Community Forums

Dfreiberger · 06-25-2019, 08:23 PM

My 2017 Freightliner Chassis Dual inside Wheel Valve stem Rubber grommets which support the valve stem would not stay in place and the stems would rub on the outer wheels where they come through the penetration in the outer wheel. After every trip, I would be reinstalling the grommets. This was a useless effort. After a while, the stems started to where notches into the outer rim penetrations. I also noted the stems starting to wear groves in them from rubbing on the wheels.

I had my local freight liner check it out while I was getting the recall done. They basically repositioned the grommets which I knew would not stay in place. I called 1-800 Freightliner and spoke with their tech support. They told me it was a known issue. They told me the grommets currently being used were thin rubber and that the technicians were installing them backwards. If you take off a grommet, you will notice a deep side and a shallow side. The shallow side is supposed to be installed away from the inner wheel.

If you are having the same problem, make sure the grommets are positioned in the right direction. Also, Freighliner has a new thicker material grommet to replace the old ones. If you talk nice, they might send you some. I surely avoided a flat by repairing them.

**Lt Dan** · 06-27-2019, 07:32 AM

Good catch Dutch. One of our club members had a tire go flat on their way to a rally last weekend due to a hole being rubbed in the valve stem. He lost a grommet and didn't know it and the wheel rubbed a hole.

charli3 · 06-28-2019, 07:53 PM

Had the same problem with my rear inside wheel rubber inserts. Freightliner adjusted the valve extensions and added new rubber inserts and still had problems with one insert coming loose. I finally used blue silicone to glue rubber in wheel opening. Approximately 5000 miles on this fix and its still working. If I keep it long enough to get new tires I will have them install solid valve stems like most trucks have.

jelag · 06-30-2019, 08:37 PM

I would go to my favorite tire shop and have them deflate, re-align and maybe change the grommets that mount the stem to the wheel.... they are the pros... I had them re-direct the ones that were impossible to reach with either a gauge or a fill connection... Tires are so important the money spent on having the right and easy to deal with was worth it to me.....