to beadlock or not ???

[V8Patrol]

So I have been looking into this for awhile now and the further I look the more "lost" I get......

I currently run 38.5 TSLs on 8" rims with simex tubes.... never been a problem airing down to around 4psi todate.

Then I starts thinking ......
mmmmmmm beadlocks [insert drooling emoticon with a woody !]

So I have been surfin and learnin what I can and heres the problem....

Inner ring size, 3mm or 6mm ????
The 3mm will be lighter but the 6mm is stronger and I can cut a thread in the 6mm thus removing the need for locknuts ( double nuts locked together)
The 3mm may warp during the welding process but the 6mm is far less likely too.

Outer ring, alloy or steel ?????
steel is 1/2 the price and 1/2 the thickness for more strength !

outer ring, same inner diameter as the inner ring or with a hole just large enuff for a wheel brace ????
The idea being that mud, sticks,rocks, n shyte wouldnt clog up the rim meaning less weight but more from the outer rings inner diameter.

Bolts n nuts.....
how many ????? 12 or more ???
The alloy ones I can get have 12 bolt holes but the steel ones are undrilled so I can put in as many as I like !
do the really need locknuts ???

threads on the bolts.....
should they be on the inner part of the beadlock thus protecting the thread, or on the outer side thus adding to traction in mud ?

Current prices.....
3mm steel inner ring........ $30.00 ----- (undrilled)
6mm steel outer ring........ $40.00 ----- (undrilled)
alloy outer ring ............... $80.00 ----- (drilled for 12 bolt pattern)
steel outer ring ............... $50.00 ----- ( undrilled)

Or make my own inner rings for about $15 each ?
Or just buy a set n be done with it !

Kingy

[bigsteve]

I ran all these questions through my head for my zook then decided on internals so when I upgrade to a cruiser or something bigger I don't have to pay the $$$$ for another set.

[+dj_hansen+]

Why not second air internals kingy? They lock both inner and outer beads, street legal (aslong as u buy rims with 2 holes in them already - it is acutally illegal to modify an existing rim)... Sure they dont look fancy, and they cost more, is that the reason why your going for externals?

[-Mandy-]

I wasn't aware of the fact that non-factory modified (for internals) rims were illegal.
Is this true and does it apply for all states

Mandy

[Gwagensteve]

Swampers can be run @ very low pressure and not fall off, but I thend to thinfk that if they're not falling off you're not gettingthe best out of your tyres ( are they SX's?)

I am suspicious that 12 bolts won't be enough. The commercially available steel versions sold by various shops here in melbourne have 24 bolts and it is still possible to break the bolts (8mm grade 8) @ very low pressure/rock work.

for a heavy car, 6mm inner rings are the go. 3mm will distort heavily. My G wagen (2500kg) was tearing them out. I had eastern wheel works make 6mm inners and groove them to assist sealing and they have been very reliable. 3mm inners are OK on a Zuk though. (I have fitted a set)

IMHO don't allow just enough space for a wheelbrace. This will fill up with mud and the only way for it to escape will be past your brakes (ugly) Looks cool though. Stockton and MRT inthe US make plastic caps to go in the hole to keep the mud out, but I reckon this would only work with solid centre wheels otherwise the mud will get in past thespokes and not get out again.

I have doubling plates for mine to brace across three bolts (these are 3mm thick nickel plated) these dramatically improve how well the tyre centres and the bolts tension. I have fitted the bolts back to front (nuts out ) and while I expect everyone to tell me that this is stoopid because i will stuff up the treads yadayadyada, it lets me easily re tension them with only a ratchet, as the head binds on the inner.

If I was doing it again, I just might go to second airs.
either way, there will be some trouble shooting to get rid of the leaks.

[AndrewT]

Didn't realise you had the swampers fitted up kingy. Next time your going 4wdriving i'll be keen to come along and see how they go.

If you have never had a problem airing your 38" swampers down to 4psi without beadlocks then why bother fitting them.
Out of interest what sort of areas do you drive with 38's at 4psi with only simex tubes, I would have thought you would be doing a lot of tyre re fitting and bead cleaning with that setup on a patrol.
How much rubbing do you get with the 38's without having your guards cut out or special offset rims? and how much up travel do you get?

[MYTTUF]

Why not second air internals kingy? They lock both inner and outer beads, street legal (aslong as u buy rims with 2 holes in them already - it is acutally illegal to modify an existing rim)... Sure they dont look fancy, and they cost more, is that the reason why your going for externals?

I'm certain that any truck wouldn't be street legal with 38.5inch tyres so what diff would it make with the beadlocks?

Anyway I reckon, due to the fact that the tyres most of us run make our cars unroadworthy, that's not a concern and with that in mind the external beadlocks are more "track" friendly and how many of us have busted an inner bead??

[Gwagensteve]

LJXtreem and Greg regularly break inner beads and we are toying with urethane to glue the inners on.

At least they are easy to reseat with external beadlocks.

I still maintainthat if you are not breaking beads you are not getting the most out of your tyres.

[MYTTUF]

I ran 10psi with 34 X 11.5 X 16 JTSs on my 80 all weekend in a club comp round Gembrook/Larby with no issues. Agree with the bead breaking comment as far too many people run too much air, but inner beads coming off, you guys are sick!! And are they both Suzis? What PSI? How fast?
I can go lower but will have to go slower!!

[Gwagensteve]

36X12.5 Swampers on powdercoated 15X7's
34X9.5 Swampers on 15X6's
Both with the commonly available steel outer beadlock.
The cars have been almost stationary when the inner bead has come off, and the cars were running 2-3 PSI.
Both cars are suzukis weighing around the 12-1300KG mark.

I have not run under 5 PSI in the G (2500kg) with the old Q78's, and generally ran 8-12psi for most off road work. With the claws, they won't work at all until they are under 8PSI.

I have not broken an inside bead on the G.

Once you get down around this kind of pressure though the traction increase is pretty amazing. There are disadvatages - side slopes feel a bit weird etc but its worth it.

[bazooked]

why not use sickaflex? this is what the speed way guys here in the west use and should be ok for comp or weekend work. the only down side is if ya wanna change a tyre it can be a pitta..

[Gwagensteve]

"LJXtreem and Greg regularly break inner beads and we are toying with urethane to glue the inners on."

Ljxtreme was running some micro swampers (32X11.5 SX's on 8" rims) on the road car recently that are urethaned on. 2psi front 1.5psi rear all weekend, no worries, even @ reasonable speed on fast dirt.

I have just urethaned the inner beads onthe Q78's I am building my Zook around. the outer is already externally locked. These are very soft, having been flogged by my G to the point where you can't read most of the writing on the sidewall.

[droopypete]

I have just urethaned the inner beads onthe Q78's I am building my Zook around. the outer is already externally locked. These are very soft, having been flogged by my G to the point where you can't read most of the writing on the sidewall.

Those tall curbs at Lygon St are bastard arent they
Peter.

[grimbo]

pete why are you on the internet you're supposed to be delivering the Rangie

[droopypete]

pete why are you on the internet you're supposed to be delivering the Rangie

Your dog looks comfy on the couch, and your missus shouldn't leave her frilly undys on the clothes horse in the lounge (or where they yours?)
Peter.

[droopypete]

Kingy, sorry about the hijack, Graham started it
Peter.

[grimbo]

pete why are you on the internet you're supposed to be delivering the Rangie

Your dog looks comfy on the couch, and your missus shouldn't leave her frilly undys on the clothes horse in the lounge (or where they yours?)
Peter.

But they are manly frills. Sorry for the hijack too

[droopypete]

Well stop hijacking you pad whore!!!!!
Kingy will get pissed, and you don't want that
Peter.