Help with tire size dropped axle Sub/Truck

[NEWFISHER]

I currently have 16 5.50's Coker TUBE radials that look like the bias ply's and am wanting to go with a wider wheel/tire combo for towing. I have dropped my rig with Sids droppedaxles.com set up 4+ inches. What size wheel/tire works without hitting tie rods etc. Would like to go as wide and as tall as I can in the front and rear, but concearned about front hitting the steer components. What works?
Thanks

[Coach529]

Subscribed. :-)

[Coach529]

Is tire width and non power steering also an issue?

[NEWFISHER]

From what i'm finding, bagged trucks with power racks don't have the interference that the static dropped axle trucks run into with tie rods.

[Coach529]

And it is not apples to apples between you and either as I am running a disk brake kit which moves the tires out a bit.

[NEWFISHER]

Good point. I will probobly do some forward thinking and get a wheel tire combo that will work with disc too. Anyone out there with a drop axle truck running disc and have a pic of their wheels and deminsions?
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[PurdueSD]

I pmed u back. 6.70-15 on 15x5 . (ifs)


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[NEWFISHER]

Those look great! But I think the ifs with a rack will be different than solid and the interference of tie rods. I called Sid tonight and talked with him about feedback from his customers. He never gets the deminsions on finished projects. Anyone else out there bump?

[48 GMC BURB]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

Those look great! But I think the ifs with a rack will be different than solid and the interference of tie rods. I called Sid tonight and talked with him about feedback from his customers. He never gets the deminsions on finished projects. Anyone else out there bump?

PM sent

[focusedontheprize]

Same situation, glad someone brought it up.

@Coach: I am also running the disc brake setup, how much do they move the wheels out by any chance?

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

Same situation, glad someone brought it up.

@Coach: I am also running the disc brake setup, how much do they move the wheels out by any chance?

I am not exactly sure.

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

Same situation, glad someone brought it up.

@Coach: I am also running the disc brake setup, how much do they move the wheels out by any chance?

3/8" is what I hear and without proper offset ( newer style 70's and up wheels) you have to run a spacer 1/4" to clear the calipers.

[nvrdone]

On my '49 pickup I have a SIDS 3" dropped axle. I'm running 215/70/15 big ta
On 15x6 rally wheels. I have no clearance issues with the fender lip or with the tie rod ends. The rod ends are mounted under the arms. I do have drum brakes with a 1" spacer and roller bearings.
Hope this helps.
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[nvrdone]

ok, the tires are BFG TA's - typo

[NEWFISHER]

Looks like 15x6 3.5" Backspace for the front wrapped in a 215/70/15 26.9 tall, 5.4 tread width , 8.7 section width (on a 6" rim with 3.5 bs should clear tie rods). For rears 15x8 4.0 bs wrapped in a 235/70/15 27.7 tall, 7.5 tread width, 9.6 section width will stuff, look fat , have good sidewall and keep as close to the 28" height I currently have which is perfect for the 700r4 and the 3:73's.
Tires are Cooper for these deminsions, BFG's are awsome tires, but have a wider/shorter measurement as do several other brands. It seeems the same tire size in different brands have all different measurements. I used a skinnier front in the Cooper to ease the lack of powersteering. I didn't want to add a wider tire and increase the effort as my wife drives the Burb at times too.

Any thoughts?

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

Looks like 15x6 3.5" Backspace for the front wrapped in a 215/70/15 26.9 tall, 5.4 tread width , 8.7 section width (on a 6" rim with 3.5 bs should clear tie rods). For rears 15x8 4.0 bs wrapped in a 235/70/15 27.7 tall, 7.5 tread width, 9.6 section width will stuff, look fat , have good sidewall and keep as close to the 28" height I currently have which is perfect for the 700r4 and the 3:73's.
Tires are Cooper for these deminsions, BFG's are awsome tires, but have a wider/shorter measurement as do several other brands. It seeems the same tire size in different brands have all different measurements. I used a skinnier front in the Cooper to ease the lack of powersteering. I didn't want to add a wider tire and increase the effort as my wife drives the Burb at times too.

Any thoughts?

That size seems pretty common on most build threads I have read.

The non power steering issue is one I am curious to hear.

[nvrdone]

I don't have power steering yet and don't have any problems even with a smaller steering wheel. It can be a bear to parallel park.
Also I have 30x9.50/15's on the back on 8" rims
If you want, I can measure the distance from the inside of the rim to the tie rod end
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[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

I don't have power steering yet and don't have any problems even with a smaller steering wheel. It can be a bear to parallel park.
Also I have 30x9.50/15's on the back on 8" rims
If you want, I can measure the distance from the inside of the rim to the tie rod end
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That would be awsome, thank you. What is the 1" spacer you speak of? Is it a wheel to drum spacer? Could you measure the backspace of your fronts too?
Thanks

[nvrdone]

Ok, it won't be tonight but by this weekend you will have the info. I still haven't figured out how to post pictures.
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[nvrdone]

Newfisher: here's the info I promised:
The wheels are 15 x 7.5 Chevy rally wheels with 3.5" backspace.
There is a 1" adapter / spacer between the passanger car brake drum & the wheel.
This gives me 2.5" clearance between the tie rod end & the rim. It also gives me 1.5" clearance between the tie rod end & the inside sidewall of the tire.
With the 3" dropped axle I have 4.5" clearance between the bottom of the axle & the roadway.
Hope all this helps.

[NEWFISHER]

Nvrdone, I have questions
What size tire are you running? If you didn't have the 1" spacer, you would still have clearance. Not a lot, but useable unless you had a flat and scrub angle would play about the same time the 1/2" tire to tie rod started to mix it up right? Can you post some pics?I like the thought of a 7.5 front wheel, it must be a reversed hoop to get the 3.5bs? How is the steering effort with the wide wheel?
Thanks
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[nvrdone]

Newfisher: I have 215/70r15 BFG TA's. The rim is 15x7 not 7.5. It is a stock Corvette rally wheel bought from a Chevy dealer many years ago, so I don't know if it is a reverse wheel. I guess if I didn't have the spacer / adapter there could be a possible problem if I had a blow out. I only have them because it widens the track & fills up the fender well. I don't have any clearance issues with the fender. The seteering effort is not bad even with a small steering wheel, but it can be a pain to parellel park.
One of these days I will figure out how to post pictures, but right now I'm not that smart.
Fyi, the tie rod & ends were purchased from Classic Parts. Tie rod is #76-211 & ends are 76-005. For the drag link, I had a local Jeep off road shop make it up. The ends are a Napa # 920535 & 921317.
Hope all this helps.

[NEWFISHER]

Thanks!
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[Coach529]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

Looks like 15x6 3.5" Backspace for the front wrapped in a 215/70/15 26.9 tall, 5.4 tread width , 8.7 section width (on a 6" rim with 3.5 bs should clear tie rods). For rears 15x8 4.0 bs wrapped in a 235/70/15 27.7 tall, 7.5 tread width, 9.6 section width will stuff, look fat , have good sidewall and keep as close to the 28" height I currently have which is perfect for the 700r4 and the 3:73's.
Tires are Cooper for these deminsions, BFG's are awsome tires, but have a wider/shorter measurement as do several other brands. It seeems the same tire size in different brands have all different measurements. I used a skinnier front in the Cooper to ease the lack of powersteering. I didn't want to add a wider tire and increase the effort as my wife drives the Burb at times too.

Any thoughts?

Backspacing lesson.

6" wide rim with zero offset. 3.5" backspace. Means 3.5" of the rim is behind mounting plane, 2.5" in the front (towards outside of fender).

Correct?

[Coach529]

I am buying rims the same spec.....and am worried about rubbing the fender at full lock with 215/75-15's.