Metal Valve Stems (iInfiniti FX35)

[schwarz633]

I've searched and posted on the various Infiniti and Nissan forums, but the technical knowledge is pretty thin over there. On PPOT I can usually count on an answer or at least a comment.

My 2004 Infiniti FX35 has OEM 20" wheels with metal valve stems. I'm planning on having my corroded wheels powder coated and installing new tires. I was considering replacing the OEM metal valve stems with something different, possibly rubber.

The car doesn't have TPMS. I was able to break the outer bead on one of the front wheels today using my cheapy HF bead breaker. I was hoping to remove the metal stem and confirm the hole diameter and wheel thickness to see what options I have for replacement valve stems. The portion of the metal valve stem that penetrates the wheel appears to be 10mm diameter fine thread with a 1/2" long barrel nut on the outside. There is a gasket on the inside between the wheel and the valve stem flange, the barrel nut presses directly on the outside of the wheel.

I removed the barrel nut and screwed a valve stem insertion tool onto the valve and tried lightly tapping on it to drive the valve stem into the wheel, but it wasn't moving at all. It seems like the valve stem is threaded into the wheel. There's a slot across the valve stem flange on the inside, but I couldn't get a screwdriver on it with the tire still on the wheel. So at this point I don't know if it's threaded into the wheel or just stuck from corrosion.

Most standard valve stems are meant to fit in a .453" or .625" diameter hole. This 10mm hole is only .394" diameter.

Has anyone ever seen this arrangement with the valve stem threaded into the wheel? The valve stem and barrel nut appear to be stainless steel and aren't corroded, so I'm thinking they can just be reused.

I'm still driving it, but once the tires are removed from the wheels I should be able to figure it out. For now I'm just puzzled by it seeming so non-standard.

[oldE]

It sounds like the set up on my tractor tires. The thing that looks like a valve stem is called a dill and in my application screws into a fitting on the inner tube.
It should just unscrew.

Best
Les

[schwarz633]

As it turned out, the valve stems weren't threaded into the wheels, just corroded. Surprisingly, the hole diameter was slightly smaller than the standard .453", something like .4". I could have reused them, but the gaskets needed replacing and I was unable to source them. I ended up using these valve stems that are the small valve cap diameter for the full length. The tapered gasket centered them in the hole and the flat washer was a good fit in the well.

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