KMC Enduro Beadlock Bolts

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tnsbruce

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Howdy -

I have the KMC Enduro wheels on my Raptor. The wheels came with Grade 8 bolts to attach the beadlock to the wheel. Can I replace the the Grade 8 bolts with stainless bolts? Stainless bolts are not as strong as Grade 8, but I am thinking the threads in the aluminum wheel are the weak link.

Thanks
 

AngryBird

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No! Hell No! The threads are not the weak link or they wouldn't spec Grade 8 Bolts. You can do the thread failure calcs if you want to prove this to yourself. You will not be able to achieve the necessary pre-load on the bolts to hold the lock ring on under pressure. This could lead to failure under pressure and consequently severe injury and/or death.
 
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tnsbruce

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Glad I asked! Grade 8 will stay. I was getting some corrosion on the bolt heads. I will clean off and stick with the Grade 8 bolts.

I will do some research on the thread failure calculations - it will be an interesting exercise.

Thanks!
 

Raptorguy21

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Howdy -

I have the KMC Enduro wheels on my Raptor. The wheels came with Grade 8 bolts to attach the beadlock to the wheel. Can I replace the the Grade 8 bolts with stainless bolts? Stainless bolts are not as strong as Grade 8, but I am thinking the threads in the aluminum wheel are the weak link.

Thanks

Have you stripped some of the threads on the wheel?
 
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tnsbruce

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Have you stripped some of the threads on the wheel?

The shop that mounted the tires stripped a couple - I used helicoil to repair. Ideally, I think these wells should come with helicoils standard for a more secure mounting of beadlock ring.
 

Allied Offroad

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You can try clear coating the bolt heads. That's what i do when I want to keep the grade 8 finish.
 

treypal

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Beadlocks strip out, back out and break bolts all the time. I seriously don't suggest them.
 
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