Ford Performance bead lock ring - Real World review?

[BigMeatsBronco]

He makes it look easy, but touqueing all those bolts is a very tedious process (the 1st time). Make sure you set aside plenty of time, and if having a shop install them, don't be suprised if they want additional billed time. I went through the sequence then rechecked from the beginning, and was able to turn the 1st few bolts so much I wasn't satisfied that all were equally torqued, so I ended up going through the sequence several times, until repeatable torque was achieved on all bolts. As you go around the ring, it crushes the bead sorta like a head gasket. Even crush all the way around takes alot of time!

This is accurate, and I'll add that obviously each different tire brand or size can have slightly different bead thickness and squeeze ability...so it is important to torque and check them often.

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[BigMeatsBronco]

wait, are you guys running bead locks while daily street driving?

I loved the look of these since the first day I saw them. totally transforms the look of the Sasquatch wheels for the better. (Maybe an unpopular opinion, but: the stock beauty rings with the spaced out “two bolts” pattern is ugly).

but isn’t this terribly unsafe and probably illegal to do?

How often do you check torque on your ring bolts?

Yes daily and it is not unsafe. and not illegal either. I check them every 3000 miles with oil change.

 

[Tricky Mike]

He makes it look easy, but touqueing all those bolts is a very tedious process (the 1st time). Make sure you set aside plenty of time, and if having a shop install them, don't be suprised if they want additional billed time. I went through the sequence then rechecked from the beginning, and was able to turn the 1st few bolts so much I wasn't satisfied that all were equally torqued, so I ended up going through the sequence several times, until repeatable torque was achieved on all bolts. As you go around the ring, it crushes the bead sorta like a head gasket. Even crush all the way around takes alot of time!

Bead thickness plays a roll too. I never was able to get my SX2s torqued, I spent hours on just the first one and it just kept squishing, I gave up and ordered ring spacers but then sold those tires before finishing the install.

 

[userdude]

Questions:

1. On the Sas, the two-bolt pattern I believe has been referred to as a "beauty ring". Does this mean it's not actually a beadlock ring and you'd need to get the full bolt pattern like the one referenced?

2. Does that full bolt ring fit on the Sas rim?

 

[SuperFord]

Questions:

1. On the Sas, the two-bolt pattern I believe has been referred to as a "beauty ring". Does this mean it's not actually a beadlock ring and you'd need to get the full bolt pattern like the one referenced?

2. Does that full bolt ring fit on the Sas rim?

yes, & yes

 

[Bmadda]

Bead thickness plays a roll too. I never was able to get my SX2s torqued, I spent hours on just the first one and it just kept squishing, I gave up and ordered ring spacers but then sold those tires before finishing the install.

Are you talking about the Interco TSL/SX2? Like the ones I got from @Bikeric ? I got those beadlocked now...ya they were a little bit of a beotch for sure. I dedicated one evening out of my week to each tire when I did those!

 

[Tricky Mike]

Are you talking about the Interco TSL/SX2? Like the ones I got from @Bikeric ? I got those beadlocked now...ya they were a little bit of a beotch for sure. I dedicated one evening out of my week to each tire when I did those!

Yeah. I had the 14.50s though so IDK if they were any different. They certainly didn't fit the wheels right anyway so that was the driving factor in letting them go.

 

[l88m22vette]

My BL has the optional beadlocks and I've thought about getting a set, mostly I haven't because I wouldn't have a use yet. That said, the pricing doesn't help, $800 is a definitely a dink to the ol' wallet.

 

[WheresMyBronco]

I have. I now own 3 sets. @BigMeatsBronco has them on his 40s too. I think its one of the coolest features of the 6g. I just found a set of squatch takeoffs, and ordered another set to go to 40s (some trails here have a tire size limit, so gotta keep my 37s mounted and ready!)

Do you have any more pictures of that khaki bronco in the back of that 2nd pic by any chance?

 

[Bmadda]

Do you have any more pictures of that khaki bronco in the back of that 2nd pic by any chance?

That's @moab6g , he's on here. It's OD green wrapped...cool BL!

 

[SuperFord]

Yes daily and it is not unsafe. and not illegal either. I check them every 3000 miles with oil change.

I'm not arguing with you, and I understand the nuanced difference between "illegal" and "not DOT approved".

However, disclaimers like this ones below from the wheel manufacturers certainly give me pause regarding accuracy of your "not unsafe" assessment.

KMC: " Bead locks are not DOT approved and are not recommended for on road use."

Raceline: " (BEADLOCK WHEELS ARE FOR OFF-ROAD USE ONLY & ARE NOT DOT APPROVED FOR HIGHWAY USE) "

Ford Performance / Ford Motor Company: "Bead lock configuration is for off-road use only"

Method: "BEADLOCK WHEELS ARE DESIGNED, ENGINEERED AND INTENDED FOR OFF-HIGHWAY USE ONLY AND ARE NOT DOT APPROVED"

Maybe they are all just trying to protect themselves from liability, but IDK. Seems not worth the risk for my daily driver.

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

I'm not arguing with you, and I understand the nuanced difference between "illegal" and "not DOT approved".

However, disclaimers like this ones below from the wheel manufacturers certainly give me pause regarding accuracy of your "not unsafe" assessment.

KMC: " Bead locks are not DOT approved and are not recommended for on road use."

Raceline: " (BEADLOCK WHEELS ARE FOR OFF-ROAD USE ONLY & ARE NOT DOT APPROVED FOR HIGHWAY USE) "

Ford Performance / Ford Motor Company: "Bead lock configuration is for off-road use only"

Method: "BEADLOCK WHEELS ARE DESIGNED, ENGINEERED AND INTENDED FOR OFF-HIGHWAY USE ONLY AND ARE NOT DOT APPROVED"

Maybe they are all just trying to protect themselves from liability, but IDK. Seems not worth the risk for my daily driver.

well you can spend the extra loot and get dot approved ones instead if you wish. look at the rock monster wheels made by Hutchinson. they build shit for the military too.

 

[swooshdave]

I'm not arguing with you, and I understand the nuanced difference between "illegal" and "not DOT approved".

However, disclaimers like this ones below from the wheel manufacturers certainly give me pause regarding accuracy of your "not unsafe" assessment.

KMC: " Bead locks are not DOT approved and are not recommended for on road use."

Raceline: " (BEADLOCK WHEELS ARE FOR OFF-ROAD USE ONLY & ARE NOT DOT APPROVED FOR HIGHWAY USE) "

Ford Performance / Ford Motor Company: "Bead lock configuration is for off-road use only"

Method: "BEADLOCK WHEELS ARE DESIGNED, ENGINEERED AND INTENDED FOR OFF-HIGHWAY USE ONLY AND ARE NOT DOT APPROVED"

Maybe they are all just trying to protect themselves from liability, but IDK. Seems not worth the risk for my daily driver.

I went with the Method Bead Grip wheels.

I'm not sure how low you can run them as I only go down to 20psi but I suspect they will stay on way lower than that. Not sure how you rate wheels as to when the bead won't stay on. Experience I guess.

Then I just air up for the street.

https://www.methodracewheels.com/pages/bead-grip?view=beadgrip

 

[Bellime]

Anyone have the part numbers for the Ford bead lock capable rims?

 

[Bmadda]

Anyone have the part numbers for the Ford bead lock capable rims?

Sasquatch, Badlands optional, and Raptor are all Beadlock capable. Raptor uses a different style of ring tho IIRC. The beadlock ring for Sasquatch fits a Raptor wheel but looks wierd
https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-1007-DC17A
https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-1007-DC17B

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