Advice for a 15"wheel for my '96 Cruiser....

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auttiman

auttiman

10 Year
Joined
Jul 18, 2014
Threads
45
Messages
312
Location
Alabama
I have 16" rims (stock) but 31/10.50 15 rims and tires off an old jeep cherokee (6 on 5.5 lug).

I was gonna try to mount them but looks like I won't have enough clearance for the full floating axles.

Is there a recommendation on wheels or should I try having these openings machined/turned?

TIA

I'll post pics as soon as this site allows me to.
 
15" wheels won't fit.
 
15" wheels simply will not fit on a 96'
The brakes are too big and will interfere with the dropwell of any 15in wheel you try.
You're better off sticking with the LC 16in wheels.

Furthermore, SHAME on you for trying to put JEEP parts on a LC! :flipoff2:
 
Golgo13 said:
15" wheels simply will not fit on a 96'
The brakes are too big and will interfere with the dropwell of any 15in wheel you try.
You're better off sticking with the LC 16in wheels.

Furthermore, SHAME on you for trying to put JEEP parts on a LC! :flipoff2:
Click to expand...
LOL!!! I agree but they're new and just sitting in my barn.... But I got bigger problems. Yesterday my power steering quit working after I floored it going up a hill. Today it's working again. But I noticed a pulley stuck that's not moving. I figured 'maybe that's the problem' but if that really was the problem, why is the power steering working again. Turns out that is just an idler pulley. No clue what's up with the power steering. It must be a mechanical pump.

Any info/recommendations would be appreciated.
 
Check your belt tension. If the belt is slipping on the PS pump, you'll lose your PS.
Also sounds like you could be due for a pump rebuild kit.
Of check with @arcteryx (CruiserYard) for parts.

Sell the Jeep wheels and use the $$ towards your PS system. That is much more important.
 
There's no belt on the power steering pump. It's gear driven. I had a similar problem with my 96. Turns out that the bolt for the harmonic balancer had come loose. The gear behind there isn't keyed and turns the oil pump gear which turns the power steering gear. I saw a picture of all of this one time that shined a lot of light on the process. I say check the 304ish ft/pound torque on that bolt.


Fat Fingered from the 'Mud app
 
concerning the wheel, even if it did fit, most wheels dont have a shank lug nut type design where the lug nut reaches down for purchase on the entire stud length. Most other wheels are conical lug seats where the lug nuts will then only grab less than half the wheel stud. Over time the studs will start breaking and snapping off.

Thats why if you see wheels other than LC wheels they are usually Sequoia or Tundra wheels that utilize the shank style. FYI
 
Get them bored out to 16":hillbilly:
 
Funner said:
Get them bored out to 16":hillbilly:
Click to expand...

Haha, yeah, I didn't even think of that. Bore them out or get a wheel stretcher. Looks like a bigger version of an exhaust pipe expander.

Another horrifying tip I see too often: Just grind a little off the caliper until the wheels fit.
Yeah, don't do that.
 
Pollo, that is the second time I have made that mistake this week.
I never really looked at the PS for a 1FZ. My truck has the 3F-E with a belt-driven pump, so that is always the go-to reference in my head.
I forget how uncommon the 3F-E posts are sometimes.
My Bad!
 
I downgraded to pre 95 hdj81 rear disks and I shaved 1mm of the flat ridge on my front caliper. Like a glove. 15x12's all day long.

D4F6B3E6-DBC4-4B64-87B2-9B009E7DD04B.jpg


A0D7DF91-8ED3-4C7E-832A-2D002C659EE5.jpg


105FD9F8-F44B-4EFA-BFB9-99F76C829DA0.jpg


Just a very light pass on the bridge section on the outer 2 pistons.
 
Golgo13 said:
Pollo, that is the second time I have made that mistake this week.
I never really looked at the PS for a 1FZ. My truck has the 3F-E with a belt-driven pump, so that is always the go-to reference in my head.
I forget how uncommon the 3F-E posts are sometimes.
My Bad!
Click to expand...

No worries. It's what I figured you were talking about. I've only ever seen one 3fe.


Fat Fingered from the 'Mud app
 
ElPolloBlanco said:
There's no belt on the power steering pump. It's gear driven. I had a similar problem with my 96. Turns out that the bolt for the harmonic balancer had come loose. The gear behind there isn't keyed and turns the oil pump gear which turns the power steering gear. I saw a picture of all of this one time that shined a lot of light on the process. I say check the 304ish ft/pound torque on that bolt.


Fat Fingered from the 'Mud app
Click to expand...

that's interesting... there is 2 V belts running my PS pump on my 96....

as for 15" wheels... i'm running 15s with a 2.5" backspace... they fit on the back and i had to grind the front calipers a little bit... the design of the wheel can make some difference too...
 
Pics or it didn't happen.


Fat Fingered from the 'Mud app
 
Also what's the benefit of running a 15 inch rim? I'm going up to 17s cause tires are easier to get.


Fat Fingered from the 'Mud app
 
ElPolloBlanco said:
There's no belt on the power steering pump. It's gear driven. I had a similar problem with my 96. Turns out that the bolt for the harmonic balancer had come loose. The gear behind there isn't keyed and turns the oil pump gear which turns the power steering gear. I saw a picture of all of this one time that shined a lot of light on the process. I say check the 304ish ft/pound torque on that bolt
Click to expand...
WOW! That means I might have lost oil pressure as well when my power steering was out ?!?!!???

Thanks for the advice! You've given me hope for this LC. If tightening a bolt can straighten all of this out, buying some BFGs or Interco LTBs will be much easier to swallow.
 
ElPolloBlanco said:
Also what's the benefit of running a 15 inch rim? I'm going up to 17s cause tires are easier to get.


Fat Fingered from the 'Mud app
Click to expand...

no real benefit in 15s to my knowledge... they were just the right price...

as far as the power steering, i guess i was mistaken... it's the alternator with 2 belts and i thought the idler pulley they go around was the PS pulley... Doh!
 
@auttiman FWIW, last year, I picked up a set of 5 wheels/tires that were take-offs from an FJ Cruiser for $200. They had a little over half tread. they are 17" steel wheels and look pretty damn good on the truck.
My plan is to eventually buy some 255/75R17 (32") tires for it. Haven't decided on the brand/model tire yet, but I like the look and performance of a tall, skinny tire for my use. The FJ Wheels would be perfect for it.
 
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