Commercial trailers and trucks only function at peak performance when their suspensions are well-maintained. As bumps in the road and general wear and tear take a toll on suspensions, it becomes imperative to make necessary repairs and replacements—even down to the tiniest, most hidden pieces.
At Vancouver Axle & Frame, we get into the nitty gritty of commercial suspensions with our preventative maintenance services, making sure to check oft-overlooked suspension components, including:
- Unnatural Movement: Some suspension components are expected to move around, such as rockers, springs, and bushings. These pieces can be easily adjusted. Other components, though, should not move around, including U-bolts, rods, and radius rod connectors. To prevent this, bolts need be re-torqued regularly.
- Proper Parts Replacement: Often times, commercial suspensions don’t work right because they have been poorly serviced and fitted with the wrong replacement parts. By ensuring that your vehicle is equipped with the parts it was meant to have, you’ll see major improvements. For example, when it comes to air-ride suspensions, nylon washers or bean spacers should be used to protect hangers from trailing beams. Likewise, with steel-spring suspension, wear pads are used between springs and hangers. These “insulators” may be small, but they are not inconsequential.
- Axle Alignment: By inspecting and re-aligning axles at least twice a year, commercial suspensions have a much better chance of maintaining a quality condition. Properly aligned axles relieve drivers from having to constantly correct the steering wheel, a remedy to an issue that can cause dissatisfaction and accidents.
- Torquing Fasteners: Loose parts cause more friction which causes serious wear. Checking up on the torque of U-bolts, for example, can go a long way toward the condition of your commercial vehicle—not to mention the safety of the driver. To spot a loose part, look for excessive rust or polishing. When adjust U-bolts, use caution: over-tightening can be just as harmful as under-tightening.
When it comes to commercial trailer and truck suspensions, paying attention to the little things can really pay off. VanAxle is here to help. We have successfully serviced and repaired the suspensions of all kinds of commercial vehicles for almost 60 years. Our track record of quality work and great customer service makes us the best choice for all things suspension! Contact us to learn more or schedule your preventative maintenance appointment.
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