Rear tires rub on Leaf springs!!!

[HVYMTL]

I have a 79 J10, Dana 44's with 6 on 5.5 wheel lugs. The front tires mount perfect but the rear tires rub on the leaf springs. Why? Is the rear axle narrower than the front?
Trying to fit 33's on 16" rims. Can I get spacers,longer studs, or should I buy rims with the offset?
This project is starting to pi** me off. I thought this was supposed to be fun. This is like driving through Russia.........one road block after another and you are lucky if someone doesn't get shot!!!!!!!!!.

[joe]

You might have some non-stock wheels with a different back spacing?
I'm running 33x9.5's on mine and no probs at all and lotsa folks runnig 33x12.5's on theirs w/o rubbing the springs...well at least not in the back.

[HVYMTL]

Yes the rims are not stock. Why do they fit in front not the rear? Is this a WT front and narrow rear? What is the proper back spacing needed? I would like to keep the 16" rims and tires.

[joe]

The stock rear track with is 1/2" wider than the front. I think if someone swapped an NT rear in it you'd notice it. It'd be 8" narrower. Actually I doubt it'd even fit?
Sorry, I don't know what the stock back spacing is.

[porchpiggy]

How much does it rub? You can go with spacers, but not all of them are all that safe for rough trail riding. The narrow ones, like 1/4 inch are usually pretty safe.

[KYJ10]

Im asssuming that they are just touching the spring snug. You need to take your old rim and measure its backspacing. Measure from the flat spot on the back where the lug holes come through, str8 out flush with the edge(not to the side) of the rim. You can lay a str8 edge across the back of the rim and measure out to it. If the bs is 5", then you need 4" bs or you can get away with 4.25". Anything under 3/4 inch is to close I feel. Dennis

[tuck]

oh wait, I've been here before. your wheels are your problem, too narrow, and too much backspacing.

I'm willing to bet that if you turn the steering wheel you could get the front tires to hit the springs also, am I wrong?

The rears are already rubbing because yes, the rear axle is a bit narrower than the front, but mostly because the rear springs are outboarded and the front springs are mounted directly under the frame.

Wheel spacers are an option. But might be illegal. I would personally look for wheels with the proper offset/backspacing. Steel wheels can be purchased pretty fairly inexpensively in all sorts of shapes and sizes. g'luck. and if it's any consolation, I've been there before. :D

[littlechief]

Im running 15" wide tires on 10 wide rims on my widetrack and probably still have 3/4" away from the springs in the back, was thinking of getting a pair of 16 wide boggers for the back but am figuring I will have to get some different rims and or spacers.

[OJTDJPR]

Sounds like what I just went through, I checked on spacers. You will find buying a set of wheels may be cheaper and safer in the long run. You will find depending on what tire you have, you will need a 15X8 or 15X10 with at least a 4 inch back space, no more than that, less would be better. Watch your back spacing very carefully, as Riverbeast told me and he was right, you will end up with your tire hitting your flair.

[HVYMTL]

Yup!!!!!!Somethin' getin' shot today...LOL!!!!
Alright, I will buy some rims but, If this doesn't work, I taking my .50 Cal Desert Eagle and blowing holes in it............

[Towtruck]

I have same problem on my J-10. Got a deal on some aftermarket 16x8 inch aluminum wheels off a Suburban. They rub on the rear spring leaf keepers if the keepers get cockeyed the least bit. The problem is definitely wheel backspacing. I like the wheels and will use spacers when I go to even wider tires. But I'll also upgrade/upsize the wheel studs...and I don't do it in the dirt.

[tuck]

scooby,

if possible you might trial fit a tire and rim. either find a friend with a similar setup, or if possible have the tire shop mount one tire on one rim so you can check it all around... g'luck

[Chero77]

The backspacing on stock 15x8 wagon wheels is 4". Chevy light truck wheels up until about 1990 had a 3.75" backspacing which works fine on a Widetrack. Lots of aftermarket wheels were made with this offest so you should be able to get some for a good price on EBAY. Whatever wheels you get don't get ones with more than 4" of offset.

[HVYMTL]

I put the .50 cal away for now.
I measured the 15" wheels that were on it and the backspacing is 3". The 16" rims that I tried to put on(rubbed) were 4" backspacing. Bit the bullet and ordered some 3". $50 a piece isn't too bad.
Thanks to all who replied.