Tie Rod Flip with 15" Wheels

[FarFire70]

Still putting together my build parts and been eyeing a tie rod flip. I've bent my ZJ tie rod on a couple trips before. Planning for the Currie drag link and tie rod ends with the BMB tie rod. I do have the BMB 16" brake kit to go on too.

Would really like to get the tie rod up further out of the way with a flip. Curious what the wheel requirements are for a 15" wheel. My current 15x8 steel wheels have 4" of backspacing. Anyone done the flip on 15" wheels with that backpacking or know if the rod end will fit with 4" BS?

 

[NskLJ]

My Jeep has 15” wheels, 16” BMB kit and tie rod flip. No problem if the caliper fits in your wheel. The only issue I have had is getting the wheels balanced. I found a local shop that can do it now.

 

[Lou]

My Jeep has 15” wheels, 16” BMB kit and tie rod flip. No problem if the caliper fits in your wheel. The only issue I have had is getting the wheels balanced. I found a local shop that can do it now.

What shop? I have had horrible luck in the area for tire balancing.

 

[JMT]

Still putting together my build parts and been eyeing a tie rod flip. I've bent my ZJ tie rod on a couple trips before. Planning for the Currie drag link and tie rod ends with the BMB tie rod. I do have the BMB 16" brake kit to go on too.

Would really like to get the tie rod up further out of the way with a flip. Curious what the wheel requirements are for a 15" wheel. My current 15x8 steel wheels have 4" of backspacing. Anyone done the flip on 15" wheels with that backpacking or know if the rod end will fit with 4" BS?

I’m going out to fiddle with mine today. I’ve got 15” wheels with 4.25” bs. I looked at it a couple months ago when I had 4.5” bs and it didn’t look like it would fit. I got a 0.25” spacer, in part to hopefully be able to flip. Today I’m actually going to remove that end and test fit it.

 

[FarFire70]

I’m going out to fiddle with mine today. I’ve got 15” wheels with 4.25” bs. I looked at it a couple months ago when I had 4.5” bs and it didn’t look like it would fit. I got a 0.25” spacer, in part to hopefully be able to flip. Today I’m actually going to remove that end and test fit it.

I saw somewhere someone mentioning 3.75" needed with 15" wheels so let me know how your test fit goes. I'm really trying to stay away from a spacer if I can.

 

[SvtLdr]

I saw somewhere someone mentioning 3.75" needed with 15" wheels so let me know how your test fit goes. I'm really trying to stay away from a spacer if I can.

I can confirm, the tie rod flip works with 3.75" BS. I'm not sure about 4" though...

 

[JMT]

I saw somewhere someone mentioning 3.75" needed with 15" wheels so let me know how your test fit goes. I'm really trying to stay away from a spacer if I can.

It will work with 4.25” BS. It is very close, but here’s what I did bc you can’t sneak the Currie TR end to mock it up due to the sway bar bracket we’ll eventually cut off when we do this. I measured the Currie TR diameter. It is 1 3/4”. I measured its height torqued down which was 1 1/2”. I crudely mocked it up using an extra TR end boot that was exactly 1 3/4” diameter and sat it on top of a piece of wood l. All said and done it was 1 3/4” tall, which is 1/4” taller than required. Then I put the wheel on and while it’s very close to the wheel at 4.25” BS, it did not touch. That’s good enough for me, especially since the actual TR End is 1/4” shorter than my mock up.

Additionally, if you do have to get a spacer, I was able to use a 1/4” spacer without having to get longer studs. The requirement was six full turns of the lug nuts on the stud. I got just over six and have been running this way a couple months without issue.

 

[FarFire70]

It will work with 4.25” BS. It is very close, but here’s what I did bc you can’t sneak the Currie TR end to mock it up due to the sway bar bracket we’ll eventually cut off when we do this. I measured the Currie TR diameter. It is 1 3/4”. I measured its height torqued down which was 1 1/2”. I crudely mocked it up using an extra TR end boot that was exactly 1 3/4” diameter and sat it on top of a piece of wood l. All said and done it was 1 3/4” tall, which is 1/4” taller than required. Then I put the wheel on and while it’s very close to the wheel at 4.25” BS, it did not touch. That’s good enough for me, especially since the actual TR End is 1/4” shorter than my mock up.

View attachment 391278

Additionally, if you do have to get a spacer, I was able to use a 1/4” spacer without having to get longer lugs. The requirement was six full turns of the lug nuts on the lug. I got just over six and have been running this way a couple months without issue.

Great visual. My knuckles are off the axle so couldn't do much of the same. Thanks for mocking it much. Looks like we both should be good to go.