Beadlocks on a Daily Driver

[TauMau]

I'm looking into some BTRs, and would like to get the beadlocks, but have heard from some people it can get annoying re-torquing them. Is this true? Red loctite wouldn't cure the problem?

Thanks for any help

[DSRacing]

I thought beadlocks weren't DOT approved for street use for that very reason?

[ML Racer]

I'm looking into some BTRs, and would like to get the beadlocks, but have heard from some people it can get annoying re-torquing them. Is this true? Red loctite wouldn't cure the problem?

Thanks for any help

I've been running the (fake beadlocker) BTR's on my truck (about 8000 miles so far) with no problems. I started off using loctite on every bolt and soon said "screw it":p

[motochris]

While is obviously doesn't hurt to check the bolt tightness, I've had no issues with my BTR beadlocks loosening after the initial check.

[TauMau]

Cool, thanks guys.

Chris - How long did you run on your BTRs before checking them over?

[Paul Jacobs]

Ive been running real beadlocks on the street for almost two years now with no issues. I also was worried about what I have heard from other people.
I checked them frequently in the begining but now do it about every three months. They have yet to show any signs of loosening up. I also used a small amount of bee's wax on each bolt to keep out moisture and lubricate the threads for even torquing. I would not reccomend loc-tite,...especially red. If the tire bead settles and requires retorquing you would get a false reading because of the resistance to overcome the threadlocker.
The most important thing in my opinion is to make certain that you are torquing the bolts evenly to the specified foot lbs.

Good luck

PJ

[DeCampRacing]

I'm looking into some BTRs, and would like to get the beadlocks, but have heard from some people it can get annoying re-torquing them. Is this true? Red loctite wouldn't cure the problem?

Thanks for any help

I've been running beadlocks on my Superduty for a while now. Make sure you follow the torque specs from the manufacturer exactly. I used anti-seize on each bolt. After installing the tires I ran a 100 miles and re-torqued, only a couple were slightly out. Now I check every month and haven't had one loose yet. It only take about 10 minutes to check all five. BTW it's illegal to run beadlocks on the street.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e205/offroadit/Beadlock.jpg

[creynolds]

As said previously, no loctite, unless you want broken bolts. Antiseeze is a very good idea. I've been running Weld beadlocks for about 3 years and never have any issues. It's very time consuming setting them up properly at the beginning but will save a lot of headaches down the road. My buddy runs the same set of bead locks and they're pretty well trashed from being setup improperly. If your going to do it yourself then make sure you do it right, if someone is doing it for you then ask questions so you can find out if they're a dumbass.

[Jack]

On extreem 4x4 this weekend, they showed some new bead lock that is now street legal, I don't remeber who made it.

[motochris]

Cool, thanks guys.

Chris - How long did you run on your BTRs before checking them over?

Probably about 50 miles of hard offroad use, checked them...had 2 or 3 a tad loose. Checked again every so often and they are always in spec.
BTR's should be about 24-25 lb. ft. and be SURE to use anti-sieze on the bolts.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/269162/ls1thing22.jpg

[TauMau]

Has anyone ever gotten hassled by the fuzz? I'm assuming you could just tell them that they're imitation beadlocks.

Are non beadlocked BTRs DOT approved?

[Scooterinvegas]

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-7/269162/ls1thing22.jpg

Nice car! ........Nice by-passes too... j/k lol

[jesusgatos]

...it's illegal to run beadlocks on the street.
No, that's not exactly right.
Quote pulled from this thread on pirate4x4.com (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363606):

I did a lot of research on it before I posted the "bounty" on it... and it's stood, unclaimed, for at least three years so far.

There is a Federal standard that basically says that all roadgoing wheels have to be DOT stamped, but nothing preventing a manufacturer from DOT stamping a beadlock wheel. In fact, if you check out Champion Wheel's comments (on their site) you'll see that beadlocks are actually road legal, but most beadlock wheel manufacturers choose not to stamp their product DOT, thereby hiding from lawsuits behind a smokescreen of vague (and often misleading) language.

If you care to research the FMVSS on the subject, there's nothing about beadlocks that is in violation of DOT standards... but there is a requirement that all road wheels be DOT stamped, and a manufacturer stamping something DOT, makes them liable for it.

If you go so far as to research the FMVSS, you'll find that the very concept of "DOT approved" is misleading, as DOT does not approve anything. DOT writes standards, and specifies how to perform testing, but does not do testing, nor do they provide approval.

[jesusgatos]

So, basically anything that's DOT-approved just means that the mfg is willing to accept the liability that goes along with making that claim. Hutchinson and Centerline are two mfg's that have made DOT claims. I run OMF-beadlocked wheels on several of our vehicles and have never had ANY problems with them. Never had an ociffer comment on them either.

[Dirty Dog]

I drive with BTR beadlocks on a truck every single day with no problems.

[motochris]

Nice car! ........Nice by-passes too... j/k lol

Yea....it had those on it when I bought it. Since it's set up for 2.0 c/o and 2.5 bypasses...something we make neither of yet, I'm just leaving them on.
We'll have something to replace them both in the next few months though.:D

[Prerunin554]

No, that's not exactly right.
Quote pulled from this thread on pirate4x4.com (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363606):

Good call. Best bet is to gather all the paperwork stating that they are legal, then buy them. Being prepared for the worst is never a bad thing. :) You should be able to get the required information at the DMV or possibly the library, just make sure they are legal documents.

[mebuildit]

I looked up on this site http://www.fmvss.com/ and found this.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=49&PART=571&SECTION=120&YEAR=2001&TYPE=PDF

Now it doesn't completely say that beadlocks are ok to use, but this is the only area that I found that mentions different styles of wheels.

I don't see why they would be illegal. But then again I'm not a cop with an attitude either.

[Ol' Curmudgeon]

But then again I'm not a cop with an attitude either.

Forget the fix-it tickets. What about when you get in an accident, the plaintiff's personal injury atty and your insurance company learn you were operating a vehicle with non standard, non-DOT wheels, and you're left holding the bag?

I'm just saying.

[Paul Jacobs]

Are beadlocks illegal? techincally,...yes, none are yet DOT stamped. Will a cop take the time out to inspect your wheels? Probaly not,..unless you are burning pallets in the desert or some other nucklehead precurser.
Can they handle the loads of street use? .....Baja 1000,..what more needs to be said and what better testing ground could you possiably have.Their's your stamp.

Over-torquing the bolts is the single most common reason for bolt/bead failure. No beadlock manufacturer will spend the money to have the wheels tested per DOT spec's, not because they wouldn't pass with flying colors but for the simple fact that every bolt is a liability. All it takes is one flatbiller with a 3/8" impact to get them into a courtroom.

Buy a set, build them with patience, follow the manufactures spec,..and quit stressing over it. Nothing say's "I love offroad" more than running beadlocks on the street.

[Ol' Curmudgeon]

Just don't forget John Edwards is out of politics and in debt!

[geeride]

I've been running the (fake beadlocker) BTR's on my truck (about 8000 miles so far) with no problems. I started off using loctite on every bolt and soon said "screw it":p

Any pics? I want to get them for my Superduty.

[cmkausch]

You can not use a non DOT rim for passanger vehicles on the Highway.
the funny part about it.... most aftermarket wheel companies do not bother to go thru the rigorous and expensive testing procedures.
The wheel profile has to match a profile set by a standard. If you look on foreign made wheels, you will commonly see a "J" stamped in the wheel, which indicates that the wheel was designed with Japanese standards. Accepable in the US.
The wheel that Riviera ran at Primm has a 4000 lb load rating eventhough it is not DOT approved due to the beadlock ring and profile, but it has gone thru the testing.

[racer56]

You can not use a non DOT rim for passanger vehicles on the Highway.
the funny part about it.... most aftermarket wheel companies do not bother to go thru the rigorous and expensive testing procedures.
The wheel profile has to match a profile set by a standard. If you look on foreign made wheels, you will commonly see a "J" stamped in the wheel, which indicates that the wheel was designed with Japanese standards. Accepable in the US.
The wheel that Riviera ran at Primm has a 4000 lb load rating eventhough it is not DOT approved due to the beadlock ring and profile, but it has gone thru the testing.

Who makes that wheel and is it cast or forged? Thanks

[DSRacing]

You can not use a non DOT rim for passanger vehicles on the Highway.
the funny part about it.... most aftermarket wheel companies do not bother to go thru the rigorous and expensive testing procedures.
The wheel profile has to match a profile set by a standard. If you look on foreign made wheels, you will commonly see a "J" stamped in the wheel, which indicates that the wheel was designed with Japanese standards. Accepable in the US.
The wheel that Riviera ran at Primm has a 4000 lb load rating eventhough it is not DOT approved due to the beadlock ring and profile, but it has gone thru the testing.

There's a wheel in that picture?

[cmkausch]

Evolution Wheel
17 x 9 Forged out of 6061T6
www.evolutionwheel.com
(949) 234-9644

[racer56]

Evolution Wheel
17 x 9 Forged out of 6061T6
www.evolutionwheel.com
(949) 234-9644

Thanks for the response. What is the purpose of the unusual beadlock bolt pattern? Are these wheels made from Centerline forged blanks?

[cmkausch]

Thanks for the response. What is the purpose of the unusual beadlock bolt pattern? Are these wheels made from Centerline forged blanks?

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49768

The wheels are NOT from Centerline, but they are forged here in the US.

I was the CEO and Engineer for BTR. I have seen too many bolt failures using only 24 bolts. The wheels have 48 threaded holes. If you use all 48 holes, the wheel looks buisy. 32 bolts gives you the added strength you need. 32 bolts still allows you to mess up a hole or break a bolt and reindex the ring to a new hole.

[cmkausch]

Picture with 32 bolts in the BL ring

[racer56]

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49768

The wheels are NOT from Centerline, but they are forged here in the US.

I was the CEO and Engineer for BTR. I have seen too many bolt failures using only 24 bolts. The wheels have 48 threaded holes. If you use all 48 holes, the wheel looks buisy. 32 bolts gives you the added strength you need. 32 bolts still allows you to mess up a hole or break a bolt and reindex the ring to a new hole.

I was referring to the side x side bolt pattern versus 32 bolts evenly spaced. Thanks

[cmkausch]

I was referring to the side x side bolt pattern versus 32 bolts evenly spaced. Thanks

If they were evenly spaced, you would not be able to reindex the ring to a new hole....

[racer56]

10-4 thank you