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I purchased a Harbor Freight bead breaker for $40.00 and decided to try and change my TPM sensors today.
Wasn't sure these large rims would work with this tool and was set to return it if it didn't.
I got the front two done within and hour and a half, that included jacking up the vette and removing tires.
I used painters tape in the area of contact and also laid a piece of plywood over the rim so it didn't get damaged. It was not simple but very doable with patience and soapy water. After the fronts were done, I did test them and they work, a pleasure to hear that horn go off
From all the reading I did on this, this should be no problem, all I opened up was the area of the valve, I didn't even break the back bead.
I just broke the bead enough to access the sensor, I had to search deep for the proper torque, the company I bought these from told me around 24 inch lbs, they were a tad off lol
How do you get the bead to seat again? I've been cruising with dead sensors since I bought the car 2 years ago, figuring I'd wait until I needed replacement tires to replace them. Maybe not...
I have a regular 20 gallon compressor and just filled them normally without doing anything extra. I guess the low profile tire keeps it tight enough.
i have read stories where people take the cars to professional?? Shops and they confuse inch lbs with foot lbs and destroy the sensors. I have very little confidence with the mechanics and especially the tire shops around me here on Long Island.
I doubt very much that they use a torque wrench on the either.
I have very little confidence with the mechanics and especially the tire shops around me here
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When I had my new tires installed & all wheel alignment done at a major tire chain store - they put 46 psi in all 4 tires and my steering wheel was crooked.
I believe I may try your method when my sensors start giving out, which should be soon as they are 14 years old.
Thanks for the kind words, I finished the rears today, the rears were harder than the fronts.
In the future, I will do maybe one or two but not all four, I am 52 and the risk of injury with the force/pressure that needs to be applied getting access with a low profile tire may not be worth it, when I get older will probably take the wheels to a shop and then recheck their work.
It was interesting and a hell of a experience. Oh, I got them all programed and what a joy it is to have the tire monitoring system working. I took her out for a cruise and all tires are good.
....the risk of injury with the force/pressure that needs to be applied getting access with a low profile tire may not be worth it....
Compressing the sidewall takes a lot of force. I don't want my hand in there if it suddenly slips back to uncompressed position.
I have a tire machine with a side mount bead breaker, and I still won't reach in while the tire is compressed. And once the bead is broken the tires still take a lot of force to move it to where the TPMS can come out. Actually enough that I can't do it by hand. Since I have a tire machine, I have to go a step further and dismount at least one edge of the tire.
TPMS Sensor day
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