Freightliner TufTrac
- Inspect the suspension spring assemblies for pitted, cracked, broken, or abnormally bent leaves, and extreme rust. If any of these conditions exist, replace the spring assembly.
- Inspect the brackets for cracks in the castings. Inspect the V-rod tower welds for cracking or other signs of damage. Also check for contact between the frame rail and the upper axle clamp brackets. If contact exists, check the V-rod bushing for wear. Check the V-rod fastener torques.
- Inspect the rubber center bearing and spring tip pads for excessive wear, including de-lamination of the rubber-to-metal shim interface, and distortion and degradation of rubber.
- Inspect the V-rods and lower control rods for wear and
looseness.
- Without disconnecting the control rods, use your hand to attempt to move each of the control rod ends up, down, in, and out. If there is any movement, examine the control rods for wear or damage. Replace if necessary.
- Inspect the rubber bushings for cracks or cuts.
- Check for any shifting of the barpin.
- Check for cracks in the metal components and welds.
- Check all fasteners for looseness.
- Inspect the shock absorbers for oil leaks and worn rubber bushings. Replace the shock absorbers and/or rubber bushings if wear or damage is noted.
Warning: Do not replace individual leaves of a damaged leaf spring assembly; replace the complete spring assembly. Visible damage (cracks or breaks) to one leaf causes hidden damage to other leaves. Replacement of only the visibly damaged part(s) is no assurance that the spring is safe. On front spring assemblies, if cracks or breaks exist in the two top leaves, a loss of vehicle control could occur. Failure to replace a damaged spring assembly could cause an accident resulting in property damage, serious personal injury, or death.
Important: On multi-leaf suspensions, closely inspect each component of the leaf spring assemblies, including the brackets, U-bolts, and related parts.