DIY beadlocks
 

Here we go. After building and running Kupe's beadlocks at Harlan last fall, I decided that would be the route I take with my wheels/tires. I run a 36" SX and they are stiff suckers that don't want to bulge at 10lbs of air pressure on non-beadlock wheels so something had to be done. Kupe was kind enough to trade me his steelies off of his street tires for my aluminum wheels that I ran the SXs on.

Here's what one set looks like before any fabbing takes place. You have one wheel, one inner ring and one outer ring.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1009.jpg

The next step is the second biggest PIA of the whole process, grinding the powdercoat off of the wheels. If you don't get it completely clean, you're going to be hating life later on while welding. Don't ask how I know this. Oh, don't forget to pull the valve stem and clean the hole. There's now way to get to the stem to air up or down with it in this position. You have to weld up the hole and move it.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1010.jpg
Time to fire this up.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1016.jpg
Before you do, though, there's one little thing you have to do to make sure you have the inner ring centered. The easiest way to do this is place the inner ring on the cleaned wheel, put the outer ring on and line up the bolt holes. This will place the inner ring perfectly centered in the wheel as it's a little smaller in diameter.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1018.jpg
Gently remove the outer ring so you don't move the inner ring.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1017.jpg
Throw on a few tack welds to keep everything still. Now, evenly space some beads around the wheel so you don't heat warp it.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1011.jpg
Closeup. Not too shabby.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1020.jpg
Finish up the weld all the way around.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1015.jpg
Now, break out the grinder and knock it smooth. I used a flapdisk to make it even smoother.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1022.jpg
One thing I forgot to take a pic of was the redrilling of a hole for the new valvestem. It goes on the flat inside the wheel. It ends up very protected behind the outer ring. Here is the old hole all welded up.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1014.jpg
Paint the wheel to make it pretty.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1023.jpg
Muscle the inner bead of the tire over the outer lip of the wheel. You're getting close to being done.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1024.jpg
Now comes the biggest PIA of the whole process. Put on the outer ring, put in the bolts and torque them to 10 lbs in a criss cross pattern. I had to make about 5 passes at this to get all of the bolts torqued properly. I'll upload the the end result pic in a second.


Paint it up to get it ready for the tire.

Finished. In this pic you can see where the valvestem was placed. It's in about the 2 o'clock position.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1021.jpg

I want to give a special thanks to broncomania for providing me with a great set of beadlock rings for a great price. Look in the FS section for his deals.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Looks good!!! When are you gonna do mine...LOL!!!!

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

The week before you wheel again. Probably in the year of 2012.:leaving:

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Those look good Will! A quick ? though. While I completely understand what the beadlocks do, I'm wondering why most only put them on the outside of the rim? Does the inner bead hold better or flex(the tire) more , aired down?

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Most of the time, when you pop a bead, it's on the outside. Don't know why that is, but it is.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Fair enough answer, was only curious. I've heard you guys talk about inner and outter rings and until now thought the the inner was on the inside(backside) of the rim and the outter was on ,well the outter. Nice write up and again....looking good!

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

You would also have to get the inner beadlock to fit over the brakes. You typically see people run Hummer beadlocks or Stauns for double beadlocks. If you get lucky you may actually see someone running Hutchinsons which are pretty much the same as the Hummer's but a lot more $$$$.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

What are Hummer beadlocks? Do they have anything to do with the CTIS?

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

No, nothing to do with CTIS.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129083

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Ok, I think I get it.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Generally the inner lip is larger/goes further into the wheel. (Has a bigger shoulder would be another way of putting it?)

That's why the bead usually blows on the outer lip/bead

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

X2, slightly different bead design between the inner and outer.

Nice write up, any idea how the tires balance with the rings?

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

With these tires? I dunno. The ones on Kupe's jeep run smooth on the road. His tires are 35" sticky Claws. I'm not really worried about how smooth they are. I usually trailer everywhere I go, with the exception of URE.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Very nice. Looks like they welded up nice. Lets see them on the Jeep. :beer:

I've seen that with some kits (depending on the gap) you can space the inner ring with 4 quarters/washers/etc.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

I'll put them on next week and put up a pic. I never thought of spacing the inner ring like that. Makes sense to do it that way though. Maybe I'll do it on the next set I do.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

looks good will. thanks for the awesome write up and helping promote my product.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

I cant see any of the pics at work, but did you end up needing an anti-coning ring on yours?

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Nah. They coned a little, but not as bad as I thought they would with the thick beads of the SX. It may have saved a little bolt torquing time, but that's probably it.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

looks good, still need to get some 15" rims for my POS weld on mud collectors. Just one question, what is that obomination of a drink doing on top your welder :confused:

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

That's diet Dew. You've probably never seen or tasted it. I'm just trying to avoid the diabeetus.

Here's the wheels and tires mounted on the heep, ready for Harlan next week.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1025.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...3/100_1026.jpg

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Wow. Looks very different.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Less black and more bling. I'm probably not going to have any paint left on the rings by next sunday.

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Makes the rest of the Jeep look kinda beat up. :lmfao:

:beer:

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

looks good will,



what happened to your antenna?

Re: DIY beadlocks
 

Looks damn good!!!