At least with plumbing you know if your job works if no water is leaking. The last pre-alignment check is to inspect the trailer and suspension for any damaged components. A plumb bob is dropped from the trailers side rail at the front of the trailer. Use a tape measure to determine the kingpin height by measuring from the ground to the kingpin mounting plate. New tires mixed in with worn tires will lead to unreliable data. Toe is adjusted in a static condition so that the tires will run in a straight line under a dynamic condition.. We all know trailers that are misaligned and out of spec will lead to early tire removals, a decrease in vehicle fuel economy and many unhappy drivers. Trailer damage is the biggest one the sub-frame., He said truck ride height is the same as for trailers, except that entering from the bottom of the frame rail of the tractor and center line of the axle housing, right where the well is on the axle housing, is where you're measuring it to. When the lasar is turned on, it will instantly show how much the axle is out of alignment. It's a very high-tech, awesome product, he said. Misalignment causes the tandem axles to work against each other, which inevitably leads to tire wear. If it's a slider box, it's the bottom of the box. Rear-axle dimensions are measured from the forward axle centerline to the rear axle centerline. Our alignment procedure consists of a total alignment to ensure all axles are parallel. The introduction of wide-based tires to the trucking industry created a need to pay even closer attention to the manufacturer's alignment recommendations. Putting undue stress on the suspension can lead to more costly repairs and compromise the safety of your semi-trailer. utility foot van trailers 1999 In the old days a guy would take a tape measure, go underneath the trailer and measure the distance from the king pin to the wheel. If you like, you can take your alignment profile, go home and adjust the trailer yourself. The Ackerman angle is not adjustable. The rear axle is measured to determine the thrust angle and aligned to centerline. But even though improvements have been made, the lingering perception is that if a tire goes down there might be rim damage or there may not be a replacement readily available. When you notice vibrations or truck pulling to the left or right, its time for a truck wheel alignment. This 164-page, full-color book is a comprehensive review of tread wear and tire conditions, and the causes of irregular wear.There are specifically two trailer tire wear conditions directly related to trailer misalignment: one-sided wear and rapid shoulder wear on one side of the tire. They want to be able to live in there and not feel anything on their butt no shaking or rattling like trucks out there 40 to 50 years ago. Achieving alignment with todays sophisticated laser alignment equipment provides for a more accurate process than past methods for achieving alignment.

All Rights Reserved. That's because you're using enough pressure to compress the spring inside the ball joint. Shimmy most of time has to do with front steer tires..

If the front end on a truck is improperly aligned, problems similar to those in cars can arise. Comments are moderated and may not appear for 24 hours or more. There are all different methods of doing this, he said, and they're all proven., You can't over-preload a wheel bearing or it will burn up in a quick time frame, so you have to have wheel bearing end play if you're doing a commissioned wheel bearing adjustment, he said. If they do, you have to do each side separately. There are two things I deal with at Meritor shimmy and vibration, he said. Scrub angle is formed by two thrust lines of a tandem axle vehicle (parallelism). GIRARD, OHIO Have you ever seen someone going down the road pulling a trailer that is tracking to the side? Improper mounting can cause an out-of-round condition resulting in excessive radial run-out. In extreme cases sometimes the axle or frame is bent, although about 90% of the time it is simply the trailer alignment. Did you hear about the study that finds you no longer have to change oil in your engines? Wheel alignments ensure that each wheel on your trucks axles are straight to reduce rolling resistance. We can even align passenger cars and 53-foot dry van trailers. Problems caused by misalignment include excessive tire wear, increased fuel consumption, unsafe vehicle handling, driver fatigue, and premature wear on suspension components. In addition, ensuring proper torque on U-bolts and track bar/rods on mechanical suspensions during routine maintenance intervals is crucial as well. The same analogy holds for vehicle alignment. You will be buying new trailer tires before you have achieved a full service life from your present set. If left unchecked for too long, it could even lead to the need for a full suspension replacement. Proper trailer axle/wheel alignment is critical to maximizing tire life, and it's only become more important with the use of wide-base single tires on trailers for fuel economy and weight savings. Serving Car & Truck Fleet Management Professionals, Serving EV Intenders & Professionals In Commercial & Public Fleets, Serving Corporate, Executive, & Financial Managers Of Large Commercial Fleets, Serving Leaders In Fleet Mobility & Emerging Technology, Serving Public Sector Fleet Professionals, Serving Medium & Heavy Duty Commercial Truck Professionals, Serving Transit Bus, Private Motorcoach, & Passenger Rail Professionals, Serving School & Pupil Transportation Fleet Professionals, Serving Vocational & Service Fleet Professionals. A steel plate, marked in 1/8th inch graduations, is centered and aligned with the plumb bob. Our skilled technicians are trained to work specifically with medium and heavy trucks and tractor trailers. Bookmarked content can then be accessed anytime on all of your logged in devices! That's why there's supporting literature. Caster is the responsibility of the vehicle manufacturer.. Listen to the latest episode on "What's Treading". There are all kinds of ways to check them, he said. That's the big axle housing under fifth wheel. Too much caster will increase steering effort or may amplify a shimmy condition. Truck, Van & Trailer Service in and Arou How to Tarp a Trailer Safely & Other Tra Truck, Van & Trailer Service in and Around Utah, How to Tarp a Trailer Safely & Other Trailer Tarping Tips, Van & Truck Safety: Avoid Incidents on the Road, 3 Questions to Ask Before Leasing a Commercial Vehicle, Tips for Handling a Truck Breakdown on the Road, Winter Driving Tips to Stay Safe on the Icy Roads, 5 Things You Must Know Before Buying a Snow Plow Truck Attachment. The camber angle is not adjustable. If not listed, contact the manufacturer for this height setting. Call John Carlson at 800-686-2575 if you have questions about your trailer alignment. On some tractors out there, they may have dual height valves. If the ride height isn't set correctly, what can go wrong? The goal is a positive camber, which occurs when the distance between the top of wheels is greater than the distance between the bottom of the wheels at ground level. Tires underinflated against fleet specification will magnify these irregular wear alignment-related conditions and lead to even earlier removal miles and reduced overall fuel economy. All tires should be set to the same pressure. Now lower the trailer landing legs. Bending of axle beams is not recommended by axle manufacturers and will void the axle warranty.. It also has forms for doing tire checks and suspension tire wear recordkeeping., (To receive a manual, call 1-866-821-3468 or go to http://atabusinesssolutions.com.). These trailer service professionals opened my eyes to some interesting facts and misconceptions about trailer alignment. You need to measure the distance from the kingpin to the end of the wheel extender of the front axle for both sides of the trailer (A & B). Even if the trailer belongs to someone else, the diesel fuel to pull it belongs to you, and air is still a lot cheaper than fuel. They will advise you as to what needs to be done to align the trailer, how long it will take and how much it will cost to adjust. These measurements should be within 1/16-inch. Why? If the two scribed lines are not superimposed, the distance between them is the amount of toe-in or toe-out. I've spent 43 years in this industry. The problem with this method is that any variance, such as a bow in the tape or simply not measuring to and from the same exact points will equate to a large waste of your time. Mon-Fri: 7am-6pm Fatigue can lead to drowsiness and even take a toll on the drivers overall health. Sorry the page you are looking for may have been moved or deleted. With a little practice and the right tools, you quickly can measure trailer alignment and help your customers optimize tire wear and fuel economy by ensuring their vehicles are rolling down the highway in a straight line. Remove the trammel bar and move the trailer backwards so the tires rotate one-half turn. Hard parts must be replaced to set the proper angle for a particular OEM and wheelbase.. Misalignment can be the result of pot holes and poor road conditions. This article was authored and edited according to the standards of HDT's editors to provide useful information to our readers. Driver fatigue can occur when your truck is out of alignment. There are no specifications in the field for checking that. August 22, 2017 Get the latest industry news, business tips, new product releases, and more. Once you have the required tools, its time to measure the trailer alignment.

Total toe is the angle formed by two horizontal lines drawn through the centerline of two corresponding wheels. When you have a tandem axle out of alignment and the driver has to turn the wheel in the other direction to compensate, you can actually get tire wear on the front steer tires that looks exactly like camber wear. Commercial Tires:Hercules Introduces Strong Guard H-MA Commercial Tire, Commercial Tires:EV Truck Tire Tips for Commercial Electric Truck Customers, Commercial Tires:Yokohama Tire Launches New Regional Trailer Tire, Commercial Tires:Toyo Tires Introduces Heavy-Duty M325 Tire, Passenger/Light Truck: Tires for Pickup Trucks are Picking Up Speed, TPMS: TPMS Service Basics: Thats Right, It Can Be That Simple, Service: ADAS Calibration: Sensor Operation & Calibration Myths, Tires: Bridgestone Launches WeatherPeak Touring Tire, Commercial Tires: Hercules Introduces Strong Guard H-MA Commercial Tire, Bridgestone Adds Three Products to Firestone Classics Long- Haul Tire Line, Port Tire Demand Grows as Shipping Industry Pressure Mounts. He said the TMC target value is left +3 degrees and right +4 degrees. Trailer axle alignment is a function of three parameters: axle orientation, which is adjustable; axle camber, which is non-adjustable; and axle toe, which is non-adjustable. The footprint across the face, or portion of thetirestread that touches the road surface, should be rolling in-line with the direction of the vehicle (travel of the trailer). Improved gas mileage about 0.3 mpg is achieved when a misaligned semi-trailer has its rear axle aligned. The easiest way to measure is from that suspension-mounting surface to the top of the axle. A trammel bar, tape measure, kingpin extender and wheel-end extender are all that is required. You try to set that alignment to that specific target value the best you can. We have engineering specifications. Toe-out is when the lines intersect behind the wheel. He said toe-in is when wheels are closer together in the front than in the back, while toe-out is when the wheels are closer together in the back than in the front. Overall, keeping your semi-trailer tires properly aligned is a small investment with big returns in safety, fuel economy, and tire life.

Martin listed the ride-complaint condition types: shimmy; harsh ride; handling; pitch/back slap; stability; bounce/hop; and vibration. Unevenly worn tires the result of misalignment are even more highly susceptible to blowouts. Wide-based tires are more susceptible to this than conventional duals. By Ted Armstrong, SAF-Holland The thrust angle is an angle formed by the centerline of the vehicle frame and the direction that an axle points (square). If an axle has excessive toe, it is impossible to align the axle so that acceptable tire wear is obtained. On a single-axle vehicle, the axle is positioned relative to the vehicle. Most tire wear is caused by incorrect toe settings, Martin said. The next alignment preparation step is to make sure you set the suspension ride height to the designed ride height, which should be listed on a vehicle placard. Excessive camber and a misaligned or bent axle will lead to this rapid shoulder wear condition.Trailer tires have a history of neglect and underinflation. Keeping your semi-trailer properly aligned is one of the best ways to improve gas mileage, extend tire life, and prevent other costly repairs. By clicking the submit button below, you are agreeing with Bobit Business Medias Privacy Policy and this outlined level of consent. Peace of mind when it comes to your trailer is not as expensive as you think. Thrust angle is the angle between the centerline and the thrust line of an axle, and represents the degree of distance the axle points away from the centerline of the truck.) However, the front end only does a small part of the job. Scrub angle problems occur when the axles are not parallel. What most drivers are not aware of is that if both axles are out of alignment, the trailer may track straight. Toe is necessary to compensate for steering-component deflection. We respect your data and privacy. Electronic sensors are mounted on the steer axle and the tandem axles. All measurements should be taken with an empty trailer, and properly positioned to suspension manufacturers recommendations. Driving with improper alignment can also cause suspension component strain. Alignment ProcedureThe actual trailer alignment procedure begins with proper positioning of the trailer. Copying or reusing articles is strictly prohibited. You have to do a full vehicle alignment to see where the problem really lies. attacks or slurs, hate speech, demonstrably false information, excessive profanity, or that are thinly veiled promotions for a product, will not be approved. Info on Commercial Truck Alignments. Experts recommend realigning your tires approximately every 6,000 miles. Maximum tapered roller bearing life is achieved at 0.001" preload. A small amount of positive camber is built into the axle beam and knuckle by the axle manufacturer, he said. Excessive toe usually is due to a spindle bent from an impact. When it comes out of a facility's manufacturing plant, it's -degree positive on both ends. Dog trackingoccurs when one or more of the trailers axles are not aligned properly. It's manufactured at positive degree. Construction zones will really challenge your driving skills, maybe even upset a few people trying to pass you. Use a trammel bar to measure these values. You can take four-, six-, eight-foot bar and jam it against the I-beam and push up on the cross tube and always get movement out of tie-rod assembles. Generally, by the time youre able to visibly detect the scrubbing, the wear has become significant. If the difference between the A and B measurements is smaller than or equal to the target value, the axle is within specification and no adjustment is required. The caster angle is the angle from the vertical position to the center line of the kingpin. The method is simple but effective. You also need to measure the length between the center point of the two outside tires on each side of the trailer (C & D). Unfortunately this means youll be buying new tires before getting the full life out of your current tires. While all trailers come pre-aligned from the factory, over time the alignment can slip out of spec. If the angle is not within specifications, premature tire wear will occur. If, however, it is aligned with proper camber but with an improper toe setting, premature tire wear from scuffing will result. Having your truck involved in an accident means getting an alignment is necessary. The importance of inspecting suspension components, bushings and fasteners during routine maintenance checks cant be overlooked. TMC's target value is less than degree either side. We could have air-spring damage. Any one of these combinations not at the proper setting will lead to premature tire wear. Girard Equipment will provide an alignment form with a diagram that will show the alignment specs. The tread face of the radial tire reacts differently on wide-based tires, so it is more susceptible to wear when not aligned properly. There are Mercedes-Benz type vehicles, these Freightliners and Volvos.

For more information about our alignment services, call 336-294-1352 now. Then the driver has to compensate. It is machined into both the axle beam and the knuckle.

Please click anywhere to continue browsing our site. There is a man who is leaving a trail of money behind him. Semi Service specializes in all types of trailer repairs, maintenance and sales. Then pull the trailer forward a minimum of 10 feet and gently apply the trailer service brakes. Sensors are moved from the front axle to the second rear axle, which is aligned to the steer axle, or the reference axle.

All rights reserved. Inside tire wear on conventional duals requires that the inside set of tires be replaced, however, both tires have to be replaced for inside wear on wide-based tires. Both of them need to be perpendicular to the axle and parallel to one another, he said. For example, if the trailer is a non-slider, adjust the trailer landing legs so there is adequate ground clearance while the trailer is still coupled to the tractor. Ensuring proper alignment is an important step to getting back on the road. It depends on where you're running. This area should be flat, level and debris-free. Toe-in will wear the outside of the tire while toe-out will wear the inside of the tire. They have improved over the years and while some brands perform better than others, overall wide-base tires are better for fuel economy, stability and weight savings. The only way to be absolutely sure about your trailer alignment is to have it checked. 2022 Semi Service, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you have a five-inch diameter axle, take the tape measure and measure from the bottom of the sub-frame of the trailer and to the top of the axle. The three components of tire wear are: Alignment; Toe; and Camber. One-sided wear is defined as excessive wear across the entire tread surface where the fastest wear is on the outside or inside shoulder rib and each of the adjacent ribs also are worn, but to a lesser extent. That means the axle is not perpendicular to the frame. When turning, the inner wheel must turn at a greater angle than the outer wheel, he said. They're talking about when you bring the vehicle in and do an alignment, he said. Every other time, they're scuffing. Newer trailers are quickly and easily adjusted with factory installed quick-align systems, older trailers will require more time. You might be surprised at how under inflated some trailer tires can be, and thumping will only find the ones that are severely under inflated. Contact us for more But when they wear unevenly due to improper alignment, youll likely have to replace them prematurely. We set the toe at the plant.. You want to shoot for that. It can also cause the most problems if misaligned. And that's called a zero.. If so, just remember your last plumbing job. The second-highest issue is axle-camber alignment. Unfortunately by the time you visibly see the trailer tires scrubbing, chances are the wear pattern has probably already gotten too severe. If have excessive toe in either direction, there's scrubbing of tires, he said. HDT file photo. Martin said axle orientation is defined as the positioning of the axle assembly relative to the vehicle on which it is installed. Both axles should track true with the trailer to prevent premature tire tread wear. Even a small collision can cause misalignment. If the measurement between A and B is greater than 1/8", the forward axle must be adjusted. Sat: 8am-12pm. This designed height should be listed on the trailer ID tag. The steer axle must be turned to offset the push of the axles and keep the tires rolling straight. Forward-axle dimensions are measured from the kingpin to the axle centerline. At Slick Spot Farm, Truck and Auto, we provide truck alignments to customers in Wray, CO, Fort Morgan, CO, Yuma, CO, Big Springs, NE, Chappell, NE, and surrounding areas. When your truck feels like its pulling to the side, its a sure sign that its time to get that alignment checked. A lasar alignment yoke is fastened to each wheel. Axles are aligned in a static position so that when the vehicle is operating dynamically, the wheels and tires are in an optimum position with the road surface, he said. Ted Armstrong is OEM technical support manager for trailer products at SAF-Holland. Steer-axle toe is adjustable to reduce wear to the leading edge of the tire and also to avoid road wander. This is a big opportunity for commercial tire dealers to work with their customers trailers and help improve tire removal miles through proper alignment. You can achieve axle alignment that appears correct, but dont be fooled by only this measurement; tires can still wear. If you have questions or need a new or used semi-trailer, we can help! We specialize in commercial 3 axle alignments. The reason why is when we build axles in the parallelogram format, it has a beam across two steering arms. The industry spec is plus or minus 1/8" of what the ride height is., https://www.facebook.com/trailerbodybuilders/, Registration opens for NTEA leadership summit, High Bar Brands releases Premier Mfg Couplings, International eMV Series explores vocational range, FleetPride extends lead in ecommerce and digital solutions, Wil-Ro wins Tennessean Top Workplaces for second consecutive year, Terex hosts technicians at service school, New LUVERNE grille guard a 'game changer' for medium-duty trucks, Registration opens for NTEA Upfitting Summit, AXLE alignment is necessary to set the wheels and tires in the optimum position for maximum tire performance, according to Rick Martin, Meritor LLC's. Axle toe also is included in this document, since toe is the alignment setting that affects tire wear the greatest. Uncouple the trailer. This past April, TMC issued a Recommended Practice on trailer alignment RP 708B which details the procedure on how to quickly and easily measure trailer alignment. Depending on the wheel-end extender length and the width of the axle track, the front axle target length (A & B measurement) is either +/- 3/16-inch or +/- 7/32-inch. Tony Kockritz, Hendrickson International's regional service manager, said it's important to check trailer ride height, truck ride height, shock absorbers, and bushings. Even though your trailer manufacturer sets the alignment, it can change because of operating characteristics. You dont need to check alignment, simply buy more tires and fuel. Using the same trammel bar, but now from the backside of the front axle, scribe a new chalk line as before. On tractor trailers, if the trailer does not track straight, the truck will experience increased rolling and wind resistancesymptoms that contribute to poor handling and fuel economy. Make sure the wheel-end extenders are a matched pair.Next, measure the length of the wheel-end extender and the axle track length.



Sitemap 11