Thread: IIA SWB wheel and tyre options?

The simples solution is probably to get a set of 5.5" wheels from a lwb (Series 1 - Defender) and fit 7.50x16 tyres (still readily available). But I am pretty certain there are suitable 205 tyres that would be available, although ones designed for tubes may be a problem. My personal view is that for most purposes going wider than 7.5 simply makes the steering harder without any perceptible benefit - most of the benefit of larger tyres is the larger diameter, but you run into gearing problems going over this in diameter anyway.

Early Series 3 hubs are a direct replacement for the S/2/2a ones, but later ones use different wheel bearings (same as 90/110/Defender, I'm pretty certain) and you would need to replace the stub axles and bearings as well (but everything is interchangeable in matched sets).

I can confirm that S3 has the same 16mm studs as 90/110/Defender/RR Classic/Disco 1 - and so did very late S2a.

If you are replacing brake drums, you might want to consider fitting lwb brakes, at least front and m/c, although the swb brakes in good condition are adequate with the original engines.

Hope this helps,

John

"If you are replacing brake drums, you might want to consider fitting lwb brakes, at least front and m/c, although the swb brakes in good condition are adequate with the original engines".

John, do you need to replace the master cylinder if fitting LWB front brakes to SWB?

Cheers, Mick

Standard drums on the 88" seem to be more than adequate to me, provided they're maintained and in good condition.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Early Series 3 hubs are a direct replacement for the S/2/2a ones, but later ones use different wheel bearings (same as 90/110/Defender, I'm pretty certain) and you would need to replace the stub axles and bearings as well (but everything is interchangeable in matched sets).

John

Hi John,

Just wondering what the difference is with the bearings? It's just that I did a full floating axle conversion on my 80" S1 by putting S3 stub axles on there with the S1 hubs and it seems to work fine. I did replace the bearings but don't recall any question of which series it was when I got it all together and whatever they are they certainly fit in the S1 hubs.

TimJ.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The simples solution is probably to get a set of 5.5" wheels from a lwb (Series 1 - Defender) and fit 7.50x16 tyres (still readily available). But I am pretty certain there are suitable 205 tyres that would be available, although ones designed for tubes may be a problem. My personal view is that for most purposes going wider than 7.5 simply makes the steering harder without any perceptible benefit - most of the benefit of larger tyres is the larger diameter, but you run into gearing problems going over this in diameter anyway.

I tend to agree, except that in this case a major part of the SWB's duties are as a farm vehicle. A bigger footprint tyre seems to do less damage to the ground. I have noticed that the existing tyres on the SWB, which are 6.00's in an old "traditional" pattern, leave far deeper marks in soft ground than those on my Hilux, even though the Hilux is a far heavier vehicle. I imagine that a more modern all-terrain tyre, even at 7.5" wide, would reduce this problem but my thinking was that a 235 would reduce it further and probably at much the same price unless 7.50 tyres are massively cheaper than 235's!

The 16mm wheel studs would appear to be a splined "interference fit" type, which I suppose also raises the possibility of simply drilling out the existing hubs and drums (if they are still usable!) and fitting extended 16mm studs in the existing hub/drum combination. Its not my preferred option because I like to keep the original parts so any modification can be reversed later, but other than that...?

Unless, of course, I can find a cheap set of 5.5" wheels somewhere and go with 7.50's

Originally Posted by Timj

Hi John,

Just wondering what the difference is with the bearings? It's just that I did a full floating axle conversion on my 80" S1 by putting S3 stub axles on there with the S1 hubs and it seems to work fine. I did replace the bearings but don't recall any question of which series it was when I got it all together and whatever they are they certainly fit in the S1 hubs.

TimJ.

Change was at June 1980 for the 88 and Sept for the 109 according to the parts book, so any S3 hub up to then uses the same wheel bearings and stubs as S1/2/2a. But of course, you need to check what you have or are getting - the whole axle may have been swapped for one from a different date!

John

IRC the series 3 studs are no longer than series I/II studs. You used to be able to get special wheel nuts for a IIA that were the same diameter as a SIII nut.

I have disco 1 steel rims (16x7) on my IIA. When I first fitted them I just bought a set of the special nuts S/H.

Later I swapped to Series 3 axles (stage 1 front, salisbury rear), so I got the larger hubs. However I just drilled out my brake drums to fit the new studs.

I run 285/75-16s (33") - I find them excellent offroad.