Wheels

[Squidly]

I'm looking for some help identifying 15"-17" aftermarket wheels that fit 40's either disc or drum without having the correct 3.5" backspace. A search of this site identified a lot of good information on wheels but no comprehensive thread identifying what wheels fit and what has been tried that didn't fit. With all the experience on this board I would bet there is some good info to be shared.

So what worked for you and what didn't? Would like to get disc or drum, manufacturer, model, rim size, width, and backspace.

Thanks for any replies.

 

[reddingcruiser]

This a convoluted problem, with lots of variables and no simple answer. Wheel diameter, wheel width, tire diameter, sidewall width, SOA, SUA, backspacing, stock springs out-boarded springs and to use wheel spacers or not; these are just some of the considerations. Oh, add the thousands of tire AND wheel permutations possible. So you really need to be asking about your specific application.

 

[Diskord]

Good luck getting answers. I know I was not able to asking a similar, though more specific, question. There are too many variables to consider in your question, to be honest.

I believe the correct answer is "stock toyota steelies are the only rim you should be using"

Any rim with the correct, or close backspacing, and 15" diameter or larger will physically fit with drum brakes. Nothing on the drum breaks the plane of the wheel mounting surface. As long as the wheel has close to 3.5" backspacing so that it will not interfere with the tie rod ends, will work. Less backspacing would physically fit, but would stick out further and change where the load is placed on the wheel bearings.

Discs are another story. Correct backspacing will still determine whether or not the rim (or tire) could contact the tie rod ends, but it will tell you nothing at all about fitting around the caliper. (Thus the reason for my question on this issue) No commonly supplied rim dimension will tell you whether or not a rim will clear a caliper, which is also determined on if (or by how much) the caliper breaks the plane of the wheel mounting surface.

Something explained very well here...http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...ack-spacing-offset-explained-illustrated.html

Another consideration are steering arms. Are they stock, or one of the many high-steer kits available? I dont know, but if the dimensions on the various kits differ, then the allowable amount of backspacing would also change. i.e. the tie rod ends could be closer to the wheel mounting surface, or further away

I can tell you that AEWheel series 186/187 15x10 will just fit on a four wheel disc conversion, using late model front calipers.

AEWheel series 58 15x10 will NOT fit unless you were to run wheel spacers. They might work with the earlier calipers, I dont know.

I'm hoping that procomp 51 or 97 will fit, though I'm not currently sure how I will be able to make that determination without actually buying some, and test fitting them

 

[reddingcruiser]

Yeah, what he said ^^^.

 

[Squidly]

Thanks for the replies folks. Its not as simple as I thought it would be .

I was originally thinking about my truck and figured I could get some answers for others with similar questions.

My truck is SUA, 4" lift, discs all around, Saginaw power steering with stock control arms/TREs, fenders uncut. I would prefer 16" wheels as they have a greater tire selection than 15" but can't seem to find anything other than Pro Comps with 2.5" backspace. Looking to mount 285/75R16 on a simple black steel wheel preferably "D" window. From what I have read here some of the steel wheels have the windows punched/stamped which causes the window edges to contact the calipers. This contact, being unrelated to backspace, causes me some concern. Would like some 16"x8" "D" window black wheels that don't require me to modify the wheels or the calipers. Anything out there?

 

[murf]

Before this thread I had just noticed a set of FJ Cruiser steelies on Doc's (MUD name Hindsight) that looked great on his 40. 17" and bolt right up with correct bolt pattern and hub diameter. It DID require use of 1.25 spacers if that works for you.

Im sure he wouldnt mind posting up a pic of his good looking rig for you to see the wheels.

 

[Squidly]

Thanks Murf. I was trying to stay away from spacers but it looks like I may not have much choice if I want to guarantee clearance.

 

[B y r o n]

I just purchased some Pro Comp 7069 aluminum wheels for my '73 FJ40, 7069-5183 to be exact. I have converted to Wilwood 4 wheel disc brakes. Clearance is close but doesn't hit anything. These have -47 backspace so not quite the -51 of 3.5" but I guess the thicker rotor hubs make up the difference. Calipers just barely clear the inside of the wheel so I'm going to run Dyna Beads inside the tires for balancing. Another thing with aluminum wheels is lug clearance. The factory lug fits but you can't get a wrench on it all the way because of wheel interference. I'm currently shopping for 12x1.5 bulge open lugs with 19mm hex to complete my setup. It would be easier if I didn't want black lugs. I almost forgot, longer lugs are strongly suggested as the factory lugs won't even reach the end of the factory lug, at least with my conversion.

 

[Squidly]

Thanks for the info Byron. Good looking wheels. That model in 16x8 has a 4" backspace (vs the 3.625" backspace on your wheels) but it looks as though they might clear the TREs with the extra 1/2" of diameter. Don't know about the brakes though as I don't know the dimensional differences between the Wilwood and Toyota calipers. Time for some google.

 

[SouthMS40]

Regarding the OP, you're not going to find any one thread on here that details what will and what will not work. You really have to read through all of them and piece meal the answer you looking for together. I've got a set of IROKs for a 17" rim that I got a good deal on and then from searching MUD found out that there are very few options for 17" wheels that work well due to available backspacing off the shelf. I had a set of steel 15" x 8" that fit my setup fine so at least I have a baseline to compare to when going to 17" wheels. At the same time that was before SOA and high lift steering arms so we'll see.

Good luck to you.

@Byron - Those wheels look like they are more grey than black. Is it the picture or are they really more grey?

 

[Chachie]

byron what color are those wheel they are sick!

 

[Fast Eddy]

That model in 16x8 has a 4" backspace (vs the 3.625" backspace on your wheels) but it looks as though they might clear the TREs with the extra 1/2" of diameter.

Yea, but then any good-sized tires will hit the springs or the body on articulation. You can order custom backspace wheels on summit racing if you're willing to wait. Get some 16x8 with 3.5" backspacing. They're cheap too, like $75 ea.

 

[B y r o n]

byron what color are those wheel they are sick!

The wheels are flat black. They appear to have first been coated in gloss, see photo of back of wheel, and then shot again with flat. These are factory new so it was done there.

 

[hindsight]

Before this thread I had just noticed a set of FJ Cruiser steelies on Doc's (MUD name Hindsight) that looked great on his 40. 17" and bolt right up with correct bolt pattern and hub diameter. It DID require use of 1.25 spacers if that works for you.

Im sure he wouldnt mind posting up a pic of his good looking rig for you to see the wheels.

I ended up switching to the stock rims and KM2s....the FJC wheels stuck out wayyy to much.

Here is the new set up







BTW: I have a set of spacers for sale $100 for 4

Doc

 

[Squidly]

That is a great looking truck Hindsight Good looking green!

SouthMS40 - Thanks for the input. I pretty well combed the site for issues such as mine and arrived at the same conclusion you did. What I didn't see was anything conclusive about what wheels will work and what won't. A lot of suggestive threads but nothing nailed down. With as many threads as there are out there I may have missed something and need to look again.

Fast Eddy - I emailed the Summit tech department and they told me there was no one that would build a 16x8 with a 3.5" backspace. I called them as well and spoke to a different rep. Same story. I also contacted Cragar, US Wheel, Pro Comp, Black Rock, Level 8, and AWC and got the same story from all of them. Unless there is someone I missed (likely) I figure its time to contact Stockton or MRW or get some spacers. I realize this isn't news to many of you folks but I'm having a hard time understanding why a 3.5" backspace in any size off road wheel is so hard to find.

 

[scott johnson]

Pm "indian doc" he had some 17 inch wheels made with custom backspacing for his 60 that are really nice. Not sure who the vendor is.

 

[Squidly]

Thanks Scott. PM sent.

 

[SouthMS40]

That is a great looking truck Hindsight Good looking green!

SouthMS40 - Thanks for the input. I pretty well combed the site for issues such as mine and arrived at the same conclusion you did. What I didn't see was anything conclusive about what wheels will work and what won't. A lot of suggestive threads but nothing nailed down. With as many threads as there are out there I may have missed something and need to look again.

Fast Eddy - I emailed the Summit tech department and they told me there was no one that would build a 16x8 with a 3.5" backspace. I called them as well and spoke to a different rep. Same story. I also contacted Cragar, US Wheel, Pro Comp, Black Rock, Level 8, and AWC and got the same story from all of them. Unless there is someone I missed (likely) I figure its time to contact Stockton or MRW or get some spacers. I realize this isn't news to many of you folks but I'm having a hard time understanding why a 3.5" backspace in any size off road wheel is so hard to find.

Squidly - I know you're more than likely not looking for beadlocks but if you're still looking for wheels and want to go custom BS try these folks. I don't see why they can't build a custom wheel minus the beadlock mod.

http://high-impact.net/wheels/index.htm

 

[Fast Eddy]

http://high-impact.net/wheels/index.htm

Not cheap...

 

[SouthMS40]

Not cheap...

There's that too.