Custom hub centric wheel adapters
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 148
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From: Milton, FL
Custom hub centric wheel adapters
I'm currently halfway through manufacturing a set of 4 wheel adapters for Pro Comp steelies that are on a 5-5.5 lug pattern. I ordered the different lug pattern because it'll be necessary when I have D60 axles in the next several years 
. The added width is also necessary because I've got 13.50" wide Mud Grapplers mounted on the 15x10 wheels (3.75" BS), and no lift 
.
Adapter Stats:
4340 Ni-Chro-Moly steel
Changes 5-5 lug pattern to 5-5.5
1.5" thick
Internal bore fitted to be hub centric on stock JK hubs.
Additional 0.250" lip on outside face fitted to internal bore on Pro Comp Series 98 steelies
That third, larger OD will get machined down to the second OD. These are turned on only one side so far, but the internal diameter has been bored to the correct size and all thicknesses have been brought to size. The faces have been surface ground to parallel <0.0005" variation. All hub centric diameters have <0.002" total tolerance.
...These wheel adapters probably have better tolerances and are definitely better material than my axle shafts...
. The added width is also necessary because I've got 13.50" wide Mud Grapplers mounted on the 15x10 wheels (3.75" BS), and no lift . Adapter Stats:
4340 Ni-Chro-Moly steel
Changes 5-5 lug pattern to 5-5.5
1.5" thick
Internal bore fitted to be hub centric on stock JK hubs.
Additional 0.250" lip on outside face fitted to internal bore on Pro Comp Series 98 steelies
That third, larger OD will get machined down to the second OD. These are turned on only one side so far, but the internal diameter has been bored to the correct size and all thicknesses have been brought to size. The faces have been surface ground to parallel <0.0005" variation. All hub centric diameters have <0.002" total tolerance.
...These wheel adapters probably have better tolerances and are definitely better material than my axle shafts...
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Milton, FL
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Milton, FL
The finished product.
Mounted on the hub for a fit-up. Not a press-fit, but still very tight on the hub centric ring.
With the Pro Comp 15x10's bolted on.
The new, extremely wide stance. Tire are 13.50" wide so add just under 2", additionally, to the width you see here.
I could see how some people are having clearance problems with their 15x10 wheels, but with the 1.5" wheels spacers my calipers don't even come close to the wheel itself.
I'll probably have gussets welded on to the axle, because these stick out so far. I'm a little concerned about all that stress.
Done.
Mounted on the hub for a fit-up. Not a press-fit, but still very tight on the hub centric ring.
With the Pro Comp 15x10's bolted on.
The new, extremely wide stance. Tire are 13.50" wide so add just under 2", additionally, to the width you see here.
I could see how some people are having clearance problems with their 15x10 wheels, but with the 1.5" wheels spacers my calipers don't even come close to the wheel itself.
I'll probably have gussets welded on to the axle, because these stick out so far. I'm a little concerned about all that stress.Done.
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4
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From: Mason
Gussets on the axle wouldn't be my first concern but unit bearing stress would be. I would buy a set now, practice replacing them and carry all the tools needed if'n I was doing any 'froading. Great project and good luck!
JK Super Freak
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 0
From: NYC, NY
Great work, these look very nice.
Just wondering why not just buy a set of adapters to go from 5x5 to 5x5.5? Spidertrax makes them, as well as a few other companies.
Seems like a lot of time and work.
Just wondering why not just buy a set of adapters to go from 5x5 to 5x5.5? Spidertrax makes them, as well as a few other companies.
Seems like a lot of time and work.
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Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 148
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From: Milton, FL
11 pounds each.
I work as a machinist so this was easy, bread-and-butter stuff.
The only cost that I incurred was the lugs from Napa that I pressed through ($2.99/lug), so about $60. The steel was salvaged from scrap production pieces that were going to be thrown away.
Most companies also only make aluminum wheel spacers and I have steel wheels. In a heavy salt water environment like Guam there's going to be severe corrosion between the dissimilar metals, regardless of the anodizing and powdercoating (i.e. due to rock chips in the coatings).
They do make the new wheels hub centric, which they wouldn't be otherwise.
The only cost that I incurred was the lugs from Napa that I pressed through ($2.99/lug), so about $60. The steel was salvaged from scrap production pieces that were going to be thrown away.
Most companies also only make aluminum wheel spacers and I have steel wheels. In a heavy salt water environment like Guam there's going to be severe corrosion between the dissimilar metals, regardless of the anodizing and powdercoating (i.e. due to rock chips in the coatings).
They do make the new wheels hub centric, which they wouldn't be otherwise.
