Topic: Torquing Beadlock rings... Now with Pictures!

[reklund5]

So my Allied rockathon beadlocks showed up today and I was able to sneak away from the new wife long enough to put them on the truck.  I had to get some long bolts to suck the ring down and center the tire, and then I was able to use the bolts that came with the wheels.  All went well and the tires centered up pretty easily.  When it came time to torque the lockrings, I got a little frustrated.  First off, they say not to use any powertools.  I gave up on that after my wrist got sore on the first 20 bolts (theres 32 on each wheel...)   I used the proper crisscross pattern and snugged the bolts down with my 3/8" IR impact on a low setting.  I grabbed my torque wrench and started to torque the bolts to the specified 15 ft/lbs.  It seems that I could never torque them to a stopping point.  I went around each wheel 4 times and the bolts never seem to tighten up properly.  I could walk out to the garage right now and get 1/2 to 3/4 turn out of each bolt before the torque wrench clicks. 

How many times do I need to go over each wheel before they get tight enough to drive on?  I had to drive it back home from the shop today and I was worried that the rings were gonna fall off...

Ryan

[WHITE_TRASH]

I geve up attempting to torque mine after the 3rd round on my first wheel.  I simply tightened them in a criss cross pattern till they were snug with a standard 3/8" ratchet.  What can I say, I just used the clicker wrist torquewrench.

[reklund5 [OP]]

Well,  I'm about at that point.  My impact gun is precisely calibrated to whatever torque spec I need usually, but I thought I'd try to follow the instructions for once...
 
Ryan

[WHITE_TRASH]

Those arent instructions they are suggestions.

EDIT:  Just for giggles I went over all my wheels again after about 2k miles and I had 3 bolts out of the set that were loose.  Not an issue.

[reklund5 [OP]]

I thought so...  Now I gotta sneak out to the garage tomorrow and snug 'em all down

[BCD]

Congrats on the wedding again Ryan...now lets post some pics of the new bling blings or else you'll have to go for a  with me in the near future so I can check them out

[mr4x42u]

I snuged all mine up with a 3/8 impact till good and snug in a criss cross pattern..I sung them up every few trips or so..

[reklund5 [OP]]

Well, I gave up on the torque wrench.  I just snugged 'em all down until the lockring was about 3/8" away from the wheel the whole way around.  Seems good and tight!  Now to find where the digital camera got hidden during all the wedding mess this past weekend...

Ryan

[Suprarunner]

Dude forget that torque spec crap. It literally takes FOREVER!!!! I have always just ran them on down with my 3/8 impact and rode out! Never had a problem.

Wait a minute, don't listen to me... I'm from Alabama....

[blacktoy]

I have a set of champion beadlocks, never had a problem getting them torqued to spec(it did take about 30 mins. per wheel).

[iNfErNaL]

Well,let's see the pics of the new shoe laces!.

[reklund5 [OP]]

Pics!  Finally!

[reklund5 [OP]]

1 more

[Duffil]

Looks good! 

[reklund5 [OP]]

Thanks!  I'll have to take a shot that shows the offset...that 2.5" BS makes 'em stick out W I D E !

Ryan

[KYOTA]

Looks good Ryan I almost went with Allied's but did the DIY last minute

[reklund5 [OP]]

Looks good Ryan I almost went with Allied's but did the DIY last minute

The big reason that I went with Allied's over the DIY kit is because I wanted to change the backspacing.  I could only find 17" wheels with 4-5" of backspacing prefabbed when I bought my cheapo black crawler wheels.  If the backspacing had been the 3" or so that I wanted, I definietly would have just welded my own rings on...

Allied was the only company that I could find that would custom make that steel wheel with a custom (2.5" in my case) backspacing.  Since I was already getting custom wheels, I figured I'd spring for them to install the beadlock rings because it would be easier/cheaper in the long run.

I'm really happy with the wheels, and definitely reccomend them to anybody interested in steel beadlocks!

Ryan

[KYOTA]

17's 10-FO, kinda the same reason I went with the DIY's, I already had some work into my 15's (relocating valve stem) so I just used them. We'll put 'em to the test in a couple a short weeks!!