Hey gang should I get rubber or steel air stems??

[Burt4x4]

I have 15x10 aluminum wheels and I want you to think about the narliest trail, black diamond, riverbed crawlin, fender bashing, tree sraping, 3 wheelin, rock sliding type of wheelin!!!
I got my SWAMERS in the garage and tommorow they are getting mounted!!
YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAA
So Rubber valves or short steel ones?? Wich is most likly to survive?

72K5

Led Zeppelin

Rock ON!

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[Pugsley]

I use short steel ones personally - I've had a rubber one torn off by brush before, and have heard other horror stories of rubber stems.

Dos mas Tecates!!!
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[Seventy4Blazer]

i have had good luck with both. the steel ones will look better on your rims. but the rubber cost less.... less to replace if something does happen, also they can be gotten in the short style.
Grant

1974 Chevy Blazer Cheyanne. but it is on 33's now, with saggy old springs. i am in Yuma Arizona if ya got any parts for me.

 

[FRIZZLEFRY]

I got the steel ones on mine.They just seem better cuz there bolted on to the rim.Ive never seen it but Ive heard of the rubber ones getting ripped out.Ya gotta take some pics asap after ya get em on.

DONT SWEAT THE PETTY STUFF,JUST PET THE SWEATY STUFF<a target="_blank" href=http://community.webshots.com/user/beaterwhang>community.webshots.com/user/beaterwhang</a>

 

[Chris Demartini]

<font color=blue>Rubber. They'll give a little, if you bend the metal ones they'll leak. I work in a tire shop and we only use rubber stems (dont tell anyone but our chrome ones are just a chrome sleeve over the regular rubber stem

). </font color=blue>

 

[Gold Rush]

First of all Steve you should have bought those steel rims from me!!! Steel rims and rubber valve stems are the best for our excursions!!!!!!! It's not too late make me an offer like $40 or something and I might even meet you in Tracy. Do you think aluminum rims could withstand the use my swampers get?

Again STEEL RIMS and RUBBER VALVE STEMS!!!!!!!!

David

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.extremeblazer.com>http://www.extremeblazer.com</a>

 

[Burt4x4]

Ya know GoldRush I have been thinking about going steel but I think I will give theas allum ones a while longer!!
OHHH man I can't wait to get them sukers mounted!!
I'm going to wheel at Shaver LAke next weekend with the fam!! Anyone wanna go????

72K5

Led Zeppelin

Rock ON!

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[Twiz]

Rubber!
Everytime I've swapped out stems, I had to cut them out. I don't think you could rip out rubber stems with out a knife. Just my opinion.
I have steel ones installed now, looking at them, I think they could/would get snapped off easily. (no give or flexability in 'em)

What size and style did you get? (tire)

<font color=white>It's good to be out</font color=white>
<font color=white>Out of my mind and out of control</font color=white>
<font color=blue>Twiztid</font color=blue>

 

[newyorkin]

I've heard the steel ones leak after a while, too. I'd go with rubber, cheap to fix, a little more forgiving...

Ratch
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**Ever stop to think... Then forget to start again?**

 

[ftn96]

[bold]TITANIUM[/b]

Learning to fry bacon!!

3/4 in progress

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[mike reeh]

I think they're equal as far as their ability to withstand abuse. they both have their strong points. since its equal on that level, i'll give my vote to STEEL because they look so much better.. and they dont "leak after awhile".. theres a rubber grommet in there and if you dont replace it for 10 years, yeah, its gonna leak.

mike

 

[Gold Rush]

I might be up for it! Tell me more.

David

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.extremeblazer.com>http://www.extremeblazer.com</a>

 

[Liberator]

I've had 3 rubber stems torn out so far. Losing a stem on the trail is no joke. Since those 3 incidents I only use short, steel stems that bolt in. The only time the steel, bolt in stems will leak is if you do not replace them when you get new tires! They don't last forever! I haven't had any problems with steel and would highly recommend the short steel stems.

If it breaks, it wasn't good enough!

 

[BlueBlazer]

Steel for sure. I also work in a tire shop and I always tell people that might do some off roading to use steel. If they are put on properly they will go without leaking for a much longer period. Also, it takes a hell of a lot more to bend a steel stem than to rip out a rubber one. They also tend not to stick out as far if you get the shortest ones that are made. Ours only have about 3/4" sticking out as opposed to the shortest rubber ones sticking out about 1.5". Its all your preference, but unless Im proved wrong (which I dont think I will be) then Ill stick with steel.

82 K5, 6.2L Diesel, sm465, np205, 14 bolt welded, 8 lug 10 bolt lock right, 410 gears, 35" Mud Kings
SPEAK SOFTLY AND DRIVE A BIG TRUCK

 

[FRIZZLEFRY]

Im goin up to Shaver sun. and if yer goin up there next weekend that means I get to go wheelin 2 weekends in a row.WOOHOO!!!!!

DONT SWEAT THE PETTY STUFF,JUST PET THE SWEATY STUFF<a target="_blank" href=http://community.webshots.com/user/beaterwhang>community.webshots.com/user/beaterwhang</a>

 

[Esteban86K5]

Well remember when I had my tire up on my roof rack when I lost the bead at BF? Well the mud ripped out my rubber valve and that's what caused my tire to pop the bead. That doesn't mean I'm recommending steel ones because I've broken steel ones in a sand wash with the rocks. I did have longer steel ones, so maybe the short ones would be good. You'd better get some pics up soon. And again congrats.

<font color=blue>Esteban</font color=blue>

<font color=red>HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF CHATA?</font color=red>
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[Burt4x4]

Hey thanks for the replys!!
The shaver lake thing is just drive there and find some were too camp. I hope too let the kids play in the water and doo some wheelin around. More too follow the wife is screamin at me to get off the net and drink a beer with her so gota go.........

72K5

Led Zeppelin

Rock ON!

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[scavenger]

You could weld an approx 1" piece of 3/4 pipe on to the rim over the stem hole on steel wheels. Another way is to cut this piece of pipe in half lengthwise so you would have a guard in front and in back of the stem. This would allow you to space the guards a little wider apart for easier removal of the steel stems. DO NOT WELD ON ANY RIM THAT HAS A TIRE MOUNTED ON IT FOR ANY REASON. It may contain explosive gasses.

 

[Pure Insanity]

I had a rubber stem knocked off by my brother once, he walked by my Jeep and kicked at something near the rim and got the fastest flat Id seen short of a blowout!

Have any of yall seen the flush mount valve stems? They are sunk into the rim and have a smooth cap on them. When you air up or down you remove the cap and screw in an adapter, so you have a stem to connect to. Then you remove it, put the cap back on and theres nothing to catch.

As of right now I run the metal stems, but the flush mount are in my future.

I get all the excercise I need pushing my luck!

 

[jimmyjack]

Personally I'd go with the rubber stems. Rubber bends, steel doesn't. The seals on the steel stems are kinda whimpy and can dry rot. The rubber stems are pretty sturdy. If you want to disguise them buy the chrome sleeves.

"My blazer may be slow, but it goes faster at higher speeds"
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Jim