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Ok, first off, I wasn't sure if this should be in troubleshooting or maintenance, so feel free to move it fellow mods if I mis-filed it.
So yeah, as the title states, I had a "fight" with one of my valve stems today. Back in the day I had bought the "wal-mart special" valve stem caps which were, at the time, cool to me. They were metal, came with stem "sleevs" as well as caps, and best of all, painted a perfectly matching blue for car. Well, they've been losing their paint and getting beat up, so I've been intending to replace them. Today, when checking my pressure I decided to also trash the now beat up crappy metal caps in favor of old-school plastic ones. Three wheels gave me no trouble, and I yanked the caps and stem sleeves and swapped the plastic ones in. But the fourth wheel gave me difficulty. Not just difficulty. I fought with it. And I won. But at a cost.
I tried pliers to get the stupid cap off because it was stuck so bad. No luck. The entire stem would just turn with the pliers. So then I tried a second set of pliers holding the stem, but it was on so tight the stem rotated inside the metal sleeve, even in the grip of the pliers. Well, the pliers managed to dig into the metal sleeve, and that started actually "tearing" (it had to be made just of aluminum I gather), and I was able to tear it off entirely. Great, right? Well, tried pliers on the stem again, and even the bare stem still turned despite my super-strong grip with the pliers. NOW I was REALLY pissed. I was gonna get that cap off...at any cost. So I decided, that bitch is coming off...DREMEL STYLE! Yeah, that's right. I took a dremel to the m-f'ing cap. I figured the cap was either coming off, or I was replacing the stem, so might as well TRY to cut it off without hurting the stem. Worst that can happen is I replace the stem - which was happening anyway if I DIDN'T get that friggen cap off. Made my best effort to use a cutting disc without nicking the wheel, but unfortunately it does have two small scars from the cutter. I continued to gently try to cut it in half, just so I could peel the cap off. I finally got through the cap, and was able to actually peel it back off the stem. I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why the cap wouldn't come off. No rust or anything inside that would explain such a stubborn cap. But then, I realized my attempt, while successful, was also a failure. I severed the stem.
Well, at least I showed that cap who was boss.
So here's my question...
Is there ANY way I can replace the stem myself WITHOUT unmounting the tire? I think, in my experiences, the stem traditionally goes on from the "inside" of the wheel and pushes outward. But I'm not positive. Would much prefer to put a new stem on myself than (A) pay anyone to do it for me or (B) let someone unmount the tire and risk marring the wheel (more than I already have).
So yeah, my people, help a brotha out!
So yeah, as the title states, I had a "fight" with one of my valve stems today. Back in the day I had bought the "wal-mart special" valve stem caps which were, at the time, cool to me. They were metal, came with stem "sleevs" as well as caps, and best of all, painted a perfectly matching blue for car. Well, they've been losing their paint and getting beat up, so I've been intending to replace them. Today, when checking my pressure I decided to also trash the now beat up crappy metal caps in favor of old-school plastic ones. Three wheels gave me no trouble, and I yanked the caps and stem sleeves and swapped the plastic ones in. But the fourth wheel gave me difficulty. Not just difficulty. I fought with it. And I won. But at a cost.
I tried pliers to get the stupid cap off because it was stuck so bad. No luck. The entire stem would just turn with the pliers. So then I tried a second set of pliers holding the stem, but it was on so tight the stem rotated inside the metal sleeve, even in the grip of the pliers. Well, the pliers managed to dig into the metal sleeve, and that started actually "tearing" (it had to be made just of aluminum I gather), and I was able to tear it off entirely. Great, right? Well, tried pliers on the stem again, and even the bare stem still turned despite my super-strong grip with the pliers. NOW I was REALLY pissed. I was gonna get that cap off...at any cost. So I decided, that bitch is coming off...DREMEL STYLE! Yeah, that's right. I took a dremel to the m-f'ing cap. I figured the cap was either coming off, or I was replacing the stem, so might as well TRY to cut it off without hurting the stem. Worst that can happen is I replace the stem - which was happening anyway if I DIDN'T get that friggen cap off. Made my best effort to use a cutting disc without nicking the wheel, but unfortunately it does have two small scars from the cutter. I continued to gently try to cut it in half, just so I could peel the cap off. I finally got through the cap, and was able to actually peel it back off the stem. I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why the cap wouldn't come off. No rust or anything inside that would explain such a stubborn cap. But then, I realized my attempt, while successful, was also a failure. I severed the stem.
Well, at least I showed that cap who was boss.
So here's my question...
Is there ANY way I can replace the stem myself WITHOUT unmounting the tire? I think, in my experiences, the stem traditionally goes on from the "inside" of the wheel and pushes outward. But I'm not positive. Would much prefer to put a new stem on myself than (A) pay anyone to do it for me or (B) let someone unmount the tire and risk marring the wheel (more than I already have).
So yeah, my people, help a brotha out!
but im not sure you want to get into all of that. It would end up costing you more time and effort then it is work. I would find a local shop/mechanic and take it in and let them charge you a couple bucks. 
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