DIY Beadlocks on NATOs

adamsclarke

Well-known member
Not that the NATO wheels need to be any heavier than they are...but anyone ever beadlock a set? I likethe look of NATOs vs the normal steel wheels...and the bead lock would also make it close to an 8" wide wheel. Other than the steep backspacing, seems like it would work.
Just gathering ideas for a project :D
 

post

Well-known member
May 6, 2006
1,114
0
45
Mtn Home, Idaho
www.cardomain.com
not on the Natos but have some Balistic DIY's on the GCR's. Make sure you buy long enough bolts for them the 1st time since it can get expensive if you find out you didn't buy the right length. I also had to buy some 90* valve stems.
 

LR Max

Well-known member
May 1, 2004
1,190
7
Hotlanta, GA
DIY beadlocks are the way to go. Check with your local shop since most shops make their own and can install them for you (one stop shop = good).

Main thing is you want the beadlock inner ring that sits on the INSIDE of the rim lip, not on top of it (I.E. the inner ring will have a smaller diameter than the outer ring, thus sitting inside the rim slightly). By doing this, it'll be easier to weld and you'll have less leaks. If you are doing it by yourself, then you definitely want this! Then I put JB weld over the welds just to make sure they are air tight.

Get beadlock rings that have a slot cut in them for the valve steam. This will make life 3409587394857290347593745978 easier. TRUST ME.

220v welder or don't even attempt yourself. Even so, charge up ye gas bottle and get a spare spool of wire. Its gonna take you a couple hours to weld them bitches. So I'd say do two, take a sammich break, come back and do two more. Normally, I'd say grab a beer while doing this but you don't want to be impaired while doing this. If you mess this up, its gonna suck big time.

Do EVERYTHING you can to make sure the inner ring is air tight. Mounting and dismounting is a giant pain in the ass. I did it like, 3 times trying to get these damn things right.

When you mount the tires, seal em up! Wish I had done that. Put bead sealer on the other bead and sealant where the tire meets the new beadlock ring. Guys I know used RTV. It works but I bet there is something better out there (probably the bead seal, lol).

For tire balance, just go get 2000 BBs (like the ones you shoot your brother in the ass with when you were 5) from Wal-Mart and dump 500 in each tire. I've run this setup for 4 years now. I opened up the tire a year ago and everything looked fine, no problems. This is cheap, easy and will balance em' right out.

Get beadlock rings with A LOT of bolts (32, I think). Then tighten the shit outta them. 10 ft-lbs my ass! Get out the impact and go to town. Yeah, you'll "cone" the rings but what go you care, you don't want to fool around with these things again. Put the rim/tire on a bucket so you can easily work on it.

Now, you won't want to daily drive this tire/rim combo. They suck for that. But off road...my god. 10 psi is AMAZING. Soft, smooth ride, more traction than a cat on carpet and you just look badass.

Get a good valve stem removal tool. This is the only way to get em aired down quickly. Otherwise you'll be sitting there playing with your tires for an hour. Also get a C02 tank. As with the valve stem tool, get this or you'll be airing up your tires for like, an hour.