Are G-Made wheels poorly made or is it me?

[Goferrari28]

Hi all. Today I was at the LHS and among other things I picked up a set of Vaterra Race Claws for my Tamiya F350 High Lift, as I liked the firm sidewall that would support the weight of the truck, and some G-Made steel internal beadlock wheels in matte black that I thought would go well on my rig. Well, I tried to assemble three of the four wheels and found that I could not get a consistent lip at the edge of the wheel, and on both the front and back sides it was really inconsistent ( I didn't even bother with the fourth tire). I then took them apart, and thinking that the tires were the culprit and that the wheels would be better suited to a set of Swampers, I tried those and found the exact same problem. The internal bead lock ring and the back of the wheel seem to have a lot of slop in the holes that are drilled for the hex head screws and do not help the wheel align well, and the hub on the rear section of the wheel facing outward does not even come close to coming in contact with the outer wheel section. I ended up taking the aluminum beadlocks off of my old Flat Irons and installed them on the Race Claws, and they look great. I then mocked up a G_made wheel on one of the Flat Irons and they don't seem to come close to aligning.

Please, let me know if I am doing something wrong or if the beadlocks are messing with me.

[M1tch]

I can't remember exactly how they go together, but there are some raised lugs on one face that need to go to the outside of the wheel. When I get home I will have a look at a spare wheel that's around somewhere.

[Goferrari28]

Originally Posted by M1tch

I can't remember exactly how they go together, but there are some raised lugs on one face that need to go to the outside of the wheel. When I get home I will have a look at a spare wheel that's around somewhere.

Yeah, I figured that out from the instructions, but there seems to be a lot of slop between the wheel sections that doesn't allow them to align.

[M1tch]

Not had any problem with my wheels. They line up fine. Just as with anything there can be production faults.

[KBess1110]

Originally Posted by Goferrari28

Yeah, I didn't see the "Made in South Korea" sticker until I got home.

Gmade made in Korea??? Wht I thought that it was made in USA

G.S.R.C.C.

[Kylar]

Its pretty much common knowledge that proline tires dont work well with internal beadlock style wheels. Looks like vaterra's tires are the same way. Its not the wheels fault its the tire design.

I have a 2 sets of these wheels and they work perfect with rc4wd tires. They work very well and i was pleased with the fit and finish.

[War Pig]

Maybe you got a bad set. Sounds like some people have had luck with those wheels. Hope you can get it figured out.

[M1tch]

Originally Posted by War Pig

Maybe you got a bad set. Sounds like some people have had luck with those wheels. Hope you can get it figured out.

It goes down to exactly that. Anything can have quality problems.

If you bought them from a local store, why not take them back and see what they will do for you. A good store would either exchange the wheels, or give you your money back.

[shakemandril]

The Gmade rims that came with my friends R1 are decent. I would definitely rough up the bead area on the rim a little because the plastic is almost oily feeling even after being cleaned. His rims are sitting on the counter though, backseat to some Axial beadlocks off a Poison Spyder Wraith and a set of Dirty Harry's.