jj3500

i've got a 2001, 2500, 5.9 gas, quad cab, 8' bed with the factory aluminum wheels. I'm trying to fit them onto a 96 2500 diesel, ext cab, 8' bed.

fronts are on NP.

rears, bolts line up but it won't sink in onto the bolts. there is a ~1" gap between the back of the wheel to the face of the drum.

both trucks have drums, both truck have the same size rear...

?

are they the same, should it just bolt on?

jj3500

The drums on the 96 are slightly bigger.

Thx

Rockyhud

The huge drum brakes on my 97 is the reason I decided to run 17" wheels. I currently have stock 16x6.5 steel wheels tried to find wider 16" wheels but soon discovered the additional width is all toward the outside, making the tire stick out past the fenders. The reason, I determined, is the 16" wheel doesn't have enough clearance to fit over and past the drums on the backside. When I got under the truck and visually inspected the backside of the rear wheels and drums I found there's only about 1/4" clearance between the drum and wheel. Any 16" wheel with any more backspace would run up against the drum and stop before the wheels inner hub area fit up against the drum.

I found some 2004 H2 Hummer wheels fairly nearby and had the center holes machined out to 4.776" so they now fit over the Dodge spindles. These wheels have almost perfect offset and backspace to keep the wheels and tires running in the same position as the stock wheels, with the extra 2" width almost evenly split between inside and outside. There's plenty of clearance with these wheels. I think they also look a little nicer, although I wasn't unhappy with the looks of the stock wheels. I mainly wanted wider wheels, bead to bead, so my 285/75 tires wouldn't be pinched in and have a better profile and hopefully a better contact patch area on the ground.

jj3500

just curious....
i've got a 2001 3500 with duals.
can i run those rim/tire combo on my 2500's?

i had them side by side, they almost identical in size.

thanks

totalloser

Not sure what you are asking JJ, but on mine the dually has different drums that put the friction surface further in to clear the dually wheels- so it might not work.

Kinda like you took a 3/4 ton drum and pushed the bolt pattern outward 6 inches or so.

SIXSLUG

2001.5 and up 16" disc brake mag wheels will not fit over earlier drum brakes unless you turn an 1/8" or more of the outside edge of the drums...

duallies have a slightly narrower rear axle than singles, as mentioned above

cougar

Are all the steel rims the same 96-02? I need rims for winter tires.

SIXSLUG

I am not certain but believe I read in past tire/wheel threads that the steelies will fit, even ones from pre 2000 Fords and Chevys...

cougar

I have some 1st gen rims, but the offset leaves them sticking out. I got a line on some 2nd gen rims off a 96.

cougar

After looking at the wheels on an earlier 2nd gen, there is a notable difference in off set. Looks like only 2000-2002 are correct. I wonder about the 3rd gens off set, looks closer but they are 17"s.

SIXSLUG

My third gen 17"ers sit the same as my 2nd gens...regading offset.

Aluminum that is.