Front spindles bending

I have a 2003 Murray widebody lt with a mild pulley swap (about 20mph). I ride in rough terrain frequently and have been experiencing front end problems. I am running stock front tire size (15-6-6) but I have bent two spindles now. I was wondering if there would be a way to reinforce them or add gussets but there doesn't seem to be much room to do so. There has to be a way to make the stock spindles a bit stronger or modify them, or would I be best off fabricating a new front axle assembly with larger spindles? any advice is appreciated, thanks in advance!

You could weld in nuts in the bend of the J on the spindle for reinforcement. If you are pretty handy at fabrication, you could make a new axle out of rectangular tubing and go kart knuckles. Stretch did one on his Silver Bullet

https://www.atltf.com/t1062-craftsman-lt10-build

Good luck!

MatthewD wrote:

You could weld in nuts in the bend of the J on the spindle for reinforcement

Yeah that's what I did, and I run 18"s on my front axle.

I would recommend fabbing up a new front axle with go kart knuckles, that's kinda what I'm doing, except the knuckle is on the wheel side. Of course you can go the cheap route, which would involve cutting some gussets to fit in the J bend of the spindle and welding them in. I'm kinda suprised you've actually managed to bend them, I've slammed mine down like 100s of times and only managed to screw up the front axle. And I have a Briggs 18HP Opposed twin on that (friggin heavy)

Yeah I suppose when you have a really strong front axle, the spindles will go first. If you bend the spindles and then bend them back too much, they will break so maybe it would be better to start a new axle.

MatthewD wrote:

You could weld in nuts in the bend of the J on the spindle for reinforcement. If you are pretty handy at fabrication, you could make a new axle out of rectangular tubing and go kart knuckles. Stretch did one on his Silver Bullet

https://www.atltf.com/t1062-craftsman-lt10-build

Good luck!

Matthew could you elaborate on the use of nuts in the J bend of the spindle? I have a spare set id like to try to modify before I go the expensive route of fabricating a whole new axle with spindles. if anyone has pictures it would be greatly appreciated.

Found a pic of Mr. Modified's Baja Sears spindles. Get the biggest size nut you can to fit in that right angle bend. Hopefully that helps you!

Redlinemotorsports yelled at me for that and said I shoulda used a gusset, which you could also do. I was just too lazy to cut it out. I've had 3/4 spindles on all my stuff with no issues, but I don't have as many hours on my machines off road as some people do. Redline uses 1" spindles on his machine I think off an industrial mower. But of course if nothing breaks, then you don't have fun fixing anything either.

Gotta be professional yea know. cant be welding random things on. CNC plasma brackets or get out

No but really bracing them up helps, but ive had a spindle bend after the gusset and sieze a wheel up. thicker the better, hence why i run 1" spindles and bearing hubs. Breakin on the trail sucks

Yeah but not everyone has a junkyard like you Red!

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

Gotta be professional yea know. cant be welding random things on. CNC plasma brackets or get out

No but really bracing them up helps, but ive had a spindle bend after the gusset and sieze a wheel up. thicker the better, hence why i run 1" spindles and bearing hubs. Breakin on the trail sucks

so when you converted to 1" spindle did you replace the axle too?

Yeah, I think he got it from one of those huge industrial mowers. It's really well built! Check out his thread btw - https://www.atltf.com/t1960-mtd-off-road-romper-build