Linnhoff, Eric <elinnhoff@smmc.saint-lukes.org> wrote:
> What's the advantage to running these
> neat looking, blue anodized valve stems over the common black rubber type
> that you pull through from the inside of the wheel? They look to me to be
> just another opportunity for a leak.
I know nothing about your Kosei wheels, but my Weld wheels have
similar valve stems. BTW, the only thing I can find about these
"flush mount valve stems" on the Web is that they are Gorilla
flush-mount valve stems. Mine are probably these:
http://www.jcwhitneyusa.com/product.jhtml?CATID=158739&BQ=jcw2
I have read one account of Weld wheels having leak troubles because
of that valve stem, but so far in the short time that I have had my
Weld wheels (bought secondhand), I have not had a leakage problem.
It seems to me that the seal is rubber-to-metal, just like in the
case of "regular" rubber valve stems, so I wouldn't think that the
probability for leakage is any different.
Also, there is a nut that squishes the rubber grommet, which is
better than normal rubber stems, which I *think* is simply
pressed into a hole in the wheel, and relies on air pressure
inside the wheel to help establish the rubber-to-metal seal?
A bigger problem of mine is the fact that the valve is mounted on
the inner surface of the wheel's rim. It's even further out of
harm's way that way, but that also means that once the wheels are
on the car, it's difficult to reach in there and screw the adapter
in for checking/fixing air pressures. I just can't leave the adapter
screwed in because it interferes with the caliper at some points.
I am waiting for the day when I forget to take the adapter out and
have the wheel messed up when the adapter hits the caliper!
"Bruce Wentzel" <greendotracing@netzero.net> wrote:
> My observation is that there is some dimensional variance of these valve
> stems such that a conventional air chuck does not work well on them and Tire
> Rack said that there had been other complaints of this as well. I don't use
> them for this reason.
Certainly, the screw-in adapter (probably Gorilla) for my wheels
has a center "pin" that is somewhat recessed, so not all air chucks
and air gauges work.
--
Andy Nguyen \ aqn@panix.com \ http://www.panix.com/~aqn/
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