Questions, yes more questions!

[KANTANKRUS]

Please forgive for maybe using the wrong terminology here, but here I am going to throw my hat into the ring... can a 5x4.5" hub (the part that the wheel mounts too 'ring shaped structure, that the wheel studs are inserted into'... whatever that is called) can that be switched to a 5x5" replacement/swap?

 

Please advise!

Thanks in advance :)

[KANTANKRUS]

OBTW, my original axles were swapped for a 96 donor Cherokee. Front D30HP, Rear Chrysler 8.25.

[Jeep Driver]

Yes, of course. 

[Pete M]

typically that's done with wheel spacers.  and if you're debating the current wrangler wheels, I believe you'll need that extra space too.   

[Eagle]

The answer is a qualified yes ... maybe.

 

Front, rear, or both?

 

For the front, the hub/bearing unit from a 1999-200? Grand Cherokee WJ will have the 5x5 bolt pattern. BUT ... it's not as simple as just swapping the hub/bearing unit. Even within the XJ and MJ years, there were multiple combinations of hub, caliper, steering knuckle, and rotor. Mix and match, and something would be offset from something else and the combination wouldn't work. So, to do the front axle swap, you would need to swap everything from the axle housing itself out -- steering knuckle, hub/bearing unit, rotor, and caliper. And then you would need to keep track of the part numbers and be sure than anyone who works on that axle knows what parts you swapped in.

 

Spacer/adapters would be cheaper and easier.

 

For the rear, there may or may not be a factory Jeep axle of the same type as yours (i.e. Dana 35, Dana 44, or Chrysler 8.25) with the 5x5 wheel mounting flange and the correct axle shaft length. You might luck out, or you might have to have custom axles made.

 

Again, spacers would likely be cheaper and far easier.

 

[Jeep Driver]

In my case-

 

My wheels have both patterns. 

My rotors have both patterns. 

 

 

From what I've read in the past, the WJ hub unit is the same as the MJ expect bolt pattern. 

Spacer had to do with WJ knuckle, not bearing. 

Cost of conversion is $0 on the front assuming you need new bearings anyway. 

Redrilling the rotor is a no-brainer. 

 

 

 

Rear-

In my case- Chrysler 8.25. 

 

Dutchman stock replacement shafts, custom pattern, with studs, 25% stronger than stock, $290, dirt cheap. 

https://dutchmanaxles.com/jeep-stock-replacement-axle-c-clip-single.html

 

If you have, and you should, no reason not to, KJ rear discs, again, redrill your rotors.

If I'm not mistaken, there are aftermarket rotors available with multi-pattern. 

 

I could, I might. 

 

 

 

One reason one might consider this- aftermarket wheels with 4.5 on 5 pattern are becoming limited. You might find a wheel you like, width, diameter, offset/BSing, that is not offered in stock pattern but is offered in a 5 on 5 pattern. 

 

None of this applies to the OP,  I'm sure, but answers the question.