Bigsarge173 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 So this might be a very stupid question. If I would do the brake conversion to my MJ, would it affect the wheel size? I was thinking of swapping Front and Back disc brakes from a 99-03 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I assume it would be a big upgrade. * Side note - I'm upgrading to a Rubicon Express 3.5" Superide lift kit with monotubes. I want to get some Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs Tires. I'm going with Vision Wheels Warlord Wheels. Please Advice before I do something stupid and waste money. Thank you in advance! Bigsarge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AeroNautical Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 When I did the rear disc brake swap on my 29 spline 8.25, brakes out of a ZJ, it did nothing to affect my stock rims. No rubbing, and all stock jeeps (to my knowledge) have 5 on 4.5 lug patterns, so there wouldn't be a need to change your wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 99-04 Grand Cherokees have a 5x5 bolt pattern, not 4.5x5 like MJ XJ TJ ZJ liberty and YJ. WJ's have a totally different braking system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 So this might be a very stupid question. If I would do the brake conversion to my MJ, would it affect the wheel size? I was thinking of swapping Front and Back disc brakes from a 99-03 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I assume it would be a big upgrade. * Side note - I'm upgrading to a Rubicon Express 3.5" Superide lift kit with monotubes. I want to get some Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs Tires. I'm going with Vision Wheels Warlord Wheels. Please Advice before I do something stupid and waste money. Thank you in advance! Bigsarge 99 and up Grands are WJs; the wheel bolt pattern is 5 x 5". Your current bolt pattern is 5 x 4.5". So you will need wheels with a 5 x 5" bolt pattern if and when you swap the WJ brakes. EDIT: Damn Frank - you are quick............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AeroNautical Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 99-04 Grand Cherokees have a 5x5 bolt pattern, not 4.5x5 like MJ XJ TJ ZJ liberty and YJ. WJ's have a totally different braking system. I see, I didn't realize this. How much different is the braking to justify changing rims, though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinajeep726 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 WJ knuckle swaps are quite the rage these days for XJs and MJs running considerably larger tires... The WJ rotors are an inch more in diameter, the calipers are dual piston and the knuckles make for easier OTK steering setups or high steer. Couple that with a Durango master cylinder (1-1/8 bore) mated to the later model XJ dual diaphragm brake boosters and ZJ or even better, Crown Vic rear discs, and you could lock up 35's with ease at any speed. WJ knuckle swap: Durango Master Cylinder swap: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 You will need 16" or larger wheels to clear the larger brakes. As for the bolt pattern, they are two different ways to go: 1 - convert to 5 on 5. You would have to run WJ front unit bearings and either a WJ rear axle or re-drill your axle flanges for 5 on 5 pattern. 2 - stay 5 on 4.5 and re-drill the brakes front and rear to match that. No familiar with WJ rear brakes. Are they disc, or still drums? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 The short answer is that yes you can run 15" wheels on them. It has been done dozens of times as a google search will show. You may need to stick to a steel wheels, though. as they are of a thinner construction. You will also need a wheel with less back spacing. Say 4" vs. the 5+" FWD-inspired back spacing of the last few decades of jeeps. Conventional Wisdom ( the "they" in "you know they say..." ) was that you could not run a 15" rim on a KJ,WJ, or MK due to the disc brakes. As in 90% of the cases CW is pure BS. You can run them if you use spacers or the rims have less back-spacing which is the same as adding spacers. You could even use your stock wheels by using 1.25" adapters to adapt the 5x5 lug pattern on the rotor to the 5x4.5 lug pattern on the rim. The issue is that some alloy 15" wheels are made too thick to gain the necessary strength. Such thickness is rarely recorded anywhere as it does not effect the main dimensions of the rim and this makes pre-determining fitment for such wheels difficult. In short steels wheels of the proper dimensions will work but not all alloy wheels will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinajeep726 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 You will need 16" or larger wheels to clear the larger brakes. As for the bolt pattern, they are two different ways to go: 1 - convert to 5 on 5. You would have to run WJ front unit bearings and either a WJ rear axle or re-drill your axle flanges for 5 on 5 pattern. 2 - stay 5 on 4.5 and re-drill the brakes front and rear to match that. No familiar with WJ rear brakes. Are they disc, or still drums? WJ brakes are disc all around. The short answer is that yes you can run 15" wheels on them. It has been done dozens of times as a google search will show. You may need to stick to a steel wheels, though. as they are of a thinner construction. You will also need a wheel with less back spacing. Say 4" vs. the 5+" FWD-inspired back spacing of the last few decades of jeeps. Conventional Wisdom ( the "they" in "you know they say..." ) was that you could not run a 15" rim on a KJ,WJ, or MK due to the disc brakes. As in 90% of the cases CW is pure BS. You can run them if you use spacers or the rims have less back-spacing which is the same as adding spacers. You could even use your stock wheels by using 1.25" adapters to adapt the 5x5 lug pattern on the rotor to the 5x4.5 lug pattern on the rim. The issue is that some alloy 15" wheels are made too thick to gain the necessary strength. Such thickness is rarely recorded anywhere as it does not effect the main dimensions of the rim and this makes pre-determining fitment for such wheels difficult. In short steels wheels of the proper dimensions will work but not all alloy wheels will. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigsarge173 Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 Thank you everyone for your input! I'm loving this club! I am going to sit down this weekend and write down my plan, I will post it and get everyone's approval. Thanks again! Bigsarge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 A tiny bit of grinding on a caliper isn't out of the question, either. Just make sure not to hit anything important.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockfrog Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 My XJ runs WJ knuckles and brakes on the front with 15x7 Ultra Wheels type 104's ... I used the 99-01 teeves calipers and also run 1 ton TRE's and have just enough clearence to bolt them up ... had to use the external clip on weight's as there was no room for sticky weights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Not all Jeep factory wheels are created equal internally. I've found that Canyon wheels do not clear even the smallish Ford Explorer calipers on the rear w/o a spacer, yet the Turbine 10-spoke and Ravine wheels clear just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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