 5 lug spindles (I don't say all with FORD if I can help it ) have the bigger bearing with the .8611 / 1.3772 bore. Best thing to do is throw a calipers on the 4 lug spindles to see if it takes the bigger bearings. I'm only refering to drum spindles, not later disc spindles - for the bearing sizes.
Again - look at my answer - you need to see if the bigger 5 lug bearings fit your particular spindle.
Hmmm, my interchange manual doesn't list two different sizes for 70 Maverick drum spindles. But it does show the same part number as a 70 Mustang drum spindle. I did that swap about 20 years ago, 70 Mustang hub, drum and backing plates onto the 4-lug Maverick spindle.
Yes - 2 different spindles used in 1970 cars Looks like a spindle change was made on 8/24/1969 In use to 8/24/1969 and post 8/24/1969 Different bearings, bearing washer, bearing nut. All go by the date up to or post 8/24/1969 Take a look at these pages of parts from Rock Auto. ************************* 1970 FORD MAVERICK 3.3L 200cid L6 (T) : Brake/Wheel Hub : Axle/Spindle Nut Retainer - ItemPriceCoreTotal DORMAN Part # 615073 {AutoGrade Hardware Thread Size 3/4"-16&M20"-1.0 Hex Size 1-1/16" & 27mm Used with Nut 615-072 & 615-087} Front; To 8/24/69 **Sold in packs of 5; Price reflects cost of each individual item, not the pack** $1.10$0.00$1.10 DORMAN Part # 615075 {AutoGrade Hardware Thread Size 13/16"-20 Hex Size 1-1/8" Used with Nut 615-074} Front; From 8/25/69 $1.10$0.00$1.10 BCA Part # A2 {Cone Length=0.475" Bore=0.75" Outer Diameter=1.781" Width=0.61 StoundOut=0.135" Cup Length=0.475" Cone Radius=1.046"} Front Wheel; Outer; (To 08/24/69) $5.75$0.00$5.75 BCA Part # A12 {Cone Length=0.475" Bore=0.8611" Outer Diameter=1.781" Width=0.61 StoundOut=0.135" Cup Length=0.475" Cone Radius=1.05"} Front Wheel; Outer; (From 08/25/69) $6.37$0.00$6.37 BCA Part # A6 {Cone Length=0.465" Bore=1.25" Outer Diameter=2.328" Width=0.625 StoundOut=0.16" Cup Length=0.465"} Front Wheel; Inner; (To 08/24/69) $6.72$0.00$6.72 BCA Part # A13 {Cone Length=0.47" Bore=1.3772" Outer Diameter=2.328" Width=0.625 StoundOut=0.155" Cup Length=0.47" Cone Radius=1.203"} Front Wheel; Inner; (From 08/25/69) $7.29$0.00$7.29
Guess that explains it, they only used the first size for a couple months. My 70 was built in July of 1970. Wonder what car the original spindle was shared with?
The following describes disc brake spindles, but the changes applied to drum spindles as well. Ford used disc brake specific spindles for Mustang, Falcon, Maverick... (all the Falcon chassis cars) beginning in 68. The 68-69 Mustang disc brake spindle are the same. The 70-73 Mustang disc brake spindle is identical to the 68-69 type except the spindle pin itself is larger in diameter and uses a different bearing set with larger internal race diameter (as described above). The 70-73 outer tie rod end mounting stud hole is slightly larger as well. My guess is that Maverick made the change to the larger pin spindle on the date listed in the post above. Both spindles can be used for 5 lug since there is no 4 lug specific spindle. Use parts listed for 69 Mustang for the smaller pin variety, and 70 Mustang for the larger type. Granada/Maverick disc brake spindles from mid 70's (All 74-77 Maverick, 75-80 Granada were disc brake equipped) are nearly identical to the 70-73 type. They use a different caliper anchor (bracket) and caliper and have a still larger tie rod mounting hole.
