Classic Performance Products' Disc Brake Spindle Options for Twin I-Beam 1965-72 Ford F-100s

By Rob Fortier – Photography by Author

You may be a purist at heart—and bless that heart of yours if so—but no matter what your beliefs are when it comes to vintage truck mechanicals such as brakes, if you live and drive in any metropolitan area where there’s more than just one major intersection slash stop sign, and you still drive a four-wheel drum-brake equipped pickup—bless more than just that heart of yours! It’s time to rethink those basic principles and step your brake game up a notch!

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CPP offers two spindle and brake package options for the ’65-72 F-100: their OE Stock Spindle kit (shown) and a Modular Spindle kit (both are new ductile iron castings) that allows the use of the same single-piston caliper as well as their phenolic two-piston Big Brake caliper designed for 17-inch and larger wheels.

When it comes to the mid-‘60s generation of Ford F-100s, twin I-beam owners can rejoice if they’re ready and willing to upgrade their choice of front brakes thanks to Classic Performance Products. CPP manufactures two spindle upgrade options for the ’65-72 half-tons: an OE Stock Spindle (all-new cast ductile iron, not repurposed ’73-79 disc brake spindles) with integrated caliper mount and their Modular Spindle with bolt-on mounts that allow the use of either 12- or 13-inch brake packages (the OE reproduction spindle uses a reproduction 12-inch Ford brake package). Both come with new king pins and bushings pre-installed (yes, you don’t have to worry about finding a reamer, let alone using one!), making installation much easier than it used to be—not to mention ensuring your truck is equipped with safer, more efficient front brakes.

As long as your axle’s good, you’re good to go—as everything hung off the king pin has got to go; none of the original spindle or brake components will be reused.

It’s been some time since I’ve messed around with early Ford axles, so the following “dual-purpose” install actually served as a nice refresher course for myself as well!

Even though we’re not keeping any of the aforementioned components, after the brakes have been removed, you’ll want to take extra caution when driving the old king pins out, as you don’t want to damage the one component that will remain: your axle! (Mushrooming the top of the pin can and will cause you and your axle all kinds of headaches—use a good penetrating oil and/or add heat to help free the pin.)

(As a side note, if you’re looking for the extreme king pin spindle and brake performance upgrade for your ’65-72 F-100, CPP is about to release their latest offering of Modular dropped spindles: the F-Drop Modular Spindle—the aftermarket’s first ever two-piece modular design 2-inch-drop king pin spindle for the F-100 twin I-beam!)

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