Bead lock wheels ?

[Grandman]

Ok i figure the next up grade i can make is bead lock wheels . Im cheap so we are looking at weld on rings .

I do very little rock climbing but will on ocasion . Mud and or sand is more likely for me to run .

Educate me , what brand and why ?

16 bolt or 32 bolt ?

Happen to have a link to what you recommend that would be nice too .

If my allowence is taken away i will just run 30 screws in the bead through the rim , thats what we did way back when . Yes it does work :eek:

[Nate4d]

Groundhog did em i guess id wait for his reply

[Blackjackbender]

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=499468

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=544260 his site http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/15-beadlock-kit-p-12.html

have talked with the owner on the phone for a good while when ordering my brackets for my leaf conversion. was very nice and even asked me for my opinion on some parts he was making :hehe: he was born and lived in mi for a while i guess but lives in AZ now, from what ive been told he gets everything made in MI though.

[Roadhouse]

Marv you know Tab.....send him a pm on GL and ask him about cutting you out a set of weld ons

They would look like this...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/Roadhouse66/ZJ%20Build/2006_10288-26-060080.jpg

I didn't get mine from Tab, mine are an older set Jesse from Badlands made about 5-6 years ago. Tabs are very similar. The ones on Whiterhino's YJ are from Tab.

[Grandman]

Looks like you have the same wheel im using Mike .

[Grandman]

Do you have a photo of the innear part , the part you weld on ?

[drummond]

Here is an install of weld on's, and shows how the inner part is attached. I will be going to a set of Great Lakes weld-on's in the spring, myself. Good price, and good quality

http://www.jeepaholics.com/support/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=45551

[Grandman]

OK , that was all educational . I have never looked them up before . No real modification to the wheel at all i see .

Given the price i may do this soon , i had a figure of over 100 a wheel or some reason .

I will check with Tab as he is local ( Michigan ) but the price will have to be very near what BJB's link is .

Mike does Tab have a web site to contact him ?

[yotaboy]

Have you thought of the Staun bead locks? Alittle more money but I like how they hold the weight off the bead of the tire.


www.squarewheelsports.com/BeadLockIndex.html

[Roadhouse]

Marv I never took pics of them before I mounted the tires and install the locks. Mine weld on the outside of the wheel. If you look at Haggars his inner ring sits down inside the lip of the wheel then gets welded on.
Mine also have an anti coning ring welded onto the inside ring.

Tab doesn't have a website, sorry

[Blackjackbender]

oh and when welding them if you want to make it easy throw it on a hub/spindle that it in a vice or something. may be more work then its worth if u dont have a spare hub/spindle setup laying around though.

[Grandman]

I dont care for the staun units .

Iv been reasearching here a bit . I like the ones that drop inside the lip to weld , makes more sense to me then setting on top of the lip , it would be easier to weld as well .

I sent Tab a pm on glfwda site .

Think ill get something going right after christmas , may as well have them done for the Feb winter runs im going on .

[Groundhog]

http://www.greatlakeoffroad.com/

Grandman here is a link from GLoffraod, The fellas name is Shawn he is the owner a real down to earth guy, he runs the bussiness out of his barn. I think a set of rings for 4 rims was $220. this does not include nuts and bolts. I think I had another $12 or $13 bucks in nuts,bolts,washers per tire. I found the toughest thing about them was just trying to torque the bolts down to the same specs its tough, I just went buy feel afterthe first rim. Let me know if you have any more questions.
He makes some quality diff covers also if your in the market.

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

This picture from that site Drummond posted is not right. The tire needs to be OVER the inside, welded on plate. Not under it. With the tire where it is in this pic, all you get is a heavy chunk of metal welded to your rim. :hehe:

http://www.jeepaholics.com/support/files/92greenyj/20051231174327_DSCN0288.jpg

[BIGBEN]

tim, i do believe the pic you posted is before the outer ring has been bolted on.

otherwise i see nothing wrong with that pic.

i see the inner beadlock ring with the tire sitting on top of it.

[Roadhouse]

i see the inner beadlock ring with the tire sitting on top of it.

x2

[Grandman]

Ya its setting on top of the ring , at first i thought that tire was mounted all the way on the rim too :hehe:

Thanks Groundhog :thumbsup:

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Baaaa...

I see it now.

[drummond]

Yeah the outer ring bolts to that inner ring, sealing the tire into the rim, sandwiching it in-between

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Yeah the outer ring bolts to that inner ring, sealing the tire into the rim, sandwiching it in-between

No way.












:hehe:

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Hey, WTH does a anti coning ring look like?

[Grandman]

Hey, WTH does a anti coning ring look like?

Ya some kind of seal against mud from what i read but i dont know what they look like , couldnt find a photo of it

[drummond]

Hey, WTH does a anti coning ring look like?

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=448843

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

I gotta get rid of these rims.

[drummond]

I gotta get rid of these rims.

never thought i would hear the day:hehe::hehe::hehe:

[Beefy]

I gotta get rid of these rims.

:eek: I don't believe you :poke: :hehe:

[Haggar]

Yep, looks like everything pretty well covered.

Mine are the type that fit down inside the lip. They went on pretty easy. I used 6 big magnets to hold them nice and flush to the edge of the rim as I went. Doesn't take that long to weld them, but you need your welds to be airtight.

You don't need tons of bolts 16-18 bolt ones will hold fine. Mine are I think 34 each, whihc just adds weight and lots more bolts, but they were a good price when I got them ($165 for the set of 4).

If you are torquing them, go to about 15-20 ft-lbs. Then torque them again. Then again. Once More. OK, once more. OK, they should be there now. Thats what I found. Took 5-6 laps to actually have them torque, since the rubber squishes as you go.


There are various ways to leak check them. Here's my method:

1) Take a big permanent marker and use it to completely color the weld bead. I prefer blue :)
2) Bolt the wheel on your axle up in the air.
3) Pour some rubbing alcohol inside the rim, so its almosts coming out the bolt holes of the inner ring you just welded on.
4) very very slowly, rotate the rim 1 complete turn. (like more than a minute to make a turn)

The rubbing alcohol will go through little cracks and pinholes, and it disolves the marker, so you see where its coming out.

Mark any leaks and reweld them, and you are done.

For peace of mine, I also slathered some silicone sealer on the weld beads before I mounted the tires. Some of it got torn off by the tire irons when I mounted the tires, though.

[sodapop]

Make sure if you buy the weld on ones, you round off the edges of the bolt on ring so that it doesn't cuts your sidewall at low pressure lots of squish, that happened to junk90xj last time we were at the badlands. they were ruff stuff rings with TSLs. I don't think there was anything wrong with the ring, that's how all the weld ons I've seen have looked and Ken's tire lost air pressure and he rolled around on it a bit before we noticed.

[Tab]

Hey guys, I thought I would finally log on and reply to this and get out some info for what I can offer. Marv, I got your pm and I'll just reply here. The ones I make are made from 1/4 inch steel and they sit inside the outer wheel lip and that makes it easy to center and weld. I can only do beadlocks for 15 inch rims right now. The outer ring is wider to help prevent distortion and add protection to the hub. They have 24 bolts (hardware not included) and do not have an anti coning ring but I'm not so sure its really needed. The outer ring will cone in slightly but it does not really effect anything and some could argue that it helps protect the hub and wheel by not catching on stuff. My cost is $60 per wheel or $240 a set of 4 and I can deliver most anywhere in Michigan thanks to my employer. Greatlakes and a few others have had them as cheap as 200 a set but they are getting them done in HUGE quanities. Mine are very nicely cut with nice clean edges and the bolt holes are actually drilled for me on a cnc mill to ensure accuracy. That is actually the reason mine a touch more expensive too. The machinist made a fancy "jig" to drill these holes and after my first batch he charged me quite a bit more than I was expecting, my fault for not finding out total cost first but I've cut a ton of stuff for him and wasnt expecting it to be that high. We worked something out and he still does them for me but I pay him a bit more to offset his time for the jig. So anyways, $60 each wheel (240 a set) with 24 bolt holes and ready to weld. Thanks, Tab

[Grandman]

whats your time frame to get a set Tab , sounds like 240 includes shipping or no ?

[Tab]

I would rather not ship due to them weighing so much but I cover most of michigan for work and can drop them off anywhere.

[Haggar]

Correct on that, Tab, anti-coning rings are mainly cosmetic.

[Grandman]

1) Take a big permanent marker and use it to completely color the weld bead. I prefer blue :)
2) Bolt the wheel on your axle up in the air.
3) Pour some rubbing alcohol inside the rim, so its almosts coming out the bolt holes of the inner ring you just welded on.
4) very very slowly, rotate the rim 1 complete turn. (like more than a minute to make a turn)

The rubbing alcohol will go through little cracks and pinholes, and it disolves the marker, so you see where its coming out.

Mark any leaks and reweld them, and you are done.


Thats Crafty Jason :thumbsup:

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

How exact do you think the bolt holes have to be? I mean what if there is a little slop in the bolt hole. Not EXACTLY 3/8 inch.

[ttocsnekia]

Question - if you are runnin balls low pressure, what would stop the back bead from popping off?

[Grandman]

Question - if you are runnin balls low pressure, what would stop the back bead from popping off?

The answer is side preasure . While there is nothing but a few lbs of air to keep the back beed on , the side preasure is always applied to the outer bead , wheels also have a wider bead on the back side which retain the tire better then the front bead as well .

Can a rear bead come off , yes but its much less likely then the outer bead .

Muddy paws , teh bolt hole being dead nuts to size would be less important then the accuracy from linging up from ring to ring i would think .

[Tab]

The bolt holes are not that big of deal really (within reason) they can be a bit sloppy and still work fine. I just got the price from my "machinist" and lets just say I will not be having him do them any longer. I have a few other options. As Marv mentioned, the inner bead surface is diferent than the outer on most wheels. On the outer it usually steps down toward the mounting flange much faster than the outer. Plus with the outer locked it does not allow the tires to spin if it does become unseated and "unscrew" itself from the bead surface. If that makes sense.

[Tab]

If somone wanted just the two rings and drill their own holes a set would be VERY cheap. I have drilled a few sets and it just takes time and, for me at least, a few bits.

[Duffman]

I'm intrigued by the inflatable internal bead locks they were demo-ing at the Pig Gig.

Theoretically, it makes sense, especially for a "driven to the trail" mall queen like my rig.

[Grandman]

I'm intrigued by the inflatable internal bead locks they were demo-ing at the Pig Gig.

Theoretically, it makes sense, especially for a "driven to the trail" mall queen like my rig.


Staun units , Seems i read in one of the mags of issues with them but i dont recall what it was , maybe price :hehe:

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Staun units , Seems i read in one of the mags of issues with them but i dont recall what it was , maybe price :hehe:

Yea, price. Way up there. They would be nice though.



I'm just wondering Marv...I have the CNC Plasma Cam at school. It doesn't do holes very clean in 1/4 plate, but the holes could be chased easy enough. I bet that thing could cut rings. I'll have to look into that.


Damn it, now you are going to make me get rid of my bling wheels.

[Haggar]

Yea, price. Way up there. They would be nice though.



I'm just wondering Marv...I have the CNC Plasma Cam at school. It doesn't do holes very clean in 1/4 plate, but the holes could be chased easy enough. I bet that thing could cut rings. I'll have to look into that.


Damn it, now you are going to make me get rid of my bling wheels.

Mine are plasma cut. Definately not as nice as laser, but they work. Plasma doesn't do holes that good, I had to chase 2 or 3 holes with a drill. Only 2 or 3 total out of 140...

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Now I just have to figure out the dimensions of the rings.

[Tab]

Just an FYI, I have gotten some other pricing back and can get a set a touch cheaper so now a set would be $230 for 8 rings. They will look like whiterhinos with the wider outer ring for more hub protection.

[ttocsnekia]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WELD-ON-BEADLOCKS-FOR-OFF-ROAD-BOGGERS-MUD-DANA-60_W0QQitemZ230209381790QQihZ013QQcategoryZ42614QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Located in Kaleva. MI

[pre4runner]

If somone wanted just the two rings and drill their own holes a set would be VERY cheap. I have drilled a few sets and it just takes time and, for me at least, a few bits.

By very cheap what do you mean... i could always give my new drill press a workout

[Tab]

if you just want rings I can provide them for you for cost of material and time for cutting on my cnc plasma. The ones that are complete with holes are laser cut. pm me if you want to consider just the rings.

[nd4spd71]

So I have a question. When you say the inner ring sits down inside the rim, is it machined to do that or is the OD of the ring just small enough to fit inside the lip of the rim? In other words does the ring have a groove machined into it or is it flat and just small enough to fit inside the rim.

[BIGBEN]

So I have a question. When you say the inner ring sits down inside the rim, is it machined to do that or is the OD of the ring just small enough to fit inside the lip of the rim? In other words does the ring have a groove machined into it or is it flat and just small enough to fit inside the rim.

i believe they are small enough to fit. not machined.

[drummond]

i believe they are small enough to fit. not machined.

that is correct

[nd4spd71]

Thanks guys that clears it up. :thumbsup: