PSA: Beauty Ring Bolts -- Removal Issues & Replacement Cost - BE AWARE!

[etmccaus86]

I seem to be the only one wanting to paint the bolt heads silver (or simply buying silver hardware) to match the ring instead of painting the rim black...but this definitely gives me some heartburn.

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[mpeugeot]

The problem is mixing alloys and metal. I've worked in a specialized truck manufacturing company and you just can't mix stainless bolts with alloy. The same applies to aluminum on steel frames. You'll get oxidation in the alloy (aluminum). If the threads are cross stripped, get a machinist to install Helicoils. There are products you can use to prevent this (like anti-seize). If you can, I'd suggest you do this ASAP when you get your Bronco. This way, if you want to take the beauty rings off in a later time, you don't have any problem.

This ^^^^ . There should be steel thread inserts, and not steel bolts into aluminum threads, everyone knows how that plays out, especially without enough anti-sieze... Poorly, nearly every time, just ask any Ford 3 valve cylinder head.

 

[2023bronco]

FWIW I had zero issues removing my beauty rings, painting and reinstalling. That said, I can understand how some might’ve stripped a screw head removing if they didn’t seat the torx bit in the screw head properly while removing or reinstalling and I can see stripping a screw or wheel threads while reinstalling using power tools if one isn’t careful.

Expecting Ford to warranty stripped threads in the wheel isn’t reasonable IMO. How do they know you didn’t screw it up (pun intended) and are simply covering you ass? Not saying anyone on the forum is lying but what would you do it you owned your own business in today‘s society?

If you treated customers the way you're talking to forum members who've dealt with this problem, you would not be in business long....

 

[Goinwheelin]

This ^^^^ . There should be steel thread inserts, and not steel bolts into aluminum threads, everyone knows how that plays out, especially without enough anti-sieze... Poorly, nearly every time, just ask any Ford 3 valve cylinder head.

I did some sleuthing just a few minutes ago and removed the ring on my spare tire. The bolts are coated, possibly with Teflon, that solves the dissimilar metal issue. Also the amount of yellow thread locker seems to be hit and miss. Two bolts were stubborn the rest broke loose easily.

 

[Robb]

Man…I must be freakin lucky after reading all the issues others have had!
I got all 5 rings (Sasquatch)off my bronco in the powder coating place parking lot I was getting them coated at, in the rain without any issues.

 

[WuNgUn]

I really, really doubt any of them were cross threaded. No way a bolt that size would go in crossed and tighten down without doing serious damage to the rim. And you probably wouldn't be able to remove them at all if that were the case!
I'm guessing Ford put way too much thread lock on them and the corrosion between steel/aluminum was the issue.
Chasing out the threads with a tap, cleaning the bolts, non-permanent thread lock and you should be good.

 

[JPOPS5]

Did you remove the wheels off the Car and then painted them?

No, I did it with them on the truck.

 

[JPOPS5]

I’m actually thinking of doing the same thing. Part of me feels like I’m taking the lazy way out and part of me feels like it’s just the sane way to go at this point. Definitely not trying to deal with any stripped bolts. Once my tires need to be replaced, I plan on going with custom aftermarket wheels anyway. I’m willing to spend the time to properly tape off and index before I paint, I’m not really feeling any downside to do it this way. Hopefully someone tells me if I’m wrong, maybe there’s a downside I’m not thinking of…

It worked good for me.

 

[NasBronco]

I was able to get all 5 beauty rings off and reinstalled with no issues. I would suggest loosening by hand. I too had read all the horror stories first and was surprised it went so smoothly.

 

[NasBronco]

How about when replacing the tire, do the beauty rings need to come off?

No, beauty rings can stay on. If they were beadlock then they would have to come off.

 

[Ranbronc]

I'm in the process of installing beadlock rings on my SAS wheels, have 2 rings installed so far 1 stripped bolt hole , using a torque wrench multiple steps and anti seize.

what is the thread size and pitch?
found it M10x1.5

 

[20Bronco21]

I have a project working for both my BL’s with optional wheels. I’m in and committed at this point. What I’d the correct tap size if I need to chase the threads in the wheel and the correct die size if I meet to clean the bolts?


Edit: Found an M10x1.5 tap and die set on eBay for $9.99 free shipping. Should do the job without further damage.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125456814286?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=244527&meid=f295ded8a61a4836b50927f0e21d49ad&pid=101195&rk=1&rkt=12&sd=155112683664&itm=125456814286&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2047675&algv=SimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuWithRevOptLambda90KnnRecallV1DynamicRecsysV1&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum:125456814286f295ded8a61a4836b50927f0e21d49ad|enc:AQAHAAABIAGsZDIvLnJnqJBDy64SiWV0wf9ckbdNRF1Do0rBHjc7zKeoBPPIS%2B%2FGYu437k5kEdrpr7Ab3g86FTjqHh7Auag3Y%2FMwGORBY5AvZJYfCyMvdKHwC79cGGbVhIzIeu14BSXgqFHoA3MAN8W6Q%2B37xp42aXW4UVA8FShoBLOudREsfbNRnMoxgzmE6f3F9p8CN5iqC1dEVTh9WJsc%2BxNFJq4jBop6SM4V6CUuTQyShDF3K%2BYssgsXqZF%2BlI%2BKETH4%2FREOUNttVf4H2cnC%2BfjNQweThYjr0LmomXm8h8Oi%2BEZOzZyUlsk1L8UldzN8CFvPDFfgYMSF7tQZbLhSn27IBI1qT1EjAkepZPoHBtrk5LXs%2FqrPSN76X4W1mmsnS3Lb%2Fw%3D%3D|ampidL_CLK|clp:2047675

 

[Donkeygyrl]

If only one is missing ,try a helicopter coil or just weld in hole then drill and tap.

 

[Collinabc123]

I removed my Sasquatch rings to have them painted charcoal grey, they look great but one screw went halfway back in and didn’t want to go further

 

[JB4Bronco]

Im thinking of picking up a spare set and powder coating those. I’m just worried about the bolts.


If anyone has extra rings or wants to sell there’s please let me know.

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