TPMS seal rebuilt kit when swapped?

[MSP-4-ME]

I just bought some RX8 rims and the local tire place is telling me that they require me to purchase a TPMS valve stem seal rebuild kit for all 4 wheels for them to swap them to the new wheels from the other rims. They want $10 a wheel just for that on top of the mount and balance fee.

Not a lot of money but I think they are just trying to milk some extra money from me since I did not buy the tires from them.

Has anyone else had to replace the valve stem seals?

 

[bacarl]

I thought the same thing the last time Discount Tire swapped wheels for me. I think they wanted $7 or something for a "rebuild kit". I didn't go for it, then sure enough two of my sensors leaked shortly after the swap. I guess the little gaskets around the stems form themslves to the stem, so when you install a new stem or move it around, it no longer seals. Kind of like putting your foot into someone else's shoe.

You're free to try your luck and use the old stuff, but be prepared to make a return trip at some point. FYI, when I did have to take mine back in, they told me it wouldn't be necessary to dismount the whole tire so I wouldn't be charged for that. So it didn't cost anything except two rebuild kits and some time.

 

[Hank3]

I was also quoted that when I was calling around to have two TPMS installed. My local Discount Tire was the only place that said anything about the rebuild kit. I decided to opt against that and went somewhere else local. It cost me $20 to have the two installed. So far, no leaking. I think like bacarl said, it just depends how good the exisiting seals are. The guy at Discount did say that they wouldn't charge for the rebuild kit unless necessary.

 

[MSP-4-ME]

Thanks for the info. I just seems like 6 month old rubber seals should be good enough to use again.

 

[Kain]

They're erring on the side of caution, but c'mon, most of us are swapping TPMS that are no more than a year old and from the original wheels.

 

[Sport6]

They are trying to recoup some of the lost money in not selling valve steams. They will work fine..

 

[bacarl]

Mine were less than a year old and 2 out of 4 leaked...

They might work fine, just be aware that they might not be, too.

 

[RJKSpeed3]

I just bought 4 TPMS service kits at my local kragen auto parts store for 4 bucks each. The kits contains valve cores, rubber grommet, nut, and cap. I was forced to but these because the TPMS that came with my RX-8 wheels didnt have valve cores in it. The kit's name brand is Schrader.

 

[Circle9]

I'm probably going to have mine rebuilt, I think one or two of them is leaking. $7.00 per valve stem.

 

[MikeHTally]

Discount charged me $20 total to move the four sensors from the stock wheels to the RX-8s, but that's probably 'cause I was buying four Yokohama YK-520s They spent quite a bit of time getting the right grommets and said if they leak down, bring it back. I've had to pump 'em up once, but I think it's when we went from global warming to the ice age.

 

[Hank3]

Discount charged me $20 total to move the four sensors from the stock wheels to the RX-8s, but that's probably 'cause I was buying four Yokohama YK-520s They spent quite a bit of time getting the right grommets and said if they leak down, bring it back. I've had to pump 'em up once, but I think it's when we went from global warming to the ice age.

Haha yeah...

Yeah, they quoted me $110 to do the swaps since I wasn't buying tires.

 

[MSP-4-ME]

I checked with a PEPboys locally and they said they would mount, balance and install the new TPMS rebuild kit for $75 dollars. Discount tire wants $80 for the mount and balance and then $30 for the kit.

I don't know if I was misquoted but I will find out once go there next week to get the new tires mounted.

 

[RJKSpeed3]

I paid $92 to mount and balance (RX-8 wheels).. and then I spent $17 on the TPMS repair kit that I installed myself. Pepboys seems to be the place to go to save some cash.

 

[MikeHTally]

Haha yeah...

Yeah, they quoted me $110 to do the swaps since I wasn't buying tires.

Ouch!

 

[lutexas]

can you replace the valve stem in the TPMS?

can you replace the stock valve stem in the TPMS for a black one?