Ballistic DIY beadlocks

Just wanted to post this up for those with steel wheels.. I picked up a set during their black Friday special 20% off. I got the suggestion to use pennies to space and center the inner ring and they fit absolutely perfect this way. Here's a couple pics I will post some more once I get them on the truck.. Going to pick up 160 bolts, nuts and washers and 10,000 airsoft BB's this evening and will have a couple dismounted so I can start on them tomorrow as long as I get the e locker wiring done tonight..




Pic of the outter ring

Jake, Help me out here...I'm beadlock illiterate. How does this kits work? You drill out the holes in your steel wheels and a just add the beadlock then remount the tire? Could you have it rebalanced instead of going to the Airsoft pellets?

dcarr1971 wrote:

Jake, Help me out here...I'm beadlock illiterate. How does this kits work? You drill out the holes in your steel wheels and a just add the beadlock then remount the tire? Could you have it rebalanced instead of going to the Airsoft pellets?

These kits come with two rings an inner ring and and outer ring. You weld the inner ring to the rim - the pic with the pennies is a test fit. Once you get them welded you check for leaks with compressed air and soapy water and then you remount the tire and the outer ring is the clamp that clamps the bead. You might be able to use weights if you used sticky weights on the inside of the rim but finding a shop that can do that and is good at it may be difficult. If I am not happy with the airsoft BB method I'll see if I can find a shop around here.

Here's an install thread on pirate http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/beadlocks/index.html only difference is mine actually sit into the rim instead of on top of the rim.

Cool. Thanks for the link.

Well a couple of them welded, leak tested, painted and bolts torqued. Put some air in them to make sure they are not leaking will check the pressure today.

summary of the install
after prep put the rims on 5 gallon buckets
weld two of them at a time 6" seams on both sides alternating trying to keep from warping the rim
Leak test with soapy water and compressed air
I used self etching primer and semi gloss black
I ran a bead of silicone on the inside of the inner ring not so much to prevent air from leaking but to prevent water getting to the inner side of the weld and rusting.
To mount put tire face down, spray bead with soapy water and then angle the rim and apply force. I just used my boot and gave it a good push and it went into the tire. Flip the all around and put it back on a bucket. Make sure it's centered and the inner bead is not partially set because that will cause it to not be centered.
Torque bolts to 10 -15-20 in the alternating pattern then go around to make sure they are all torqued evently as possible and you dont have any loose bolts.

Put air in the tire and you're done.. Sounds easy but it takes a fair amount of time and work.

But hopefully it will all be worth it running 5 psi with no worries



Here's another good article - http://www.zukikrawlers.com/showthread.php?t=32911

Too bad they don't make a 16" version other than that wide ballistic version

Pushngo wrote:

Too bad they don't make a 16" version other than that wide ballistic version

http://www.greatlakeoffroad.com/GLO-DIY-Weld-On-Bead-Locks.html

not as cheap.. I paid 20% with the black Friday sale which is why I did my spare too.. check Pirate they have some companies on there too they may do them. I only knew ballistic made them and they were the cheapest cause my buddy with the toyota buggy had a set on his.. The hardware can get expensive so if you can find a good deal on it thru the company you get them from go for it..

Some really good deals over here on D1 and a set of D2 17" rims

http://www.racelinewheels.com/p-905-beadlock-clearance-items.aspx

Jake wrote:

Pushngo wrote:

Too bad they don't make a 16" version other than that wide ballistic version

http://www.greatlakeoffroad.com/GLO-DIY-Weld-On-Bead-Locks.html

Some really good deals over here on D1 and a set of D2 17" rims

http://www.racelinewheels.com/p-905-beadlock-clearance-items.aspx

What would you do with a 6.5" back spacing it wouldn't turn at all

Pushngo wrote:

Jake wrote:

Pushngo wrote:

Too bad they don't make a 16" version other than that wide ballistic version

http://www.greatlakeoffroad.com/GLO-DIY-Weld-On-Bead-Locks.html

Some really good deals over here on D1 and a set of D2 17" rims

http://www.racelinewheels.com/p-905-beadlock-clearance-items.aspx

What would you do with a 6.5" back spacing it wouldn't turn at all

Lol yea I just saw that pretty crazy

Let me know if you see another coupon maybe for Christmas I have a set of wheels I may try it

Instead of using BB's you can use a product called "Equal" in the tires it is sold at RV and truck shops that mount and balance big tires. We use it in tires over 33" that can't be spin balanced on a machine or tires that just won't balance out. It is a powder that wont cause any rim or tires issues, comes in many different size bags for all sizes of tires.

my92tealcp wrote:

Instead of using BB's you can use a product called "Equal" in the tires it is sold at RV and truck shops that mount and balance big tires. We use it in tires over 33" that can't be spin balanced on a machine or tires that just won't balance out. It is a powder that wont cause any rim or tires issues, comes in many different size bags for all sizes of tires.

I've heard of it and used dynabeads in the past as well. I have heard moisture makes equal clump up.

Here ya go Randy.. Something better may come out I'll post it when it comes up..

These look solid the anti coning could take a while but their price is decent

https://totalmetalinnovations.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=ssfcmposrn389lr2vrn8b5esh1

you def need a set of panty droppers randy.

Hilltoppersx wrote:

you def need a set of panty droppers randy.

Damn you beat me to it!!

Those look nice. The anticoning rings are cool but I'm not completely sold yet. Longfield makes them too, more simple design with anticoning rings