15" Cragers arrived = arghh, the calipers rub
01-15-2009, 08:59 PM
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15" Cragers arrived = arghh, the calipers rub
So I read all of the threads on the topic and concluded that I'd give the 15" Crager soft 8's with 4" BS a shot... Fast forward.. the packages arrived, I tore into the boxes, took off a front wheel and put on a Soft 8 to check the fit... Oh S&%$t!!! the inside of the wheel rubs on the brake caliper...
So now what??
Do I bite the bullet and pay to return them for a set of 16"?
I only need about an 1/8th of an inch clearance, do I use a thin set of wheel spacers?
or
Do I dare grind the calipers a bit like some of the others on this thread?
So now what??
Do I bite the bullet and pay to return them for a set of 16"?
I only need about an 1/8th of an inch clearance, do I use a thin set of wheel spacers?
or
Do I dare grind the calipers a bit like some of the others on this thread?
01-15-2009, 09:01 PM
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If it is only 1/8", then what are you going to hurt grinding down the caliper? You could always put a thin spacer on it, but you don't need to. I'd grind them. Remember, tires cost more at 16" too.
01-15-2009, 09:23 PM
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Don't assume the 16" wheel will take care of the problem. I just put 16" Soft 8's on mine (5" BS) and they rubbed slightly too, despite what others have experienced. I left the tire shop without my new wheels and tires, but went back after a very light touch with the grinder along the outside edge of the calipers.
Last edited by Roxster; 02-10-2009 at 10:32 PM.
01-15-2009, 10:33 PM
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try a different wheel, my buddy had the same problem so he grabbed a different wheel and it didn't rub at all. Out of his 5 he was able to find 2 that didn't rub on the fronts. Each wheel is a little different.
01-16-2009, 04:36 AM
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My 16's cleared, but I was planning on throwing on 1.5" spacers anyway. I wouldn't grind my calipers. Jeep's difficult enough to get items warrantied, you get brake failure of any kind and they see that....
01-16-2009, 05:49 AM
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I had the same issue with my 15x8 soft 8's. I didn't grind, although it wouldn't have hurt anything. I used pretty much the thinest spacer I could get from Summit and haven't looked back. I've had them on the Jeep for about 30,000 miles.
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01-16-2009, 07:04 AM
#9
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Grind. It is no big deal and very easy.
I had to grind a little off my front calipers to clear the 15x8 Cragar Soft 8 wheels with 4" backspacing.
I used my daughter's sidewalk chalk to cover the areas identified in the above picture. Then, I would put the wheel on with 2 lug nuts moderately tightened so I could turn the wheel and listen for rubbing. Then, I would remove the wheel and see where the chalk had been rubbed off. I ground a little material off those areas, re-applied the chalk, and repeat. After repeating a second time, I had elminated all the scraping/rubbing on the drivers's side. The process was the same for the passenger's side.
After I finished, I painted the areas I ground with some grey anti-rust primer paint.
Hod rod builders have been grinding calipers for years. I have not heard of one problem here or on any other forum for those who had to do a little grinding to make 15" Cragar Soft 8s with 4" backspacing fit.
Here are the same specs wheels you have on my rig:
I had to grind a little off my front calipers to clear the 15x8 Cragar Soft 8 wheels with 4" backspacing.
I used my daughter's sidewalk chalk to cover the areas identified in the above picture. Then, I would put the wheel on with 2 lug nuts moderately tightened so I could turn the wheel and listen for rubbing. Then, I would remove the wheel and see where the chalk had been rubbed off. I ground a little material off those areas, re-applied the chalk, and repeat. After repeating a second time, I had elminated all the scraping/rubbing on the drivers's side. The process was the same for the passenger's side.
After I finished, I painted the areas I ground with some grey anti-rust primer paint.
Hod rod builders have been grinding calipers for years. I have not heard of one problem here or on any other forum for those who had to do a little grinding to make 15" Cragar Soft 8s with 4" backspacing fit.
Here are the same specs wheels you have on my rig:
It seems a lot of guys went the 'grind" route and are happy. I must say, prior to posting this last night I would have thought it was nuts to grind down the calipers but the feeback I am getting is that it is "no big deal".. So what did you use to grind them? I don't happen to have a belt grinder in my arsenal of tools - will one of those drill grinder bits work?
01-16-2009, 07:05 AM
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I'll for sure give this a shot before I try any other options. Thanks for the tip...