Wheels can make or break the look of almost any vehicle. Though we're not huge fans of super-big and high-bling dubs, we do enjoy a nice, clean, and functional wheel on our trucks. All too often years of wheeling and weather can turn a once sharp-looking wheel into a faded and pitted relic. Though the rough look might not affect the rim's function, sometimes the eyesore is enough to make you want to buck up for a new set of wheels.inline_mediumwraptextright31040841/techarticles/wheels/131_0912_powdercoated_wheels_aluminum_rims131_0912_01_z+powdercoating_wheels+powdercoating_method.jpgTrue

AAM Answers
Question: I am planning a Land Cruiser wagon build (FJ-60). I plan on daily driving the truck and using it for my family wheeling shenanigans. I have sourced a 12V Cummins, and I am planning on running an A518 auto tranny mated to an NP203/205 combo. I am going to run a Dana 70 rear, but I don't have a front axle. I have found an AAM front axle out of a newer Dodge diesel. Pros and cons to using this axle? I want a seclectable locker. Available options? Is the 205 front output going to be OK spinning all the time? Are the front axles going to hold up? Am I crazy for swapping in something with unit bearings?
Rob B.
via 4wheeloffroad.com
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The dreaded death wobble has been a problem on 4x4s for ages. The warning sign is a shudder or shimmy in the front axle while on the road. This can develop into a violent shaking and near loss of control. While many factors contribute to death wobble, some are primary culprits from the get-go. Other than whacked-out tires and rims, the track bar on many vehicles with coil-spring front suspension is often worn out, at the wrong angle, or damaged. Add to this a lift kit, big tires and wheels, and a few hard miles, and you have a recipe for sure disaster.

Basics To Basic
The art of shifting gears is being lost. Every year more and more drivers are opting to have their gears shifted for them rather than doing it themselves. In fact you can probably count the number of new 4x4 models available with manual transmission on two hands. That's a sad state of affairs.inline_mediumwraptextright25337405/techarticles/engine/131_0912_manual_transmission_technology131_0912_01_manual_transmission_technology+engine.jpgTrue

Lower gearing is a pillar of off-road performance. It allows the engine to turn bigger tires more easily and move your 4x4 over trail obstacles. But adding gearing has often meant expense in axle gears or transfer case replacement as well as driveshaft adjustment. With Advance Adapters' new RubiCrawler for Jeeps with the 42RLE overdrive automatic transmission, you can now multiply your Jeep's low-range gears after a short day's work of installation. Even better is the fact that no driveshaft modification is needed, as the RubiCrawler literally replaces a big empty space in the tailhousing of the transmission.

Submission Information
Confused? Email your questions about trucks, 4x4s, and off-roading tech using "Nuts, I'm confused" as the subject and include a picture (if it's applicable). Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, an EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file. Also, I'll be checking the forums on our website (www.4wheeloffroad.com), and if I see a question that I think more of you might want to have answered, I'll print that as well. Otherwise drop it old-school style with the envelope addressed to the address below. Letters published in this magazine reflect the opinions of the writers, and we reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, or other purposes.

Write to:
Nuts & Bolts
4-Wheel & Off-Road
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515
fax 323.782.2704.

Email to:
nuts@4wheeloffroad.com

Well, you ruined that housing-you can't weld cast to mild steel." Jay Prosche-Jensen of Ultimate Driveline has heard that from "experts" for 30 years. Being the mild-mannered guy he is, his reply is always the same: "That's what everyone keeps saying, but I've never had one fail, and I've built thousands of rearends this way."

Most off-roaders realize how vital wheels are. Choosing a wheel based primarily on styling might be tempting, but doing some homework can reveal the best supporting cast for your vehicle.

This year's guide strives to be as hardcore as possible. Those blingy dubs might be fine for the soccer-team SUV, but the focus here is on wheels that beg to be wrapped with knobby treads. While we've included many modern wheels made from space-age alloys, good old pound-'em-back-into-shape steelies get their due too. The newest beadlocks are also littered through this guide. With the holiday shopping season right around the corner, you might find something here for your four-wheeling wishlist.

On a recent flight from Japan came four of the very first new Nitto Trail Grapplers just for our exclusive testing. Nitto has a reputation for some wild yet capable tires. Though the Terra Grappler isn't too feral, the flame tread of the Dune Grappler and the claws covering the Mud Grappler have always raised an eyebrow among conservative tire buyers. However, with the new Trail Grappler M/T, Nitto aimed for a great all around off-road tread without any crazy tread pattern and hit a bull's-eye.

Rubber Runners-Up

Submission InformationConfused? Email your questions about trucks, 4x4s, and off-roading tech using "Nuts, I'm confused" as the subject and include a picture (if it's applicable). Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, an EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file. Also, I'll be checking the forums on our website (www.4wheeloffroad.com), and if I see a question that I think more of you might want to have answered, I'll print that as well. Otherwise drop it old-school style with the envelope addressed to the address below. Letters published in this magazine reflect the opinions of the writers, and we reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, or other purposes.

Write to: Nuts & Bolts
4-Wheel & Off-Road
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515
fax 323.782.2704.
Email to: nuts@4wheeloffroad.com