Rims

OK, This has probably been asked a few times, but after a search I couldn't come up with the answer I was looking for.
I've picked up some 11" drum brakes to replace the 9's, and I understand that the original rims (15") won't have enough clearance. So what rims will fit? Can I just move up to 16" rims? Will 15" aluminum rims fit? Is there an advantage to Aluminum over steel?
Thanks!!

 

Some 15" stock wheels will clear 11" drums.
I would test fit before I did anything else.

 

Somehow I think that any Jeep factory 15" wheel that is welded - instead of riveted - will fit over an 11" drum. Realize too that the 11" brakes can use plain or finned drums - the plain drums should have less interference issues.

Are you sure that the older factory wheels are a problem? I had thought the 8" wide K-H wheels that came on the early Renegade would only fit over 10" brakes, but I had not thought that the regular width 15" wheels were a problem.

Where did you get your brakes? Junkyard? What did they come off of? If you bought a kit, the seller should be able to tell you if they will fit with your wheels.

 

I bought them used in the early cj section on this site. Seller thought they were off a '75 renegade, and they have fins.
I'm pretty sure the rims are stock, and they look welded.

 

Set a drum into one of your wheels and see if it clears. The drum has to sit flat against the wheel.

 

Non finned 11 inch drums were not a problem with the KH rims BUT front discs were. The Renegade Slots cleared both with a slight caliper clean up.

 

Based on advice I received on a different thread I'm also looking into a conversion to 11" drums. A review of a couple of the websites selling conversion kits seems to suggest that 16" stock rims may not be sufficient. See http://hermtheoverdriveguy.com/?page_id=1239 and http://shop.rp4wd.com/product/drum-kit-2. In addition to whether the drums are finned, the size of the calipers and brackets appear to be a factor affecting fit. I'd really like to keep my 15" wheels so I'm hoping they work with the 11" drums.

 

Drum brakes have no caliper or bracket ... those are for disks.

Drum brakes are definitely less problematic than disks.

 

Thanks for the correction timgr. I guess Herm the Overdrive Guy included that warning for his 11" drum conversion kit in error.

 

Just for clarification purposes are you referring strictly to wheel clearance and initial installation of the brakes? If so I agree.

 

Yes. Specifically wheel clearance.

 

I have a question relevant to this topic, I have been looking to do this conversion also and want to keep my stock 1970 15" wheels. I believe they have rivets.

My question is if I use a wheel spacer, would that solve the fitment issue? I know they aren't favorable but would it allow the 11" drums to mount in the 15" wheels correctly?

 

I'm not sure you have a problem. R&P sells the 11" brake kits with no mention of wheel clearance. Call them if you worry. Or just buy a replacement drum and see if it will fit in your wheels.

Not a fan of spacers.

 

I used the R&P 11" kit and had http://www.earlywheel.com make me some smooth 15" wheels. No complaints or fitment issues with either. I also ran 16" wheels with rivets before and they cleared the 11" drums as well.

 

i wonder if you could simply grind the rivets flush and weld the wheels, seems like a viable solution in mind, but have not really looked into it.