1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Anyone Know Of A 15" Wheel That Will Clear 11" Drum Brakes?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Oldpappy, Sep 24, 2021.

  1. Sep 24, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2021
    Messages:
    1,620
    I bought a very nice set of 15" KH wheels with new tires at the Willys reunion in Fulton.

    I intended to use these on my CJ5 which has been upgraded to 11" drum brakes all around.

    When I tried to mount them today I found these wheels will not clear the 11" drums due to where the center is riveted to the rim.

    I could probably use spacers, but would rather have wheels that would work without them.

    Anybody out there ran into a similar problem?
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  2. Sep 24, 2021
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    North Carolina
    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2014
    Messages:
    478
    I have aftermarket aluminum 15" rims on my CJ with 11" brakes. No problem.
     
    Rick Whitson likes this.
  3. Sep 24, 2021
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2010
    Messages:
    7,110
    I have aftermarket 15x8 steel wheels that fit the 11 brakes just fine. I believe they're Wheel Vintiques.
     
    melvinm likes this.
  4. Sep 24, 2021
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2008
    Messages:
    4,716
    Do you have finned drums or smooth?
     
  5. Sep 24, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
    Messages:
    8,102
    Weld the centers to the hoop & grind off the rivets?
     
    Rick Whitson likes this.
  6. Sep 24, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    Do you know the width and backspacing for the 15" wheels?
     
  7. Sep 24, 2021
    Downs

    Downs Rattlecan All The Things!

    Hunt County Texas
    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2020
    Messages:
    579
    I have a set of d window wheels from Quadratec 15x7 with 3.75 inch backspacing. Fits fine over my 76's 11 inch drums
     
  8. Sep 24, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    5,625
    Any of the 70s vintage stock steel 15x6 wheels will work since they came with 11 brakes.
     
    wheelie likes this.
  9. Sep 24, 2021
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2019
    Messages:
    1,765
    I know your problem. The brake drums on a 73 were not finned and will work fine if you can find them. My brother had a set of KH wheels on his 73. I bought them from him for My 74 with finned drums and they would not fit so we traded brake drums. Both the 73 and the 74 have 11 inch brakes.
     
  10. Sep 24, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2021
    Messages:
    1,620
    They are smooth drums, not finned, but all drums are not created equally.
     
  11. Sep 25, 2021
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2019
    Messages:
    1,765
    Humm the drums on the 73 were the factory drums. As I remember the KH wheels only liked maybe 1/8 inch fitting up, thought about grinding the fins down a little on my jeep but my brother said lets just swap drums. But that has been 35 years ago I may not remember all that I need to.
     
  12. Sep 25, 2021
    iharding

    iharding Quitter

    Tacoma, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2013
    Messages:
    354
    I ran 1 inch spacers and still had to grind the calipers. Not a big deal, an inch isn't noticeable and there's plenty of metal on the calipers to grind.

    EDIT: I missed that you have drums. Heh. Not sure what you'd grind. Oops.
     
  13. Sep 25, 2021
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2014
    Messages:
    4,170
    I had the same issue when fitting 8" KH on a '72, the rivets hit on the front drums. Like Ol Fogie posted above, I swapped the finned drums for smooth 11" drums and all was good. The '72 already had smooth drums on the rear.
    -Donny
     
  14. Sep 25, 2021
    CHUGALUG

    CHUGALUG Member

    Silverton, OR
    Joined:
    May 11, 2019
    Messages:
    238
    US Wheel Series 68 I have 15 x 6 with the correct backspacing for a stock flat fender and 11" brakes non finned drums.
     
  15. Jul 1, 2022
    Eric

    Eric Member

    CA
    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2006
    Messages:
    129
    Did you ever resolve this matter? I'm looking at some 11 inch brakes. I don't think I have KH rims, but they are a stock CJ rim from an unknown year.

    Thanks.
     
  16. Jul 1, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    As I recall, it's the Kelsey-Hayes 8" wide wheels that would not fit. These came on the pre-72 Renegades (Ren 1 and 2) that used 10" drum brakes.

    No guarantee though - there are many different wheels that are represented as factory Jeep wheels. The wheel that went with the intermediate Jeeps is 15" by 6" wide. I would just get the brakes and measure. Or buy a replacement drum and see if it fits flat inside the wheel.
     
  17. Jul 1, 2022
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2021
    Messages:
    1,620
    I ended up putting 3/4" spacers on that Jeep. I have found that all brake drums are not created equally. When I do the 11" drum conversion I order brake drums for a 73 CJ5 or a Bronco, making sure they are non finned, some are thicker than others which is what I have on that CJ5. The same wheels clear the 11" drums on my CJ2A, but I don't remember whether the two sets came from the same supplier or not.
     
  18. Jul 1, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    The 1972-73 CJ-5 drums (PN 999728) are not finned. 1975-77ish uses finned drums (PN 5352476), and 1974 is split. If the finned drums will fit, I would use those - the fins are an improvement. Jeep warns you must use these drums in pairs, both the same left and right. I presume you could have a different style front and rear, but still paired on the axle.

    Also, Jeep describes the difference between these drums as construction, not fins. The earlier drums have a center welded to the outer part, while the later style is cast together.

    I went to RockAuto and these drums are now about $50 each. Last I looked - maybe a couple years ago? - you could buy the plain drums for about $20 each. I don't know whether this is a supply issue, or inflation, or because these older applications are getting scare enough that the higher production and stocking costs are justified. Today you might consider keeping the used drums if they can be turned.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2022
  19. Jul 1, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2018
    Messages:
    2,698
    Hello Andy,
    I've got 2), '75, 11", finned drums that are freshly turned & I will give to you when I can get down there. Let me know if you could use 'em , perhaps on another CJ5 ?
     
  20. Jul 1, 2022
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Truckee CA
    Joined:
    May 30, 2008
    Messages:
    1,322
    Do you guys know if different 11 inch brake drums are different depths? I wonder if I could try different drums to alleviate my drum rubbing on backing plate issue.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2022
New Posts