Tires/Aluminum Wheels - Slow Air Leaks

Group: Chassis
Number: 94-50-002
Date: April, 1994
Model: All

Subject:
Diagnosis And Repair Of Slow-Air-Leaks

CONDITION:
Slow air leak from tire mounted on an aluminum wheel.

CORRECTION:

1. Remove the tire and wheel assembly from the vehicle and inspect the wheel for structural damage. If none exists, go to Step 2. If wheel is damaged, replace it with a new wheel.
2. Inflate the tire to 40 psi and submerge it in a tub of water to identify each leaking area. Mark each area of both the tire and wheel where leakage occurs.
3. Dismount the tire, marking the valve stem location on the tire for proper indexing when re-assembling.
4. Remove and discard all wheel weights.
5. Remove corrosion and oxidation from the tire bead contact areas of the wheel surfaces with a wire brush. For heavy and tough to remove oxidation and scaling, use any suitable solvent such as; Rust-A-Way, Corrosion Block, Rust Remove Gel, etc., obtained in automotive parts or paint hardware stores. Professional choke and linkage cleaner also works well.

Caution:
Do not apply any solvent to the painted surfaces of the wheel.

6. Using approximately 80-grit sandpaper, score/scuff the leaky area(s) of the wheel to improve adhesion of the sealer.
7. If there is any trace of corrosion around the valve stem, replace the stem and clean the inside surface around the valve stem seat.
8. Remove any sanding dust or oxidation with a clean cloth.
9. Inspect the tire and clean any corrosion on the tire bead seal surface.
10. Mount and index tire on the wheel. Do not inflate.
11. Before inflating tire, brush a light coat of bead sealer material such as X-tra Seal or equivalent between the rim sealing surfaces and the tire bead. Avoid bubbling of the material.
12. inflate tire to the recommended tire pressure and verify that air leakage has been corrected.
13. When the service is completed, dynamically balance the wheel assembly. Plastic coated wheel weights are suggested.
14. Re-install wheel assembly on vehicle.