Metal valve stem caps-throw them all away

[Rand]

When we were kids we would steal those fancy chrome ones for our bikes, because they looked cool.

nowadays they just steal the black plastic ones off my car because.. why not. ugh.

 

[billt460]

I've used chrome plated brass valve stem caps on all of my vehicles for years and have never had a problem. I typically use the German style and have been known to use a dab of silicone on the threads of my DD's wheels.

That's what mine are. Chrome plated brass.

 

[bdcardinal]

The aviation style valve caps MS20813-1 are what you seek. Brass, corrosion proof and don't stick. Plus they will absolutely hold back 3000PSI and are rated to 5000PSI.

So one of my friends bought a Bonanza and we have been laughing at the absurdity of plane parts prices. Dare I even ask how much these are?

 

[surfstar]

So one of my friends bought a Bonanza and we have been laughing at the absurdity of plane parts prices. Dare I even ask how much these are?

Enough that you'd be mad/sad whenever they got swapped out.

 

[RooflessVW]

Just in case you haven't experienced the joy of removing a metal valve stem cap that has fused itself to the stem through galvanic corrosion, here's your reminder that you need to replace them with plastic ones. The RAV4 I bought last fall had them on three wheels and all three needed vice grips to remove.

I'll keep mine. Dill 637 on everything.

 

[GMBoy]

I never forget buying aluminum caps with the corvette logo on them.......they fused so tight I had to have a tire shop replace all 4 valve stems. Never again.

 

[DCDG]

A little synthetic or silicone lube on the stem threads.

 

[RooflessVW]

The aviation style valve caps MS20813-1 are what you seek. Brass, corrosion proof and don't stick. Plus they will absolutely hold back 3000PSI and are rated to 5000PSI.

I just bought another 25 pack on eBay.

 

[Carmudgeon]

My BMW came with these stainless steel caps 25 years ago...never been a problem removing them.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-valve-caps-36121120779

Those were the first ones to come to mind for me.

But the risk of pilfering, or careless handling, and I'm guessing a local matrix price of perhaps ~$5/ea, easier to replace them with typical non-descript plastic caps.

 

[JimPghPA]

Just warm it up a little first. Daughter-in-laws old Accord had them. Right front hadn't been checked in who knows how long and was visually very low. Yup needed pliers on that one. First time she came over I was like and the rest that did come off, her grandfather put to 51psi since that was "sidewall" pressure.

Replaced them all with plastic and pressure to door placard all around. Her comment "the car rides so much better".

View attachment 351417

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Thanks for the laugh.

Like Jimmy Buffet sang - "If we couldn't laugh we'd all go insane".

RIP Jimmy.

 

[redbone3]

I think the problem is that the tpms stems are aluminum. Old ones were brass.

 

[Lubener]

Just in case you haven't experienced the joy of removing a metal valve stem cap that has fused itself to the stem through galvanic corrosion, here's your reminder that you need to replace them with plastic ones. The RAV4 I bought last fall had them on three wheels and all three needed vice grips to remove.

Check the air pressure more often and the caps won't seize.

 

[billt460]

........ Dare I even ask how much these are?

It looks like they can be had for around a buck and a half a pop.

"Available individually for about $1.50 to $2.00 or in bulk packs of 100"

Screw them on to a valve stem, and hit them against a buffing wheel, and they'll look slick.

https://www.google.com/search?q=yel...i10i299l3.14820j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[billt460]

I've had these on my truck since I've owned it. ($12 bucks a hundred). I never had a problem. But I am going to hit the threads with a little anti seize, just to be safe.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3982337485...lp:2332490&itmmeta=01KZB55PM2DJ95HCA49SHE88WV

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I picked up the plastic ones from Amazon that have the O-ring in them. I got 3 different styles that match my cars original versions.

Extended black ones for the Hyundai, light grey more fluted for the Honda's and a dark grey normal looking for whomever.

They were bags of like 30 in each pretty cheap.

 

[Propflux01]

It's the aluminum ones that fuse themselves to the stems.

 

[Elkins45]

Fancy you with your RAV4 that has functional TPMS .

In the 10 months since I bought it one or more of the batteries has died. That's how I know the valve caps are stuck. It began giving me intermittent warnings a couple of months ago and fortunately I had pliers in the vehicle to get them off. In a couple of months with no road salt and less than 500 miles of driving they had completely fused themselves to the stem again. Now they are in the scrap pile.