WARNING Wheel Beauty Ring Removal - Bronco

[B Miller]

FINAL UPDATE: The dealer was able to remove the bolts, re tap, and put new bolts in. Took about four hours. The dealer did not charge and made it a warranty issue. Confirmed that the bolts were indeed not installed correctly from the factory.

RECOMMENDATION: Feel free to remove the rings, but if you run into a bolt that seems very hard to turn. Stop and put it back in. There's a good chance there are more and you risk stripping the bolts.

IF YOU'VE ALREADY STRIPPED THE BOLTS: Call the dealership service manager and go through him. Have them order the new bolts and make an appointment for repair. Calling Ford warranty department is pointless. Only the dealership service manager has the authority to make it a warranty issue (be very cool to him)

The service manager is the go to guy for this issue. The wheels are not covered under warranty, but the tires are. The service manager has to work with Ford to make it a warranty issue. Luckily, Newberg Ford has been wonderful to me and always seem to do the right thing.

Feels good to have Bubbles back together again.

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[samstone]

I stripped two bolts with a standard ratchet, but several came out with some elbow grease. Switched to an impact wrench to back them out, which worked great on all but a few. Then used an 18" breaker bar for the super stubborn ones being careful to use my other hand pressing in to ensure a square on fit before putting a load on the bar. The breaker bar was the ticket!

 

[0ne]

I stripped two bolts with a standard ratchet, but several came out with some elbow grease. Switched to an impact wrench to back them out, which worked great on all but a few. Then used an 18" breaker bar for the super stubborn ones being careful to use my other hand pressing in to ensure a square on fit before putting a load on the bar. The breaker bar was the ticket!

Are we talking stripped bolt heads or threads here? Some Bronco bolt heads are Torx+. Are the threads stripped/stripping or cross threaded or thread locked/tightened excessively? How is Ford installing these incorrectly? Thank you

 

[B Miller]

Are we talking stripped bolt heads or threads here? Some Bronco bolt heads are Torx+. Are the threads stripped/stripping or cross threaded or thread locked/tightened excessively? How is Ford installing these incorrectly? Thank you

Most came out fine. I had four coming out slightly crooked and more difficult to remove than the others. This is when I knew something was wrong. Decided then to scratch the project and put them back in.

Unfortunately it was too late. While trying to get them back in, the bolt heads stripped. They were sticking out about 1/4" each. I was able to book an appointment with the Ford Dealership. They confirmed the bolts had issues. The were able to re tap and put new bolts in. That's all the details I know.

I have since removed the wheels and put on steelies. No more beauty rings for this guy

The heads stripped because the bolts were cross threaded. Couldn't get those suckers back in for the life of me.

 

[TyGuy40]

Most came out fine. I had four coming out slightly crooked and more difficult to remove than the others. This is when I knew something was wrong. Decided then to scratch the project and put them back in.

Man, I just am now going through this problem. Posted about it here.

How were you able to sweet-talk your dealer service manager into helping you? Mine wants $3200 plus labor and tax to replace 18 bolts and one wheel. Which I think is a little maddening. I would just new wheels at that point, and keep the tires.

Thanks for your detailed thread.

 

[gmac]

I had trouble on my swap. my spare tire beauty ring bolts came out very hard and would not thread back in. Not even the holes that are for the actual bead lock rings would thread. Dealer replaced rim under warranty. Other rims were fine.

 

[B Miller]

Man, I just am now going through this problem. Posted about it here.

How were you able to sweet-talk your dealer service manager into helping you? Mine wants $3200 plus labor and tax to replace 18 bolts and one wheel. Which I think is a little maddening. I would just new wheels at that point, and keep the tires.

Thanks for your detailed thread.

Maybe it depends on the dealership and manager. Sorry to hear it’s happening to more people.

 

[RHeinz]

Hope the dealer get's it covered for you. Stainless in this application would be better but I looked at a bunch of off the shelf options and all had a head diameter too large. The stock are non standard so it's either go back with the same thing or get some stainless hex socket and find a buddy with a metal lathe.

Stainless on Aluminum is also a troublesome application unless an anti-seize compound is used, and even then, in my experience, there can be issues.

 

[MRenfro]

Question, do the beauty rings need to be removed for a tire installation?

I had a slow leak in my tire and the shop I brought it to removed the beauty ring.

 

[TyGuy40]

Maybe it depends on the dealership and manager. Sorry to hear it’s happening to more people.

I just contacted the service manager at my local dealer, so I am praying he can come through in the clutch. I have a baby girl about to be born on the 28th, so naturally, there is no way I will be able to buy new rims or get this fixed anytime soon. Let's hope for a New Years' miracle!

 

[2023bronco]

If the beauty rings need to be removed for tire replacement, it sounds like Ford may end up having a lot of issues with the wheels. I'll be interesting to hear over time how prevalent this problem is.

 

[0ne]

If the beauty rings need to be removed for tire replacement, it sounds like Ford may end up having a lot of issues with the wheels. I'll be interesting to hear over time how prevalent this problem is.

Supposedly good tire shops with competent technicians can swap out something on the mounting machine to accommodate for the rings without removal.

 

[TTUHoopsFans]

Man, I was looking forward to powder coating my beauty rings black, but after reading this thread I'm not so sure it's worth the potential headache.

 

[FlyingScot]

Man, I was looking forward to powder coating my beauty rings black, but after reading this thread I'm not so sure it's worth the potential headache.

I got a crash course in this when a certain chain tire shop removed my rings to install new tires and put them back on without the valve stem clearances lined up with the valve stems (well, four out of five, one they lined up correctly). Thankfully no issues getting them out or back in after a year and 13k miles, good chance to clean most of the threadlocker off.

 

[B Miller]

Man, I was looking forward to powder coating my beauty rings black, but after reading this thread I'm not so sure it's worth the potential headache.

I'd give it a go. If you run into one that comes out REALLY hard, stop and put them back in.

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