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EarlyCJ5.com Technical Library
A technical library for classic Jeeps
EarlyCJ5.com
Images of Jeep Wheels
Wheel fitment with disk brakes
A common question is what wheels fit with disk brakes or 11" drums. As it turns out you limit your choices for stock steel wheels if/when you upgrade your brakes on your CJ-5. Briefly some combinations that work and do not work. Unfortunately most do not with upgraded brakes.
| Brake | Wheel | Fits? |
|---|---|---|
| Stock 9" Drum | Stock 15" | Yes |
| Stock 16" | Yes | |
| Kelsey-Hayes 15x8 | Yes | |
| Stock 10" Drum | Stock 15" | Yes |
| Stock 16" | Yes | |
| Kelsey-Hayes 15x8 | Yes | |
| Later 11" Drum | Stock 15" | No |
| Stock 16" | Depends, non-finned drums clear, finned might not | |
| Kelsey-Hayes 15x8 | No | |
| Disk Brakes | Stock 15" | No |
| Stock 16" | No | |
| Kelsey-Hayes 15x8 | No |
Options for stock looking steel wheels with a disk brake conversion or disk brake equipped Dana 30 swap usually are a later (AMC) CJ that came with disk brakes or 11" drums. These Jeeps have 15" wheels that will clear 11" drums and disk brake calipers. Scout also and some earlier Dodge and Ford, needs 4 1/4" center hole, 5 on 5 1/2" Ford wheels and turned the center to the right dimension on a lathe and Suzuki LJ10 wheels.
Another option (not cheap) includes Stockton Wheels. Stockton will build a wheel for you.
Jayhawkclint writes:
I got Animal fever today; I wanted steel wheels on my '70 in a bad way. Ever since I first joined this site and laid eyes on that fine '63 (Grrrrr!!), I've wanted those wheels on my JEEP. I've purposefully kept the flares OFF the JEEP just waiting for this day. I know people have said they don't fit, but I thought maybe with a little grinding here and there I could get them to work. Well, they just plain don't fit. On the Chevy calipers, it is the pin that gets in the way. Can't really grind the head of the pin off or else you'd not be able to do maintenance. Fine, I thought, I'll just swap axles. Move over to the stock '77-'78 CJ D30 laying in the drive. The whole caliper hits. Just eyeballing it, I think it would be danger close to grind enough off the caliper to clear. I could be wrong, but I'm not going to chance a brand new set of calipers to find out. Both the chevy and the AMC hit in the same spots where the wheel rivets to the rim on the back side. Here's the pictorial.
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Elsewhere on the web see
- EarlyCJ5.com -> Tech -> Brakes
- A pictorial comparison of drum brake sizes.
- Brake images in the Early CJ-5.com Picture Bank
