TPMS Sensor options

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Mar 27, 2012 | 09:59 PM

Stevedore

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Le Mans Master

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From: Long Valley NJ

St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'08,'11 thru '17, '21

TPMS Sensor options

I'm about to buy some new tires for my 98, and plan to replace the front TPMS sensors (which are original from 1998) even though they're still working. (I replaced the rears a few years ago)

Prices are all over the place for these things, and I see that there brands available other than GM OEM. I've seen Dorman and Schrader available at several sites, at a decent cost saving over what I'm seeing for GM originals.

Anyone have any experience with the non-GM replacements? I found the Dormans for $46 each, which is tempting, but not if anyone has had trouble with them.

(If I thought I'd keep the car longer, I'd go for the GM Partshouse conversion kit, but I'm thinking of replacing it before I retire this year.)

Thanks!

Mar 27, 2012 | 10:16 PM

Chicago

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From: Downers Grove IL

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I think someone took apart an original sensor and it had the Schrader name on it. I'm in the exact same boat as you, need 2 sensors for the front of my '98. Tire Rack has 'em for 68 bucks each, plus shipping. Maybe I'll go that route so I can finally get my CCW's on before winter hits again

Mar 27, 2012 | 11:49 PM

Vetteman Jack

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I've seen posts of members that have bought the ones from Tire Rack - they seem to be happy.

Mar 28, 2012 | 12:09 AM

jrprich

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From: Hillsboro Oregon

I bought a Dorman for my 99......couldn't get it to sync up and the stem was way too long on my thin spokes. Sent it back to Rock Auto and got my old one rebuilt by Corvette Don........works great.

Mar 28, 2012 | 01:36 AM

DeeGee

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One of the members posted this. Apologies but I didn't note who posted or I'd give him credit.

I can't offer any thoughts on how well they worked.

I had a long chat with a technical manager at Schrader-Bridgeport last evening re. Costco's recent decision to sell TPMS sensors as part of their tire operation. He confirmed that Costco will have sensors for the Corvette; for the 97-00 model years, the part number is 28006 [EDIT 00 sensor?]. Schrader-Bridgeport manufacturers the majority of OEM TPMS sensors; they make the GM sensors. He said only difference with the 28006 sensor and the OEM will be the color. The replacement will be a reddish-orange. It will come with mounting nut (important to tighten to 62 inch-lbs), and valve stem cap. I asked him how "fresh" the units would be, and he said they would be new/recently manufactured. He also said the batteries go into a "sleep" mode when not in use, e.g., while resting on a shelf, so they stay "fresh" for a long time. He was probably blowing a little smoke here, but I see no reason to doubt these sensors would achieve Schrader's advertised 7-10 yrs, or 100K-mile service life. Personally, I'll be buying these at Costco--$47 ea. vs $177 at the dealer is a no brainer.

Mar 28, 2012 | 08:59 AM

jdrais

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From: St. Stephen MN

If you'd like to wait until Friday or Saturday I'm putting a set of Schrader on my 99. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I think the $46 ones aren't for our years. Our's are the more expensive ones. I bought mine off of Amazon http://amzn.com/B002GYOQGC They seem to have a good price and let you check the part against your vette to make sure it fits.

Update: The Schraders work if people want to know.

Jeff
'99 Nassau Blue

Last edited by jdrais; Mar 31, 2012 at 03:38 PM.

Mar 28, 2012 | 07:02 PM

Stevedore

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From: Long Valley NJ

St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'08,'11 thru '17, '21

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdrais

If you'd like to wait until Friday or Saturday I'm putting a set of Schrader on my 99. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I think you're right about the $46 ones I saw online last night. I must have been half asleep then, as I couldn't find them again at that price anywhere when I looked today.

In any event, I bought 2 at Costco today @ $85 each. I guess I could have ordered them somewhere for a little less, but I'm aiming to get the tires done this weekend & didn't want to wait for them.

I had planned on using some that I recently rebuilt with new batteries, but I couldn't get them to synch with the car. I sealed them up with clear silicone, which I had done in the past, but I'm thinking that whatever I used this time must have been electrically conductive, since I pushed some voltmeter probes through the silicone to the battery tabs & got .5 volt, instead of the 3 volts it should be. Which explains why they wouldn't work.

I'll save them & put new batteries in for next time, if I keep the car that long.

Mar 29, 2012 | 09:46 PM

70survivor

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From: Forsyth Il

tpms

I have stock gm rebuilt new 10 year swiss battery,seals, nuts,valve cores, and cap $225 for 4 and a $100 core refund for 4 rebuildable cores or $65 fof singels with a $25 core refund all tested 2 years and no problems