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BAD Beadlocks
We like the clean machining and simple design of the Eklipse. You wouldn’t expect a wheel as unassuming as this to be able to take the abuse a hardcore off-road rig could dish out, would you?
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BAD Beadlocks
Short of a gash in a sidewall, airing down has never been as simple and fast as with the RAD’s.
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BAD Beadlocks
The only odd tools you will need are a pair of 1-1/2 ABS plastic 45-degree elbows, a mid depth 15/16 socket and swivel, and a pair of long reach needle nose pliers. Not shown is a magnet on a stick after our butterfingers dropped hardware in the tire.
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BAD Beadlocks
Three of these aluminum locking segments are to be installed and torqued down from inside the tire carcass. These are shown with the bead side facing up. Notice the ridges to grip the tire? We did too!
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BAD Beadlocks
Once inside the wheel, this is how things are held in place. The mounting studs are already in the wheel, we just need to bolt the segments down and install a locking pin.
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BAD Beadlocks
Here's another view of the segment bolted down. Multiple holes are drilled for the retaining pins. The nylon washer is used incase there is any extra space between the end of the nut and the retaining pinhole. We didn’t end up needing them with our setup.
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BAD Beadlocks
If you are concerned with possibly knocking a pin out, you can use the included cotter pins as well. We have not had an issue with the locking pins.
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BAD Beadlocks
The deep dropout centre of the wheel is there to aid in mounting the locking segments. Our trick from Kevin is to us the plumbing elbows to open up a window between the tire and the wheel so you can insert the segments. Do one at a time, and just slide the elbows to the next location.
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BAD Beadlocks
We found that flipping the segment over and slip it into the tire carcass worked best. The machining is very precise and segments dropped right in place.
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BAD Beadlocks
Only two nuts and two washers are required pre segment.
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BAD Beadlocks
30 lb-ft is all that’s required. Go back and forth between the nuts until they no longer move.
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BAD Beadlocks
The long needle nose pliers worked great for installing the pins. As you can see, there is not enough space to place the nylon washer.
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BAD Beadlocks
After all the segments are installed and pined in place, a locking air chuck to seat the back bead is the last step. It’s kind of sad to know that these wheels will never look this good again… Ah well!
Story & photos by Bryan Irons
Putting a set of street legal BAD beadlocks to the test
With the constant tire swaps we do around the office for testing, we often get into a familiar conversation. As of recent, it’s been like living the life of “who’s on first?”
“What wheel and tire you running NOW?”
“Bad Dogs”
“They’re junk?”
“No, they’re awesome!!!”
“Why call them bad?”
“Because they’re BAD.”
The conversation eventually gets sorted out as I explain the bias Pitbull Rockers on B.A.D.’s wheels are a phenomenal match made in dirt heaven. We have raved in these pages before about how much we like Putbull’s Rocker line of tires for the serious off-road driver. B.A.D. wheels, however, a new comer to us, and we’re happy to spill the beans on what we think of the Eklipse Bead Assist Device wheels.
Owner/designer/machinist/janitor, Kevin Kaylin, set out a few years back to build the toughest, safest, DOT approved beadlock style wheel on the planet. After breaking one of the Department of Transport’s testing machines for a lateral load test, we think he succeeded. Depending on wheel bolt pattern, the Eklipse wheel holds a rating of 3,500 lb with a 42-in tire… unheard of territory in a cast aluminum wheel.
Don’t expect to find a plethora of designs and sizes from B.A.D., as only one is available due to the high cost of getting the wheel approved by the Department Of Transport. But don’t worry; multiple finishes and options are at your disposal to give the wheels a custom look with built in function as well. A17 x 10-in wheel with 3.5-in of backspacing was the decided size and the most commonly sought after by the off-road community. Options such as sacrificial rock rings with a stepped edge for precise fitment as well as complete covers for those who like to foray in the mud and deep snow.
We scored a set of powder coated black units but could not decide on what rock ring to go with, so we got two anodized black and two brushed aluminum. Our 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern means an approved weight rating of “just” 3,000 lb, still a huge bump up form the 1,800 lb approved rating of our old wheels. Every set of Eklipse wheels come with Rapid Air Deflators pre installed plus standard valve stems to help in airing down for the trail, exactly where these wheels belong.
The moulding process is not like other bead locks you may have come across. There is no exposed bead retaining hardware that could get smashed off or rust, no need to centre the tire on the locking ring during assembly, and no need to re-torque bolts on every outing. Mount the tires on the B.A.D.’s just like you would any passenger car tire. Air the tire up to seat both beads, and then unseat the back bead. With the back bead unseated there is a large gap between the bead and the deep dish of the wheel; this is where the retaining hardware will be installed. We cheated a little and drug our “BAD dogs” down to a local tire shop for them to initially mount and break the back bead for us. If you choose to go this route, be forewarned that you will spend the better part of an hour showing the rubber wranglers your new kicks.
We had a good chat with Kevin Kaylin about the wheels and got a few tips along the way that we’ll pass along to you here as we assemble ours. Our first time mounting the BAD’s took about as long as our old 32 bolt locks after years of practice with them. Now that we’re part way up to learning curve, the time will be drastically reduced once the Rockers come to the end of their lifespan.
We never bother to balance our beadlock combinations and these were no different. The big bias Rockers are pre balanced from the factory, and the new BAD wheels are round, true and smooth as well. On the trail, having the Rapid Air Deflators made dropping to the 5 psi mark a breeze, which is where the Rockers start to really work well. Even down as low as 1-2 psi we never had an issue with slipping the inner bead. The rock rings served their purpose in defending the wheel from errant obstacles and bonehead driving. A quick sanding or coat of paint will keep them looking great for years to come. Driving around with a ragged, rusty wheel on the street is just inviting unwanted attention anyway.
Having insurance companies look closer at the equipment we run on the street as wheelers brings new challenges in getting to and from the trail. BAD wheels Eklipse is showing that we can have our cake and eat it too. A true bead lock with DOT approval for up to a 42-in tire is the type of innovation we need to keep us within strict confines on the street and able to hit the trail hard for year to come. They’re still a “BAD dog”!
B.A.D. Wheels - www.badwheelsinc.com
Pitbull Tires - www.pitbulltires.com
To watch a video of the installation process click here