Valve Stem Caps (not so simple anymore)

[Dibbons]

We have six vehicles now which accounts for no less than 24 valve stem caps. The plastic ones these days keep disappearing. I know one that has split but stays on anyway. Not sure if they fall off or someone is not putting them back on.

I thought I would splurge and purchase metal caps. First reviews (one star) of the aluminum variety had a slew of nightmarish stories where the caps fused to the threads of the valves and would not come off without cutting (the sales page on Amazon recommends greasing the threads before installation). Then I read a review of the brass variety and found the same complaint of the cap fusing to the threads.

Just another of those "simple" fixes that ends up turning into a can of worms. Might just stick with the plastic ones after all (and have to keep an extra supply of 'em on hand).

Back in the '70's I don't remember finding any valve stem caps "failing" even if they were plastic.

 

[PlymCrazy]

I just use the plastic ones myself. Tried and true IMO.

 

[493 Mike]

I had a plastic cap seize on my tractor and with the help of a set of pliers, I twisted the brass nipple right out of the rubber sleeve. At that point a stream of beet juice came gushing out! Somehow I got the brass nipple back in the rubber. I called the local mobile tire guy and he stopped over and installed solid brass valve stems. Problem solved. He told me the beet juice "eats" rubber and caused my trouble. So, chloride eats the steel wheel but, beet juice eats the tire/valve stems. Pick your poison?
Mike

 

[Hey-O]

I haven't changed out this car, but, this is what I put on all my cars. 4pcs Stealth Flush Mount tire stems. I buy my wheels from summit, tires mounted.

 

[azmoparboy]

Hi, these valve stem caps are of the highest quality. They are made of brass with a beautiful rubber seal on the inside. They are aircraft wheel and tire Assembly valve stem caps. I have had a set of these on my truck for literally years. Now the yellow color is not for everyone but a Scotch-Brite pad on a high-speed grinder and you can remove the yellow paint and it is then all brass looking. It tarnishes and looks very non-visible. Or you can just paint them black and there you have the look of the original ones. This is just an option I’ve used.

Good Luck,
Steve
Azmoparboy

 

[Ron_M]

My issues is caps for TPMS valve stems. Plastic caps are flared to cover the shoulder. Metal caps are not typically flared and don't cover the shoulder leaving it exposed.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Stainless steel with an o-ring seal, they don’t corrode or split. The o-ring seal prevents pressure loss if the valve core leaks. I would buy them by the hundreds when I ran a fleet shop.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

I just use plastic caps....the free ones you find near air pumps at gas stations (seriously)

 

[YY1]

There seem to be several quality levels of plastic caps these days.

The lowest ones are super easy to cross thread.

I've not noticed any "lip" on my factory Mopar TPMS stems and any cap seems to work, however, the plastic ones that came with them were high quality.

The problem with "fancy" metal caps is that folks can't seem to help themselves not to steal them.

...and then there's "dissimilar" metals.

 

[33 IMP]

My cars usually get metal stems (after a certain speed, nhra rules require them) and they come with metal caps. I've never had any problems with them, but weather extremes here are heat, not cold.

 

[Ghostrider 67]

Metal stem /metal/rubber caps.....rubber stem /plastic is the rule.

 

[Longknife]

Stainless steel with an o-ring seal, they don’t corrode or split. The o-ring seal prevents pressure loss if the valve core leaks. I would buy them by the hundreds when I ran a fleet shop.

View attachment 1378699

Those are exactly what I used on my fleet of big brown trucks!!!!

 

[CudaChick1968]

I just dolled up fifty .45 brass centerfire casings in 12 colors for a customer who makes them into valve stem caps. I don't know what he uses for inserts but he sold out the same day they arrived at his place.