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My New Spare Won't Fit

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by mickeykelley, Oct 10, 2018.

  1. Oct 10, 2018
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

    Republic of Texas
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    The original NDT spare fits fine on the side spare mount as expected. However, my new 215/85's won't fit. I'm guessing the bolts need to be an inch or so longer, but they are welded on that plate. What have you guys done to address wider spares?
     
  2. Oct 10, 2018
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I'm assuming you mean the tire rubs the body? Spacer between the bracket/holder and body?
     
  3. Oct 10, 2018
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    What the size difference between the NDT and 215/85. 15" or 16" ?
    -Donny
     
  4. Oct 11, 2018
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    Yes I'm thinking the bracket needs to move out an extra inch. I can't get the wheel rim to get up to the plate. When I lay the tire on the garage floor and measure from floor to top edge of rim, I need 5 1/2" but with the ndt's it 4 1/2 which is what the bracket is. In studying it, it the amount of rubber overhang past the metal rim. The ndt's have very little overhang.
     
  5. Oct 11, 2018
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    Factory 16" rims.
     
  6. Oct 11, 2018
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

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    For a spacer I would find something solid and larger than the original mount. Phenolic type of material comes to mind, something that won't rot and isn't heavy. The more surface area against the body the better. Better bracing on the inside too, like a 1/4" piece of flat bar.
     
  7. Oct 11, 2018
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    I'm thinking I'll mock it up to make sure it clears, then have a metal guy make me one 1" deeper but to look just type the original one. Your suggestion to look back under for possible extra bracing.
     
  8. Oct 11, 2018
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

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    That's a good idea, it would eliminate the spacer need.
     
  9. Oct 11, 2018
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    What would happen if you turned the wheel around?
     
  10. Oct 11, 2018
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

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    Besides looking kinda ugly? :D
     
  11. Oct 11, 2018
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Unless the spare holder changed, you must have significant tire bulge.
     
  12. Oct 11, 2018
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    I'd be going backwards all the time? Is this a trick question?

    I agree with Glenn, it would look ugly, plus the back side is what gets scratched when on your hubs so it would look bad AND now the good side would be against the plate, scratching it. I don't see that as an option.
     
    Hellion likes this.
  13. Oct 11, 2018
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    The holder is still the factory, but when you put modern 215's radials on these old rims, you get tires that stick out more than old NDT's plus some bulge being on these older narrower rims.

    But surely I'm not the first guy to go this route with 215's and factory rims.
     
  14. Oct 11, 2018
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    Seems like it'd be easier to put longer bolts in it.
     
  15. Oct 11, 2018
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Maybe put a block behind the carrier.
     
  16. Oct 11, 2018
    GeoffreyL

    GeoffreyL Well-Known Member

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  17. Oct 11, 2018
    mickeykelley

    mickeykelley Well-Known Member

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    It won't sit up against the plate then. There would be a 1 inch gap.
     
  18. Oct 11, 2018
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Also make sure the mounted spare clears the right rear tire when the jeep is flexing over trails.

    I'm presuming if your spare is wider, so are the other tires.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  19. Oct 11, 2018
    wasillashack

    wasillashack Member

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    If you space it out to prevent the tire rubbing the body, you are increasing the leverage the spare has by increasing the distance from the body to the spare, More leverage=more stress cracks in the body. I'd recommend a larger reinforcing plate inside the body, to spread the added stresses over a larger area. Good luck!
     
    Hellion likes this.
  20. Oct 11, 2018
    Mike C

    Mike C Member

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    Like GeoffreyL says, just use a wheel spacer. That's exactly what I did on my M38A1 on the spare carrier. I'm running 33 10.5 15 on 15x8 inch rims. So I used a 1 1/2" aluminum wheel spacer to move it out far enough. The 15" rim made it necessary to space it out a little further than if I had stayed with 16" rims.
     
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