Posted By: JERICOGTX
Beadlocks - 02/26/15 10:19 PM
Are there any drawbacks to running beadlocks? Thinking of sending out my rear wheels to have them done.
Jeff
Jeff
Beadlocks
Posted By: Al_Alguire
Re: Beadlocks - 02/26/15 10:36 PM
Weight...The wheels will gain a significant amount of weight with beadlocks. That is weight at the exact wrong place on a car. IMO it is a fashion statement by most people rarely a necessity.
Posted By: ProSport
Re: Beadlocks - 02/26/15 10:37 PM
The only drawback I've ever heard is extra rotating weight but I don't think that's much of an issue. I always wanted to try them just to stiffen the sidewall and have the ability to mount wheels at home easier. I just didn't know if a 9.90 car really needed them.
Posted By: Al_Alguire
Re: Beadlocks - 02/26/15 11:00 PM
Well since there are a slew of cars in the 5 and 6 second zone running them you can decide if a 9.90 car needs them.
Posted By: Mopar-Al
Re: Beadlocks - 02/26/15 11:05 PM
My car runs mid 8's and I dont use them. Just 12 screws per rim
Posted By: Monte_Smith
Re: Beadlocks - 02/26/15 11:38 PM
Quote:A lot of those cars run "liners" though, because some classes require one or the other per rules.
Well since there are a slew of cars in the 5 and 6 second zone running them you can decide if a 9.90 car needs them.
Now, do most regular guys NEED them, not likely. Look cool......yes. make tires a breeze to change.......yes. Added weight......yes, but not much. Can they help......yes. They helped the 60fts on our car by stiffening the sidewall AND increasing sidewall life because of the same.
MacFab did ours and I wouldn't use anybody else. They are VERY true and pretty damn light.
Posted By: Gary Robbins
Re: Beadlocks - 02/26/15 11:45 PM
Quote:
Weight...The wheels will gain a significant amount of weight with beadlocks. That is weight at the exact wrong place on a car. IMO it is a fashion statement by most people rarely a necessity.
I resisted the beadlock wagon as I long as I could...But when we started approaching the 1.10 60' mark ours started moving 3-4" per pass and almost half a turn by the time the race was over...With drag radials you can't use screws and we glued ours with hi-tack and was Ok at 1.20 60'+ !!
Ironically my new Champion double beadlock Stripsters came in today
web page
Posted By: JERICOGTX
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 01:10 AM
MacFab shows pricing on their website, is thst per wheel or a pair?
Posted By: Al_Alguire
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 01:25 AM
Don't get me wrong they have a place for sure. We had them on the heads up car and the Stratus as them as they were mandatory in PS. But for the overwhelming majority they are eye candy.
He asked if there was a disadvantage and I pointed out the only big one I am aware of. Well possibly interference with the calipers as well, but that depends on whos bead locks, the backspacing and what caliper you have. We are NOT using them on the dragster we are just gluing the beads as we have on a few Outlaw 8.5 cars.
Generally prices given for beadlocks are per wheel.
He asked if there was a disadvantage and I pointed out the only big one I am aware of. Well possibly interference with the calipers as well, but that depends on whos bead locks, the backspacing and what caliper you have. We are NOT using them on the dragster we are just gluing the beads as we have on a few Outlaw 8.5 cars.
Generally prices given for beadlocks are per wheel.
Posted By: Monte_Smith
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 02:19 AM
I just went to the Mac Fab site. Based on what we have had done, those prices are for a "pair" of wheels.
We had beadlocked "Sanders" wheels and they had some serious run out. Tommy always told Chad "let me fix those damn wheels" and we never did it. They bring a trailer to the big races and do the conversions on site. At the fall SGMP race, Tommy just came over, got both sets of wheels and "fixed" them, while we had them off the car and nobody even noticed they were gone....LOL!!.....no charge. Couldn't argue with that......LOL!!!.....His locks are dead true, plus MUCH lighter than what we had before.
We had beadlocked "Sanders" wheels and they had some serious run out. Tommy always told Chad "let me fix those damn wheels" and we never did it. They bring a trailer to the big races and do the conversions on site. At the fall SGMP race, Tommy just came over, got both sets of wheels and "fixed" them, while we had them off the car and nobody even noticed they were gone....LOL!!.....no charge. Couldn't argue with that......LOL!!!.....His locks are dead true, plus MUCH lighter than what we had before.
Posted By: bigtimeauto
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 02:39 AM
I just bought these for my regal, nicest and lightest.
Posted By: Big Squeeze
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 03:03 AM
Awe yeah...Mac Fab did these... 
Posted By: JERICOGTX
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 03:20 AM
Thanks for clearing the price info up Monte. Was a little bit of sticker shock compared to Champion and others.
Now my only other worry is I have 5.5" back spacing on the Pro5 wheels. Guess I will have to do some mockup.
Now my only other worry is I have 5.5" back spacing on the Pro5 wheels. Guess I will have to do some mockup.
Posted By: slammedR/T
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 03:38 AM
Quote:
Thanks for clearing the price info up Monte. Was a little bit of sticker shock compared to Champion and others.
Now my only other worry is I have 5.5" back spacing on the Pro5 wheels. Guess I will have to do some mockup.
If you get the pro 5 wheels done post up some pics, I just ordered a set for the rear of my R/T
Posted By: JERICOGTX
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 03:50 AM
Pro5's from Mac Fab's website.
Posted By: slammedR/T
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 03:56 AM
Quote:
Pro5's from Mac Fab's website.
Those are SICK!
Posted By: rowin4
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 03:57 AM
When I was looking for some wider wheels I ran across a pair of bead locks cheaper than screwed ones. I like eye candy and saving money
Posted By: JERICOGTX
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 04:05 AM
Quote:Quote:
Pro5's from Mac Fab's website.
Those are SICK!
You will like the Pro5's. Very well made wheel.
Posted By: slammedR/T
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 04:22 AM
Quote:Quote:Quote:
Pro5's from Mac Fab's website.
Those are SICK!
You will like the Pro5's. Very well made wheel.
They had a lot of good reviews online and from here so I ordered them especially when they had my size and backsace on clearance
Going to powder coat them matte blck with polished centers and beadlock them when I change tires next time.
Posted By: rowin4
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 05:09 AM
Quote:Quote:Quote:Quote:
Pro5's from Mac Fab's website.
Those are SICK!
You will like the Pro5's. Very well made wheel.
They had a lot of good reviews online and from here so I ordered them especially when they had my size and backsace on clearance
Going to powder coat them matte blck with polished centers and beadlock them when I change tires next time.
Was it Car Craft or HOT rod magazine that said black wheels were getting old.
Posted By: slammedR/T
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 05:12 AM
Quote:Quote:Quote:Quote:Quote:
Pro5's from Mac Fab's website.
Those are SICK!
You will like the Pro5's. Very well made wheel.
They had a lot of good reviews online and from here so I ordered them especially when they had my size and backsace on clearance
Going to powder coat them matte blck with polished centers and beadlock them when I change tires next time.
Was it Car Craft or HOT rod magazine that said black wheels were getting old.
I'm getting old too so it will be a perfect match 
Posted By: Monte_Smith
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 05:15 AM
Mac Fab has several styles of lock rings, so you are not limited to what everybody else has. Those Pro 5 are very similar to our Sanders wheels, which were a bit cheaper
Posted By: slammedR/T
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 05:20 AM
Quote:
Mac Fab has several styles of lock rings, so you are not limited to what everybody else has. Those Pro 5 are very similar to our Sanders wheels, which were a bit cheaper
I plan on going to Mac Fab as I like his quality of work and his ring selection is trick also.
Posted By: Monte_Smith
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 05:24 AM
Not a real good pic.........but ours are directional
Posted By: rowin4
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 07:09 AM
A question for someone in the know. There are double and single bead locks. I have the double, but with the singles, does the tire rotate and bunch up. Or do you have to have screws to hold the tire? 
Posted By: slammedR/T
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 09:38 AM
Quote:
Not a real good pic.........but ours are directional
Yeah that is the "blade" style, i was digging that style and the "fast eddie" style. I need to go rob a liqour store
Posted By: John Burdine
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 12:22 PM
Before.
After MacFab
After MacFab
Posted By: Tig
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 12:25 PM
Dependant upon the style and backspacing, it may not be possible to double beadlock certain wheels. Single beadlocks will need screws on the none beadlocked inner side. HTH's
Posted By: 68shifter
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 04:02 PM
Not to hijack- but I've always wanted to try them in conjunction with radials on a stick car. Seems they would help with the side wall issues and I would think be faster. Just a thought.
Posted By: Quickrunner
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 04:24 PM
My Champion eye candy
Posted By: WadeMetzinger
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 06:51 PM
Here are the ones Champion just did for me. They are just single bead lock. We mounted and balances them our selves with a bubble balancer from Harbor Freight.
They charged like $540 including shipping. I had Jegs ship them directly to Champion. Their lead time is 2 weeks but mine arrived Tursday and they shipped them out in Friday.
Beautiful work, I was a little nervous since they were brand new from Billet Specialties as their polishing is awesome but you couldn't tell they weren't done by Billet Specialties themselves. They did an awesome job and very nice and helpful service!
I did it for looks and so I could mount and balance myself.
They charged like $540 including shipping. I had Jegs ship them directly to Champion. Their lead time is 2 weeks but mine arrived Tursday and they shipped them out in Friday.
Beautiful work, I was a little nervous since they were brand new from Billet Specialties as their polishing is awesome but you couldn't tell they weren't done by Billet Specialties themselves. They did an awesome job and very nice and helpful service!
I did it for looks and so I could mount and balance myself.
Posted By: WadeMetzinger
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 06:52 PM
On the car
Posted By: 496 A-body
Re: Beadlocks - 02/27/15 07:13 PM
Very happy with the double beadlock conversion Champion did for me.
Posted By: JERICOGTX
Re: Beadlocks - 02/28/15 12:09 PM
Found this interesting on Mac Fabs site. Even with the extra weight, they have to be a couple pounds lighter then my current Weld Draglites.
Posted By: onig
Re: Beadlocks - 02/28/15 03:22 PM
Beadlocks look totally awesome.
But looking at those MT beadlocks I would think that they would be using some form of automatic welding because those weld beads look like crap. From a large tire and wheel company I would expect much better quality.
But looking at those MT beadlocks I would think that they would be using some form of automatic welding because those weld beads look like crap. From a large tire and wheel company I would expect much better quality.
Posted By: 496 A-body
Re: Beadlocks - 02/28/15 04:26 PM
Quote:
Beadlocks look totally awesome.
But looking at those MT beadlocks I would think that they would be using some form of automatic welding because those weld beads look like crap. From a large tire and wheel compancy I would expect much better quality.
Those welds were not done by M/T. When you get the double beadlocked Pro 5 wheels from M/T it is a 1 piece construction with no welds, I agree that those welds are ugly but MacFab has an awesome reputation for beadlock conversions and I wouldn't hesitate to have them do a set. The welds on my M/T wheels that Champion did are much nicer looking though
Posted By: hemi-itis
Re: Beadlocks - 02/28/15 04:41 PM
I did not see a reply as to wheather there is any DISadvantage to single's 
Posted By: 496 A-body
Re: Beadlocks - 02/28/15 05:01 PM
Quote:
I did not see a reply as to wheather there is any DISadvantage to single's
Yes there is a disadvantage. The single beadlock will have much more clamping force on the bead than the side that has screws or glue, this will make the sidewalls wear unevenly and M/T and Weld wheels strongly discourage single beadlocks and they both consider them to be unsafe, however there are lots of guys getting away with the singles without issues