Hi folks! Just a quick question.
I have a '91 Cherokee Laredo with ABS, 33"x12.50" tires, and 4" lift. I will be buying new wheels very soon and need to know what backspacing I will need. I have used the search function in a couple of the forums, including this one, and could not find the exact answer that I am looking for. Also, I am familiar with the theory of backspacing and fully understand it.
The details are;
I will be going to a 6.5" lift with long arm conversion and eventually an over the knuckle steering setup soon. I am looking for the new wheels to clear this OTK setup. I want to stay with steel 15" wheels. I like the advantages of big sidewalls.
I have found that the stock aluminum wheels are about 4 3/4" - 5" backspacing. I pulled the front wheel off and took a straight edge and placed it on the part of the rotor that the wheel mounts to and measured 3 1/4" to the part of the knuckle that the tie rod end mounts through ("steering arm" for lack of a better term).
I know from research, that you want the wheel to clear this part of the knuckle because the Heim joints on the OTK steering setups are larger and sit higher and can easily hit the wheel if it doesn't have enough offset. I know that the above measurements tells me that a 3" - 3 1/4" backspacing would be perfect theoretically.
I looked at the Cragar V-5 wheel and they have 3 3/4" offset. That would put the edge of the rim about halfway into the steering arm area, about halfway across the nut for the tie rod.
I also looked at the Cragar Soft 8's and their offset is 4", even worse.
I'm thinking about the Areo 50 series 15"x10" with 3" backspacing.
What are the wheel specs that you guys with OTK setups are running?
What do you think?
Thanks guys!
Robert
I have a '91 Cherokee Laredo with ABS, 33"x12.50" tires, and 4" lift. I will be buying new wheels very soon and need to know what backspacing I will need. I have used the search function in a couple of the forums, including this one, and could not find the exact answer that I am looking for. Also, I am familiar with the theory of backspacing and fully understand it.
The details are;
I will be going to a 6.5" lift with long arm conversion and eventually an over the knuckle steering setup soon. I am looking for the new wheels to clear this OTK setup. I want to stay with steel 15" wheels. I like the advantages of big sidewalls.
I have found that the stock aluminum wheels are about 4 3/4" - 5" backspacing. I pulled the front wheel off and took a straight edge and placed it on the part of the rotor that the wheel mounts to and measured 3 1/4" to the part of the knuckle that the tie rod end mounts through ("steering arm" for lack of a better term).
I know from research, that you want the wheel to clear this part of the knuckle because the Heim joints on the OTK steering setups are larger and sit higher and can easily hit the wheel if it doesn't have enough offset. I know that the above measurements tells me that a 3" - 3 1/4" backspacing would be perfect theoretically.
I looked at the Cragar V-5 wheel and they have 3 3/4" offset. That would put the edge of the rim about halfway into the steering arm area, about halfway across the nut for the tie rod.
I also looked at the Cragar Soft 8's and their offset is 4", even worse.
I'm thinking about the Areo 50 series 15"x10" with 3" backspacing.
What are the wheel specs that you guys with OTK setups are running?
What do you think?
Thanks guys!
Robert
