Re-Torque beadlocks..

[BryantM4]

I went today and began the process of re-torquing my kmc beadlocks after the 1k initial miles since install. I found that my rings were sitting at about 15-18ft-lb torque, which is way less than the 24ft-lb that KMC recommends. This was completed with the tire deflated and off of the ground, and i re-torqued to 24ft-lb, going in a circle until none of the bolts had to turn to be torqued. Is it normal for beadlock ring books to lose torque or could it possibly be from the lip of the tire getting used to being compressed?

Also, on one tire i torqued every bolt until 24ft-lb, but there is a gap behind 3 of the bolts, should i backall of the bolts out and re-torque them until the ring is flat? Or run in the bolts where the gap is until the ring sits flat?

Sponsored

 

[bleda2002]

I had a very reputable shop assemble my kmc beadlocks, and i have had no issues out of them. The shop told me to re-torque the rings after the initial 1k miles. I went today and began the process and found that my rings were sitting at about 15-18ft-lb torque, which is way less than the 24ft-lb that KMC recommends. This was completed with the tire deflated and off of the ground, and i re-torqued to 24ft-lb, going in a circle until none of the bolts had to turn to be torqued. Is it normal for beadlock ring books to lose torque or could it possibly be from the lip of the tire getting used to being compressed?

Did they use anti seize? If they did then 18 is about right as you want to reduce by 20-25%. That said my beadlocks all loosened a bit after the first 500 miles, then I checked them again at 5k for the oil change and they were still tight. I think it's the lip of the tire being seated/squished that makes the difference.

Edit: if they did use anti seize and are now at 24ftlbs, do not just loosen to 18, you've stretched the bolts and going down will not give the correct amount of tension any more. You never reuse beadlocks bolts after theyve been stretched once.

 

[BryantM4]

Did they use anti seize? If they did then 18 is about right as you want to reduce by 20-25%. That said my beadlocks all loosened a bit after the first 500 miles, then I checked them again at 5k for the oil change and they were still tight. I think it's the lip of the tire being seated/squished that makes the difference.

Edit: if they did use anti seize and are now at 24ftlbs, do not just loosen to 18, you've stretched the bolts and going down will not give the correct amount of tension any more. You never reuse beadlocks bolts after theyve been stretched once.

i think they definitely used anit seize, but i torqued them to 24 ft-lb all around. Had a little issue out of one ring, not being even all around, had to back out all the other bolts and re-torque until it was even, per KMC. All seems good to go

 

[bleda2002]

i think they definitely used anit seize, but i torqued them to 24 ft-lb all around. Had a little issue out of one ring, not being even all around, had to back out all the other bolts and re-torque until it was even, per KMC. All seems good to go

Which beadlocks do you have? The extra 6lbs will probably be fine, as they use grade 8s but next time you go to loosen them I'd definitely replace the hardware.

 

[BryantM4]

Which beadlocks do you have? The extra 6lbs will probably be fine, as they use grade 8s but next time you go to loosen them I'd definitely replace the hardware.

KMC Machete Crawl, the instructions KMC send says 24ft lb

 

[bleda2002]

KMC Machete Crawl, the instructions KMC send says 24ft lb

24 with anti seize is about 30ish dry, the instruction say 24 dry or to reduce by 25% with anti-seize. I have kmc beadlocks as well and the instructions on mine mention reducing torque with anti-seize appropriately. The shop had it right at 18 with anti-seize, 24 is probably fine but those bolts are stretched so ymmv.

Sponsored