Maximum Backspacing with 15" Wheel and 76-77 Knuckles?

[rguest3]

Looking to put some new wheels on the 76 LUBR I just got. What is the maximum Back Spacing I can go with without hitting front knuckles?

Ideally 15x8 with 4.5" backspacing. Not sure if they will fit though without a spacer on the front.

I know the 17x8s will clear but may go with a late 80s Bronco, Steel wheel at 15x8 and put the hub caps on them. What back spacing are these wheels?

Thanks

 

[jwh]

As far as I can recall, a 3.75" backspacing on a 15" rims is the maximum without spacers on the 76-77 front ends. Someone else may know for certain though

jwh

 

[Fairlane514]

I have 15x10 rims on mine (76) I also have the Ruff Stuff heim joint trac bar and drag link. 3.50 would be perfect, anymore and it hits the heim joint.

 

[rguest3]

Does anyone have the mid 80s to early 90s Bronco, 15x8 steel, wagon wheels on a 76-77 Bronco? These wheels usually came with center cap and trim rings.

 

[DirtDonk]

I'm in the 3.5 is mo beta than even a 3.75 crowd. Gives just a little more leeway. With aluminum wheels especially, when you get that close you are even more susceptible to the cross-sectional thickness of the rim in that critical area. Some are just thicker, and therefore less likely to fit, than others.

Not sure any factory wheels would have had that shallow of a BS rating though. Were there even 8" factory wheels available on Broncos in those years? I would have sworn they stuck with 7" as a maximum. But I have no direct knowledge of that. I "assume" here...

Good luck. Factory wheels, even if the wrong offset, would look great on most EB's and a simple spacer would likely take care of the clearance issues.

Paul

 

[jckkys]

The later style wheels have too much back spacing, so they won't work on '76-'77s. The best compromise I found is 15x8 Kelsey-Hayes wheels for Dodge 4x4 trucks. They have a 5x5 1/2 bolt pattern and clear the '76-'77 tie rod end without knocking the wheel weights off. I don't like to push things to the extreme. So these wheels and 31x10.50 15 tires make a great combination. They pretty much duplicate the look of Stroppe Bajas with steel wheels.

 

[Ol'Blue]

The glue on weights can also get knocked off by the calipers. Make sure they are mount far enough into the rim so they aren't knocked off by the caliper or even the brake backing plate.

I even had to do a little light grinding on the backing plate and caliper because the rim cross section was so thick.

Good luck

 

[rguest3]

With 2 1/2" lift, Uncut Fenders and 31x10.50s I will need at least 4" backspacing if not a little more. I can use the required spacers up front to clear the 76-77 Knuckles.

I am still leaning toward the 17s though. American Racing Baja Maybe - 17x8" with 4.5" Backspacing and 265x65x17 tires. (31x10.50x17)

 

[clarrance]

Does anyone have the mid 80s to early 90s Bronco, 15x8 steel, wagon wheels on a 76-77 Bronco? These wheels usually came with center cap and trim rings.

I ran a set of factory 15x7 mid 80's wheels on my 77 and had to use a 1/4" spacer on the front. I had 30x9.50 BFG all terrains with a 2.5" lift. If I flexed it hard my rear quarters would clean the mud off the tires. They did not touch the metal, but was very very close.