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Disc Conversion Wheel Compatability

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by joshs1ofakindxj, Nov 30, 2006.

  1. Nov 30, 2006
    joshs1ofakindxj

    joshs1ofakindxj CJ5 Owner

    SWPA
    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2006
    Messages:
    20
    I have everything sitting in my garage to do the chevy d44 front disc brake conversion but im holding back because I'm not sure about something. I heard that stock cj wheels won't work once you do the conversion? Is this true? If not; why? My wheels are stock-style but they're some old school aftermarket wheels that were supposedly manufactured to accomodate a disc brake conversion, or so the smoke blown up my butt told me. So what's the deal?
     
    joshs1ofakindxj, Nov 30, 2006
    #1
  2. Nov 30, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    Stock early CJ rims will not fit, the countour of the center disc is all wrong and it hits the calipers BIG TIME. Late CJ OEM-style rims will fit, you need the ones from '77 on up that have a smooth area between the lug nut holes. As for your modified rims, hard to say. Just about any aftermarket rim will fit.

    Compare the contour of the rim on the left, which is a late CJ rim, against the one on the right which is a 1970 Ren I steel rim. The earlier rims have that 'step' in the outer rim that makes it far too small in diameter to clear the caliper. As it is, the late rims only have about .125" clearance or less, and in some cases some light grinding may be required on the outside edge of the caliper for some insurance.
     
    w3srl, Nov 30, 2006
    #2
  3. Nov 30, 2006
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    9,221
    What Steve said.

    Welcome BTW!
     
    sparky, Nov 30, 2006
    #3
  4. Nov 30, 2006
    tomcam

    tomcam Member

    Savannah Tn.
    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2005
    Messages:
    89
    didnt chevy 44 have 6 holes
     
    tomcam, Nov 30, 2006
    #4
  5. Nov 30, 2006
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    Yup! Actually, there were 6 lugs holding the wheels on, but all the Dana 44s regardless of whose vehicle it came under had six bolts holding the spindle.caliper mount/backing plate on. If you play around with wheel bearings, races and hubs you can sometimes swap out a set of 5-lug hubs for 6-lug hubs on the same axle. I've never done it, but I've read some write ups where it was done.

    To further muddy the water, late-model Jeep Rubicons have Dana 44s front and rear I think, and they have the late-model 5-on-4.5" lug spacing...
     
    w3srl, Nov 30, 2006
    #5
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