I'm the proud new owner of a 2005 FX4 Scab with the 18" wheels. The truck is still on the stock BFG's and still has the OEM valve stem caps - like I've never seen before!

They are black and can unscrew like normal, but at the very end they have what appears to be a white check ball. You can push the check ball inward and it will bleed off some air pressure. I wish I could find a picture of them online somewhere, but I can't.

Any ideas??

 

Those are not new. I think the first time I saw them was in the 70's. I do expect that they are aftermarket by whoever had it before for ease of use. Normal OE is a standard black cap.

 

I asked the previous owner (who bought the truck new) and he confirmed that he didn't put them on the truck - they were there when he took delivery.

What is the purpose of these things?

 

Just the ability to put in or take out air without having to take off the cap. That's about it.

 

normally this is used as a valve extension because a valve stem is too short to get a guage or air chuck inflator to

I have them on my Tarus as the standard stem used by the tire shops do not extend beyond the wheel covers, I buy at auto parts store and screw on

makes use of guage and air filler easlier

 

Interesting - I was almost thinking they were some sort of tire monitoring system. The air comes out easily enough, but I can't see how you could get air into these things.

Oh well - I guess they'll come off en lieu of something a little better looking soon.

Thanks guys.