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Question on removing the valve core on valve stem
I need to replace the valve core (inner valve piece) on a drive axle stem. It’s leaking (verified with soapy water solution on the stem outlet). it slowly leaks and looses roughly 1-2 PSI per week. To make it worse, it’s on an inner wheel drive axle. The coach is 13 years old, so I have planned on replacing all of the valve cores when I do this.
Question is……..On the drive axle, is it acceptable to deflate the inner tire, change the valve core, then re-inflate? I’m concerned that the outer wheel will take the entire load while doing this. I know the safe thing to do is to send it to a tire shop, but I have a trip coming up soon and would like to get this taken care of before leaving town.
I do have a working (and reliable) TPMS system on the coach, so I am able to monitor pressures easily and often.
Thoughts?
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4 Replies
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Have you tried just tightening it? I bet it is loose.
If not you can break the bead on the tire if you let all air out. You can change the core without letting all the air out but that may be difficult on an inner tire if you can’t get your hand on the stem to support the new core with air rushing past
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Just jack up the axle and let the air out if you’re concerned about the weight. I doubt there is any problem even without the jack.
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Just had this problem in Florida. Tire tech came out removed core, without jacking up the axle. Jammed in a new core. Got home (Missouri) and it was leaking again. Local road service came out, jacked the axle, let the air out, pulled the core. It was bend. Replaced it and all is good.
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Thanks everyone. The stem tool I have is not long enough to reach the inner drive wheel, so I have ordered a longer tool. I will definitely try to tighten first, but after thinking about it, jacking is probably the thing to do.
Thanks again for your input.
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