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Topic: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems (Read 984 times) previous topic - next topic

Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

I apologize in advance for the long post.

I have a question for the Forum Alcoa wheel experts.  Our coach has six of the original 1993 era factory Alcoa 10-bolt 22.5 x 7.50 stud pilot Budd wheels.  The part number stamped on the rear outside dual wheel is 873003, although that hasn't proven to be helpful to me, as far as answering my question.

When we took over the care and feeding of our coach, the rear outside wheels had a long metal valve stem that pointed inward (toward coach centerline).  I was able to check pressure using a straight head in/out air chuck, so no problem.  See the first photo.  A few years later, when we had new tires installed at Herman Tire in NAC, they put new valve stems on the outside dual wheels.  They used the same style stems but they turned them 90 degrees (parallel to coach centerline) so it was easier to get a pressure gauge on it.  Looked kinda dumb to me cuz the stem was so long, but it worked fine.

Fast forward to now, and I have a slow leak on the valve stem on one of the rear outside wheels.  The rubber seal at the base of the stem has deteriorated and is leaking air.  See second photo.  I plan to take the coach to a nearby local truck tire shop and have them replace the valve stems on both outside rear wheels.  As I understand from Forum discussions, they should be able to do this without having to remove the wheels.  They can supposedly just jack up the rear axel, deflate the tire, break the bead loose on the outer edge of the wheel, remove the old valve stem and install the new one, air tire back up, Bob's your uncle.

I thought it would be nice to have two of the correct valve stems with me when I go to the tire store, just in case they don't have the ones I want in stock.  I would LIKE to have shorter valve stems this time, and have them pointed toward the outer edge of the wheel.  THIS is where I ran into a problem.  When I look online for "Alcoa wheel valve stem" I see three types of stems.  There is the same type as I now have, with the flat base and rubber seal, but they only seem to come in long versions.  See first link below.  There are two other type stems, but they look entirely different in the way they mount and seal in the wheel, with a hex nut at the base of the stem instead of a flat round plate.  One type uses a O-ring seal, and the other type uses a "grommet" seal.  See the second and third links below.

I looked at the valve stem in our front wheels, and they look like the second type mentioned above, with a hex nut at the bottom of the stem.  See the third photo.

SO, FINALLY MY QUESTION.  Which of the three types of valve stem will work in my wheels?  The ones with the hex nut base are available in the shape and length I want.  I just don't know if they will work.  Or should I just go to the tire store and hope that they stock the correctly shaped valve stems that will work in our ancient model Alcoa wheels?  THANKS for any guidance!  8)

(TR511) Valve Stem for Aluminum Truck Wheels | Tire Supply Network

Alcoa O-Ring Seal Straight Metal Valve Stem 9.7mm Hole - Choose Style - Tire...

Alcoa 60° Grommet Seal Tubeless Truck Valve Stem 9.7mm Hole - Choose S -...
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #1 –
Is the nearby truck tire place "nearby enough" to easily stop by and show them the photos?
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Is the nearby truck tire place "nearby enough"...?
Yes.....  I guess I could try that, but I was hoping this would be a EZ question for our wheel experts.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #3 –
When I had new tires put on our coach which also has the budd wheel type. I was at a truck tire place and told them what I wanted and they installed the short ones pointed out.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #4 –
Quote from: red tractor –
I was at a truck tire place and told them what I wanted and they installed the short ones pointed out.
That is encouraging, Ron, but if you knew which mounting style they used (of the three types I mentioned) it would be the answer I seek.  Does the base of the valve stem have a hex nut shape or a flat round plate?
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #6 –
Chuck,

What you describe will work to remove and replace. That is what I have done several times.

 I like the TR545D stems but they do make 2 shorter versions. The stubby on you don't want as it is harder to use than what you have. I went out looking around for another part number for the shorter one but didn't have a valve stem on the shelf.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #7 –
Quote from: steve –
And if you use the extensions, consider the stabilizers...
We have used the extensions, with the stabilizers, in the past when I had TPMS sensors installed.  Since we are now traveling a lot less, I removed the sensors and the extensions.  Simplification.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
I like the TR545D stems but they do make 2 shorter versions.
Thanks, Mike.  So you are saying the TR545D style stem, with the O-ring seal, does work in my wheels?  That is what I need to know.

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #9 –
Same wheel as yours, changed out outer valve stems last time I replaced rear tires. These have a sharper angle closer to wheel than the ones your looking at, maybe a little more out of harm's way.
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #10 –
Chuck,

I don't know if all Budd wheels have the same size valve stem hole or did they have changes through the years..  I do like the option of going to the tire shop and double check.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
I don't know if all Budd wheels have the same size valve stem hole or did they have changes through the years..  I do like the option of going to the tire shop and double check.
OK thanks I'll try that.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Doug W. –
Same wheel as yours, changed out outer valve stems last time I replaced rear tires. These have a sharper angle closer to wheel than the ones your looking at, maybe a little more out of harm's way.
Excellent - stems with the hex nut base.  That's what I'm trying to find out.  I'm feeling more confident the tire shop may have what I want.  Thanks!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #13 –
Chuck, I'm not a wheel expert by any means, but on our Alcoa's we have the ones with the hex nut at the base. I don't believe they are the shorter version as the outer wheel stems are  pointed inward through the wheel hole.
When checking or adding air, I need to use a chuck with a reverse head on it. Also a little tight when installing the TPMS Sensors and thread them on using two fingers through the hole.
One good thing about the hex nuts is the ability to slightly tighten them if needed. Not long after our last install, I had one that lost a minimal about out air slowly. About a 1/4 turn on the hex nut and problem was solved.
Hope this helps.
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #14 –
Quote from: MarkC –
...on our Alcoa's we have the ones with the hex nut at the base...the outer wheel stems are pointed inward through the wheel hole.
Thanks Mark - that's another bit of information that helps answer the question.

Only thing I might wonder is if the Alcoa wheels were changed in any way from 1993 to 2001.  Like Mike mentioned, in that time period they might have altered the size or shape of the hole where the valve stem goes.

Since I have never heard of anyone "rotating the tires" on the big Foretravel motorhomes, there isn't really any need to have that long valve stem pointing through the hole.  The only reason for it would be if you wanted to use that wheel on the front end of the coach.  That's the way our coach was equipped when we got it.  I was very happy to finally have the valve stem aimed in a more accessible direction when we installed new tires.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #15 –
By the way, while we're on the subject of valve stems, did you know that Alcoa will sell you a wheel with TWO valve stems?

Yep, the wheel has two valve stem holes 180 degrees apart.  One valve stem can be used to mount a TPMS sensor, leaving the other one free for checking pressure or adding or subtracting air.

Pretty cool idea, I think!    :thumbsup:

Forged Aluminum Dual Valve Wheels | Alcoa ® Wheels
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #16 –
Mark,

Is there any way you can take a mirror and get a part number off the neck of the stems you have? The reason being you have metric wheels with your coach having 5802 build number. This info might help tell if there is a bore hole difference in these wheels and Budd wheels.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #17 –
Pretty sure that I posted part numbers a long time ago for the short stems.  NAPA has them.
Also.  NAPA can get the stem to rim seals.  The seals wear out and will leak. I am on my second set of seals.

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #18 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
Pretty sure that I posted part numbers a long time ago for the short stems.  NAPA has them.
NAPA can get the stem to rim seals.  The seals wear out and will leak. I am on my second set of seals.
Yes, when searching this subject on the Forum, I found your post with the recommendation.  The stem you mentioned is the same basic design as what we have on our wheels now, with the flat round base, rubber seal, and securing nut on the inside of the wheel.  Totally different design from the ones with the securing nut on the outside of the wheel.

Do BOTH styles work on Alcoa wheels, or can you only use one or the other depending on the specific wheel?  This is my question.

Rear Outside Tires Valve Stem Orientation Issues

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NTH90417?srsltid=AfmBOorB9qNvo7VP0G6ocVk1kmaD48CcQ6gCVB6xiQ_1NgX7K6tETl5w

It is interesting to note that in the Alcoa Service Manual, Part 3-11 (page 12) it warns against using "unplated brass valves".

Replacement valves may be obtained from your authorized Distributor of Alcoa Wheels.
Metal valve stem caps are required per DOT instead of plastic.
Only use approved rubber grommets or O-rings. Do not use unplated brass valves.

https://www.alcoawheels.com/north-america/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2023/07/ALC_WheelServiceManual_2023_aug_web.pdf


 
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #19 –
Never seen so many damaged wheels in one place. Looks like they use the    .453 in. stems?


I do personally prefer having the nut on the outside to make adjustments possible.

Re: Alcoa Wheel Valve Stems

Reply #21 –
Mike, I'll try to get the part number off the stem when I get home tomorrow.

Chuck, that is interesting about the unplated brass stems.  The stems that I have are chrome plated.
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad