I want to replace my current 2012 xlt 17 inch wheels with a set of 18 inch fx take offs can I use the tpms sensors off the old wheel and put them on the new wheels ?? Thanks in advance.

 

yes...

 

Yes you can, you might need new valve stems..

 

if the valve stem TPMS sensors are not damaged during the swap he will be fine..

 

Yes you can have them swapped over. Like techrep said if you don't want to pay for a TPMS rebuild kit they may be able to remove them without damaging the valve but they can't guarantee one won't break. They are ~$8 a piece depending where you go.

 

That bugs the hell out of me because all it is, is a new valve stem and calling it that is just a fancy name to justify charging more money for it.

 

I agree with you to a point, but there is more to it depending on if it is a "clamp-in" or "snap-in" type. It's not really "just a valve stem". Watch the guys out back next time you get all 4 tires changed. There is significant labor time lost when having to rebuild TPMS valves, which needs to be done every time the bead is broken from the rim, just like a regular valve.

A regular valve I can take the "butter knife" in my tech pouch, cut it off the wheel, grab a new valve and pull it into place in about 5 seconds.

A TPMS requires significantly more labor. I can literally change 4 tires (Dismount and Mount) in the same amount of time that I could take 4 bare wheels and rebuild the TPMS system for them all to have tires mounted on. So you either have to put 2-3 guys on a job that should only take 1 normally or your bay times will go up 10+ minutes. When you work for a company that only does tires, adding 10 minutes to your bay time over something like that is pissing money away. We used to charge $10-$12 a piece but they have gone down to $6-$8 as of late and will probably stay at that price range. We also charge you the fee at the time of tire purchase as a one time fee. Anytime after that will be at no charge.

A Snap-in style requires a specialty torque calibrated screwdriver with a torx bit. You must remove the screw to detach the sensor from the valve. Then grab your valve puller and remove old valve. Grab rebuild kit and attach sensor with new screw, torque it. Remove valve cap and lube valve for easy insertion. Attach valve puller and pull through. ~2.5-5 minutes at most and that's per wheel.

Clamp-in style take quite a bit more time. Select the proper torque Cali rated screwdriver for your application. (45in/lbs or 65in/lbs if I remember correctly) Select proper socket size for sensor nut. Unscrew sensor. Remove old washer and o-ring. Attach new o-ring and washer. Screw together with new nut and torque to proper specs. Insert new Valve Core and torque to proper specs. ~4-6 minutes at most for each wheel.

 

It's still just a valve stem, I have worked at Firestone, Goodyear, Ford, Kmart auto center, Sears auto center, and numerous other shops over the past 30+ years so I know what I'm talking about. I actually have a Ford certification in tires, it's part of the training I got for suspension/alignment.

No special tool required other than a torx driver and I can pull an old one out using a valve stem installer tool, something every shop that does tires have, you don't have to use a new attachment screw, just a little blue locktite on the old screw, but since the new stem comes with one might as well use it.

Calling it a rebuild kit is ridiculous, just a way to pilfer more $$ from people that don't know any better.

If it takes you 2-5 mins to change one then you need to look for a different job.

 

I would love to see how you just pull it out without unscrewing the old sensor, this all adds to the increased labor times I was describing earlier. And you need a torque calibrated screwdriver set to 12in/lbs, not just a torx driver. If you're not doing that then you aren't any better than the shops who take their 900ft/lbs impact guns and just hammer the lug nuts on without torque sticks and then don't even bother torquing them.

I'm not saying they aren't overpriced, but if you've been doing this as long as you say, I don't see how you can deny the extra labor time when you are trying to average less than 20 minute interval per vehicle. Even 2 minutes a piece is an extra 8 minutes on the total job if you have one guy doing it. And that's not taking into consideration that the kits cost more than a regular valve to start with.

And I'll look for a new job when someone starts selling more tires than us

 

You see these tires and rims?



I mounted them in about 5 mins each on my living room floor by hand with a couple of tire spoons.


When you buy tpms rebuild kits this is what you get...



If I add in the time it took me to install the valve stems then add 1 min per wheel, as far as using a tq wrench, lmao you are a rookie, when you get seasoned you will know just how tight to use that torx driver.


This all you need..



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You can talk all that b/s to someone else because I know better.