Community Forums

Cats67 · 03-11-2017, 07:39 AM

Has anyone had success installing TPMS senders on a toad's rubber valve stems? I started to put some on my Liberty but they look like they might wobble too much and in time create a leak.

docj · 03-11-2017, 08:04 AM

I've been using TST sensors on my 2014 CR-V's rubber stems for >3 years without any problems.

luvlabs · 03-11-2017, 08:16 AM

Check with your TPMS builder. Some sensors are light enough to be used with rubber valve stems, with others, metal valve stems are strongly recommended.

BrianGlenn · 03-11-2017, 08:32 AM

Brother in law installed TST TPMS on rubber stems and had a stem failure due to flexing. Failed at the hole in the steel rim where the rubber stem "seat" was located. You could see the rub marks on the steel rim where the sensor was rubbing. The stem would "bend over" while rotating at highway speeds and the sensor would rub against the rim as it was forced towards the outside area of the rim - centripetal force. Like a penny on a record player.

Brian

cvbdsl · 03-12-2017, 10:25 AM

I did on 2003 Honda CRV and they worked great - until I sold it.
I hadn't used anti-size compound (lesson learned) and two of them wouldn't come off - the anti-theft tool bent! Broke parts off with pliers and tore the valve stem out (destroyed the senor), left the other on.

Chris

vettenuts · 03-12-2017, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cats67

Has anyone had success installing TPMS senders on a toad's rubber valve stems? I started to put some on my Liberty but they look like they might wobble too much and in time create a leak.

My daughters Liberty doesn't have an onboard TPMS. If you don't either I would change to metal valve stems.

vsheetz · 03-12-2017, 04:18 PM

I have tireminder sensors on my rubber valve stems. No problem. They are pretty small.

Highway 4x4 · 03-12-2017, 04:22 PM

I took the locks off my sensors and remove them when home. Had rubber cores till the new tires now steel. They don't fall off and no one steals them.

phranc · 03-12-2017, 04:29 PM

I have the TST system and a Liberty . After 6 years with the long stems I had a failure when taking of the sender . I changed to the short stubbier stems a couple of years ago and have had no problems and anticipate no problems.

PanJH · 03-13-2017, 08:04 AM

I ran my TST's for several years on rubber stems,but switched to metal when it was time for new tires.

Craigls2 · 03-13-2017, 10:41 AM

Have run the EEZ RV sensors on our Acadia with rubber stems for two years with no problems. Changed tires this winter and asked for metal stems trying to be proactive. Was told the rubber stems are integrated into the Acadias internal tpms sensor and cannot be switched to metal stems. Will continue to use the sensors on the rubber stems and hope for the best.

Betr2Trvl · 04-16-2017, 09:07 AM

The valve stems on our 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk are a very stiff rubber. You can't "bend them", as the stem itself is very rigid, however, after I installed our TPMS sensors I heard a "speed sensitive clicking" sound when driving (not towing) it once I got to about 70mph. I quickly determined that the TPMS sensors were causing the valve stem to deflect, creating the click once I got close to 70mph, but also meaning they were moving around to one degree or another at slower speeds as well.

I checked with Jeep and a couple of tires stores, and given how the valve stems connect to the internal TPMS sensors, there did not seem to be any sort of practical solution to change to ridgidly mounted metal stems.

I had seen a reference to Porsche Fuchs (pronounced "foo-ks, as in Foo Fighters) wheel valve stem supports (pictured below) as a possible solution, so decided to give it a shot. You can get them (usually special order) at any Porsche dealer. I bought 5, and would suggeset you get 5 or 6. You are proably going to pay somewhere around $10 a piece. They have an adhesive on the base, and you just peel the protective "tape" and stick them on the rim.

They are make to be mounted right up against the valve stem to prevent deflection at high speeds. However, given the design of our Jeep wheels, the base is too large, and you can't mount the right up against the stem. I cut down the base, and have the TPMS sensor rest against the support; the sensor barely touches the support. You can move the stems up to use TPMS wrench to take the sensors on / off.

If you cut the base with a cutting wheel, be cautious of how much heat you create as it can affect the adhesive; I did loose one that never seemed to be as firmly attached from the beginning. I also painted them to match my wheels.

I have run this set up for about 10,000 miles and it seems to work great. I do (usually) take my sensors off when not towing......

I can't seem to get multiple pictures to attach to a single post, so 2 more pictures to follow.

Hope this is helpful.

Porsche Fuchs wheel valve stem support: