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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- #airbag #leafsprings #atro
If you have a Freightliner chances are you are already very familiar with the air bag problems on these trucks. I may have found the solution for that. As well as a solution to the front end riding so rough.
It was a considerable cost. But if you want to keep your older truck, eventually you will want to do this.
My alignment man is Chad Hohn at Alignment Solutions in Kansas City, MO He is the only one I trust with my alignments. If you need his number, leave a request in the comments below.
DIY SEMI, TRUCKING AND MORE
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How is it working out for you now ?
Do you think pressure washing motor is a bad idea?
You dont need a 1 inch rattle or a 30 gallon compressor to do the work- a 3/4 is sufficient-The Hot wrench is your best friend -A set of torches you can replace any part on your truck-Even with hand tools as long as you have a torch- Ive done front leafs-Pins and u bolts by myself- Rear Bushings (I dont replace Good springs) bags-shocks-Its all easy if you think- But its heavy work. I rebuilt my fifth wheel- Steering Box, A-arm Tie Rod ends- All easy but heavy-Thats all- Shops take too much of your hard earned profits......And if the Job is too Big,Get yourself a small 2 ton crane- Its a lifesaver- Wait till you have to do a Clutch,Rear main seal-Or Main/rod bearings- Part of owning trucks- no one taught me anything- I Drive and Got sick of half Azz mechanics who take no pride in your truck.
Polished/worn blocks aren't the cause of this problem.. That is part of the effect. The cause is that freighliner runs the spring under the axle rather than over the top like everyone else, which puts the load 100% on your ubolts. Ubolts stretch and then all your components wear out. Horrible engineering. You will have this problem again.
Can this be modified safely so that the leaf springs rest OVER the axle?
Do u happen to have the part number for the two leafspring replacement?
10,000 miles to retorque the u bolts is too long. 1,000 miles at the most. You haven't stopped the issue, like you said it's an inherent design flaw. The fix is to weld stop blocks on the inside top of the axle housing resting against the U bolt block, after you've got it aligned correctly. Since you're using Chad I know it's done correctly, but surprised he didn't tell you of this fix. They won't move again afterwards.
Hmmm....he didn't suggest that.. But we did scuff them up to hope fully give a little grip. I will consult him on this...thanks for the input.
I think you can order this as an option on the extra duty suspension? Do you know anything about the extra duty suspension?
Thank you for the info. Who is Chad, and where is he located? I want to rebuild the front and the back.
@@johncalvo1743Chas Hohn owns Alignment Solutions 4980 Stillwell St Kansas City MO.
I have a freightliner single axel , and it feels loose on road i think you helped me find my problem. Thank you,!!
Appreciate the vid! I've had my whole suspension redone when I first got my truck because of the lean and front bushings being shot. $2600 later everything was great until about 4000 miles, the lean came right back. I noticed on that little plate you pointed out on the rear was shifted or my spring was shifted from that plate. So now I have to take it back in and I will insist that they not only change those plate's out but the spacer as well. Appreciate your video and pointing this out.
Yeah is 100%correct,I was got the same issue,a lot of shops didn't know whats wrong,frame damage and bla bla bla,until I did found a real suspension mechanic,took him 1 min to diagnose the issue,u bolts.
Thanks!
Who was your mechanic? I want to get a lot of work done.
You made the right decision to keep your truck , i had a 2004 columbia with a 14.7 liter detroit it came time for an overhaul at around 905k miles and i regrettably decided not to and sold it for 5 grand, and got into a cascadia with a dd15 , man what a freaken mistake, first i knew nothing about def crap and I've come to the conclusion that trucks with def systems are not made with owner operators in mind there strictly made for fleets that turn them in b4 the warranty runs out or 450 to 500k miles cause thats when all the issues pop up and the trucks live inside the repair shop , it doesn't matter what truck it is they are all in the same boat , check engine lights , dangerous derates , clogged one boxes , constant regens , clogged egr tubes , leaking egr coolers automatic engine shut downs , the list is endless , keep your truck ffor as long as you can you wont regret it
Iam curious can you tell me did all this you had done now finally correct the issues you were having with your truck?
Yes It has been fine since then
Adam, you're KILLING me! In the comments, you named 3 shops that did this for you! T and E, Alignment Solutions and MD. So which one was it?
T and e is the repair shop. Alignment solutions is Chad. He rents space at t and e. The alignment he does is called md alignment
@@DIYSEMI Thank you. Are you still running that truck? How's she doing?
yep.. its my old reliable
all 3 in the same building. md and alignment solutions is Chad Hohn. T and e is in the same building. they did the springs, chad did alignment
Wow I wonder if that's what is going on with the Volvo I drive it's a 2019 and just had the airbags leaning and always felt like the rear of the truck was swaying
Maybe...if i remember right, i think the volvo has a rail mounted side to side under airbags to prevent something like this. Have you checked the ubolts and such? Ill have to take a closer look at the volvo suspension next time imsee one.
My 2007 freightliner Columbia 60 series to much vebiration
Great video man. I know what to look for now i think ur video is very helpful, the hard thing is to find a shop that listens to what we have to say.
Right on!
I have a 2006 freightliner columbia straight truck that the spring assembly has moved their is a aliment part hooks into the plate that has the u botls go though and the other end botls to the flange at the end of axel, The problem I have is this part dosen't show up on freightliner's computer so i need to find this part . I have pictures of this part that I can send to some if they need to see it.
your alignment guy or when you are doing your proper inspection should have caught that loose spring shackle. also should have been caught on annual dot inspection.
Shit
the design on the rear springs will NEVER be any good when they have a side ways offset , this causes a twisting effect,
the spring must be manufactured so they are exactly parralell to chassis rails along their entire length. davi
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This is great advice, I like my Columbia..for diffrents reason..but the front axle..is tought..rides like...No suspension....and I will install the double leaf...thanks...
I had a new cascadia, and it too just pounded on the front end. Now I know why. I thought that the bad ride was do to the extra duty rear suspension.
2 payment woryh of repairs is wrll worth keeping the truck
Buenos días, habla luis de Colombia, tenho una freightliner Colombia cl 120 con susoencion Airlines, tengo el problema que cuando el vehículo está cargado queda inclinado hacia lado derecho, ya le cambie muchas piezas pero nada , no sabemos que más acerté, le agradesco si tiene alguna solución, gracias
Hola Luis como estás? Según mi análisis eso pasa cuando no están llenando bien las bolsas de aire
Freightliner Airliner suspension - the weight is carried by the U-Bolt. The U-Bolts stretch for the life of the truck. The U-Bolts need to be torqued every 6 months, sooner if you replaced the U-Bolts. A Brand New Freightliner or Western Star will have the air bag lean too.
I got a 2024 and one of them is leaning one would hope for such thing not to happen in a brand new truck …
@@Art_99S freightliner airbags have alway leaned! Ever since they came out with the airliner suspension. Get those Ubolts tightened
So you're saying that no matter what, the U-bolts need to be torqued every six months? What's the torque spec?
@@johncalvo1743 550 lbs torque or as tight as you can get them.
@@JDBurns84Damn! Tighter than lug nuts.
Don't include my 2016 132 Coronado. Always check your U bolts for correct tightening and always replace all suspension components on each axle at the same time just as you explained.
Thanks, at some point freightliner added a pin in the axle housings to keep those spacers from moving. I assume yours has it. Wish I had figured all this out long $$$ ago.
Good morning
I have Freightliner Cascadia, 2020
What happen if I lower the leveling valve airbags suspension and driving like that
What is the minimum lower suspension down for Cascadia 2020
If you let me to call you, I have some other question
Thank you
You need to run it at spec height...you can damage the driveline if driveline angle is off too many degrees
Cool thanks sounds like what my Coronado needs a nice freshening up of the suspension.
For the front spring upgrade, I noticed there are two part no's that can be used. 46-1302 which is rated at 6000lbs and 46-1930 rated at 6650lbs. Do you remember which one was installed? I figure installing the 6650lb rated one will be a better upgrade.
I honestly don't remember sorry
I just learned how to fix my air bags problems
Great info DIY ! Thanks for taking the time and effort to teach this 🙌
An eye opening video, ill ck mine tomorrow. Many thanks....😊
Have a tri drive dual steer Freightliner concrete pump. We just purchased it. I just did all the bushings on the rear axles among things. It's got one hell of a lean. I'm gona be looking at the things you've pointed out.
So change spacer, plate in bottom of spacer, and u bolts. And if bottom plate that connects to shocks is bad too change as well? Lmk if I'm missing anything. Greetings from NJ
👍
Thanks alot man you just helped out alot my columbia got that lean
i got one for ya i have a 03 columbia with an airtek air ride from hendrickson no shackles in rear of springs just a big rubber bushing bolted to the spring an one big bolt going thru the bushing to a one sided mount on frame truck has been rebushed totaly front to back new cab bushings as well an truck still shimmy from side to side i have no more ideas of what to do besides changing out front end with a spring ride
Can you describe the shimmy a little. Do u feel like its coming from one place more than another? Front or back for instance? Certain speeds or conditions? Light or heavy? That's kinda puzzling.
How much did it cost and what shop I am in stl mo I need mine fixed asap
T and e tire Kansas city. Was 4 years ago. Don't remember how much
Good afternoon, me and brother, just did the same thing. Replaced all 4 bushings, u bolts 1 of them plates. My driver side is sitting lower than the right hand side. I also put air bag on,leveling valve and new rod. Steve from N.B Canada
If it's still leaning, make sure you placed the blocks in the proper orientation. If you dont, you can get a lean. Had a mechanic replace one leaf spring and he put the block back the wrong way and it leaned pretty bad and had to take it to a different shop to fix it.
When I purchased a new freightliner or used freightliner I built my own air bag cross members one for each rear axle if suspension need a rebuild I would do that first on used truck then add the cross member to axle if truck was new I did the same thing. Problem solved got 1 Columbia with 1.9 million still sitting and riding as good or better then my 379 0r 389 ...
Do you do suspension work?
I do not I look at other types of trucks with cross members and made some calls and did my research the reason back in 1995 threw present is that they concluded that the cross members weren't needed so that after the warranty was up U would have to rebuild either part of suspension or all of it but if u bought a new freightliner it was a option for cross members on Pete's kw Volvo it came standard which makes much more sense theres more to it then just the cross members also ware plates also which U WILL have to replace and build if U been running with bags leaning when bags lean it degenerates the ware plates center bolts and hangers and your tires so the truck is always fighting trying to go straight which causes so many issues on not just suspension but much more components which if would of been handled correctly from beginning those component's would of not prematurely not failed do not let air out of one side of bags this is VERY idiotic the bags have there own height they must be set at to work properly with the rest of the suspension.....
I have a Semi coustom 2003 Columbia for sale no motor in it but its fully built just been sitting for awhile.
@@blairvigil1633 Where are you located?
@@johncalvo1743 in Arizona
Would this lean on the air bag cause the truck to shake as well
it's possible if really loose, but shaking can be caused by a good many things, will need to have it looked at
Did you ever get this truck right? Do you still have it?
Yes and yes
Thata was a big job for big equipment....
My Schneider Cascadia has bad air bag lean. It goes through tires and bags like crazy but you can't tell them anything so they just have to keep spending money on consumables. Oh well. Not my truck or cash. Handles like shit but again you can't tell them anything, so you just gotta save up your money so you can quit. Can't tell them shocks go bad even when they aren't leaking. Can't tell them it causes fatigue. Nope. If it's not a visible DOT violation they won't maintain or fix it.
Yep...large fleet mentality. Then they sell it to a poor shlub like me....lol. Oh well atleast if you ever buy one you will know just how to fix it. Instesd of spending thousands figuring it out like me!
@@DIYSEMI Haha SUCKER! 😃
But yah seriously I wouldn't buy their trucks. Our OCI is 100,000 miles or one year. Whichever comes last. 😬
DIY SEMI hey my friend what is the part number on the front spring leaf i need buy those for my truck let me know please
@@dchawk81OCI?
I have one of my rear leaf springs touching the chassis and air bag leaning a bit... i get this vibration in the floor of my truck but i feel like its more of a suspension height problem cause the vibration is on and off ...not all the time.... also sometimes my truck doesnt lower so am replacing that leveling valve today.
The way the spring is offset makes the airbag twist the spring finally bending it making the airbag lean. Lousy design.
Going to show this to all the guys who say me and my buddy are crazy because all we’ll ever run is Hendrickson walking beam or Mack Camelback suspension, even on tractors.. the worst problem you’ll have with a Hendrickson is center and end bushings every few hundred thousand miles and maybe a broken leaf once in a blue moon.
Great video my air bags leaning on side
Will all bushings with air bags and u bolts
Thank you
I can not thank you enough
Can you please tell us where did you purchase the upgraded 2 leaf spring design for the Columbia? My leaf and 1/2 is bone-shattering on bumps
T and E tire in kansas city mo
@@DIYSEMI Thank you! Any chance you remember who makes it? I know it was a while ago. I don't get out to Kansas City too often
following
taintliner
They also have this other one that you can get it's a new Leaf that's straight in the back and it has a cross Channel just like the Peterbilts it's like an upgrade
I just did the bushings on my century and now I get some vibration and my it sounds like my driveshaft grinds on the transmission. If I drop the suspension while driving the issues stop. U joints were replaced like a year ago
Better get that #1 u joint checked again
Sounds like your air bags are over inflated, try lowering them some.
Late, I know. But I'm having the same problem. Can I ask what was the problem?
Keep this glider forever. Don’t even think about selling. Keep your money and invest
Biggest problem with bag lean is the broken shear bolt or tie bolt that holds the purch and spring in alignment. There is a head on top of the axle housing itself that the upper U-boat alignment cap sets on that holds inplace then U boats go down to the bottom perch which is held in line with the Spring with a tiebolt or alignment bolt once in U bolts get wore loose or stretched whatever allows that the move around which breaks the shear boat which allows the springs to kick inward...
The older models didn't have that alignment bolt. Don't know the exact year they started it. But mine was old enough not to have it...that's why I said the new ones don't do it
This is exactly right. Older ones have centering pin on top of axle which provides nothing for centering axle to spring. Very poor design. I’ve found many with twisted springs. The more it twists the more leverage air bag has on it. The ones with the double spring have a bracket from brake spider to lower Ubolt bracket. Kinda helps keep straight. I install them on all of mine when I have them apart.
@@chadsmith961 👍👍✌️
@@chadsmith961Chad, did you do the work on Adam's truck?
Panhard bar, is the name of link on top. Used to center the axle under the frame.
Thanks for video, do you remember the arrows on the part, it means front direction?
did u need to get alignment after new front leaf spring install?
yes
Just bought a freight liner manure truck. Which was originally a otr truck. Had the frame stretched etc. have this issue. Looks like I’m going to have to replace the leafs as one side they are stretched out where the bushings are. You think adding a tag axle would help?
What did you figure out. I'm in the same boat with an 03 fl112.
@@bryanoverlin839 not much. Don’t have money to sink into it. So I just use it how it is.
Yep same situation. Wondering why I bought this thing.
Maybe you can share the shop name?
I will pm you on facebook..and sub you on youtube. I didnt ask if its ok to give out their name. I'll have to ask them that.
What mpg do you get and what are the specs on the truck?
7.5mpg series 60 10 spd direct 2.64 rear ends
Adam, I just noticed...on the front axle the leaf springs are mounted on top of the axle, but on the rear axle they are mounted BELOW the axle?
correct
What is your normal highway cruising speed?
Thanks for the very informative videos
Ehhhh right around 62 or 63. Very rarely do I go over 65... Mpg drops hard
@@DIYSEMIAre you running a 13 manual?
I've found a great easy solution to the issue with the airbag lean. Less psi in the rear passenger side set of drives, my bags both leaned to the right at the top and to the left at the bottom but only in the rear set the front set of airbags were both even steven so I made sure all tires were spec psi and with a bubble leveler and a little geometry I made the required adjustments and the truck drives like a dream now! Over bumps around curves its a totally different ride even the steers started finally wearing even I've taken it to plenty of shops and replaced too many leafs and tires only for the issue to return and finally figured what the hell let me take a crack at it, I honestly wish I would have done it sooner. Such an easy fix that only cost me 7psi
@@educateyourself8255 I didn't, I got rid of the truck
Less psi??? How?
So did the psi thing work??
You know there are some things your just not equipped to do
Great video. Loved it, the music hurts my ears!
We've had this issue with our freightliners and western stars at my employer. There is a debate between two mechanics whether or not to put a brace from the left spring to the right under the airbags like a Hendrickson. I am totally in favor of it.
Have you guys tried the bracing yet? I'm contemplating doing this also.
Thanks for the information
Did what you did in this video solve the problem??
been almost 2 years...no problems
@@DIYSEMI good stuff! I'm having the same problem right now... just made a video about it.
In new truck but wobbles in wind.
👍👍👍👍👍
Great video thanks for the information I really need that info thanks again
Man freightliner has the best suspension in the world. Kenworth and peterbilt guys change their suspension to airliners. I want to change my international to airliners.
2007 columbia ... not yet so far
Any updates...and you never gave price of the work lol
Yes sir...there is an update video. $4500
@@DIYSEMI yikes
@@DIYSEMI So labor/parts for 4500$ total for the front and back?
@@InNoTime3377 correct
@@DIYSEMI 4500$ is actually not bad, i just came back from a smarts truck n trailer here texas. The spring alone from freightliner was 600$ and the labor to change it was 350$
Why would you not feel comfortable sharing how much you paid for a repair?
Ill tell you now. It was 4500. I didnt want to say back then because i had people giving me hell for every little thing i did or said.....but now i dont care what peolpe say anymore. Money well spent. I. Happy with the repair.
For sure, plus you do most of the repairs so when something a little bigger of a job its due well no sweat there, pay the bill and keep rolling
Lol 😂 I knew he paid pretty good money 💴 cause he didn’t say anything
But it’s not an easy job , look easy but it’s not
I did mine my self I drive the truck to the shop and I told the mechanic to finish after I spend the whole day replacing one
Tools 🛠 the key 🔑
@@DIYSEMIDamn right Adam. I had a shop in Iowa quote me over $9000 to do the front and rear end. So you did well.
Thanks for the video this will help will me out. But will double leaf spring work for a 01 Columbia and do you have a part number for leaf springs
Yes it will wotk, i am trying to find part number. You could call t and e tire in kansas city talk to chris. He will hook you up
@@DIYSEMI
Thanks for the info
This is what I was looking for!! I've been trying to find a fix to detect what was wrong with my Argosy! This video helped me a lot! Found out that my center bolt had snapped in half and also found out that I snapped my shock absorber bracket too lol. Luckily I didn't damage an airbag or shock absorber. But I discovered that I had loose u-bolts that were ready to snap!
Question. Where did you get your front leaf springs? I am currently buying parts to rebuild the entire suspension
T and e tire in Kansas city
@@DIYSEMI thank you very much
Thanks for the video!
How much did it cost rear end repair?
like 4500 for everything
Man thank you very much! I just blew tow airbags trying to figure this out
Glad I could help
I thank you for your findings and sharing them. I have a columbia single axel and been feeling looseness in suspension, but have replaced many parts but i will have to check for this wear .
Best of luck!
Hey man, do you know what’s the part number for front leaf springs? I have 2008 Century s60 14L and it’s driving me crazy over the bumps, I’ll get parkinson’s disease how bad is this suspension setup. Thank you
My like disappeared
Makes me wonder. I have to now look at my truck. It had 1 new air bag and new shock on the front rear differential.
You should be ok, its mostly a freightliner thing
@@DIYSEMI good deal.
Hey boss I have to get the same thing done a d was wondering if you mind sharing how much it cost
it was like 4500 for everything i did
@@DIYSEMI what was the piece called that has the pin because my pin broke and I can't find the part name
I learnt a lot with this video!!!!!!
Put a weld on each side of the spring block and your rears with quit moving Freightliner in the old days was bad about doing that
I have the some problem
I have also this problem freightliner 2016 can you give me shop details
Call t and e tire in kansas city, mo. Talk to chris.816-920-7410
@@DIYSEMIIs it Chris or Chad? MD or T and E?
Thank you for the video
Thanks for the info
You say not a great design but that is the most popular suspension on the road I personally know several guys who bought used and put them under petes and kenworth trucks
Great video 😊
Do u know what would cause one rear cab shock to slide. I've changed it several times and that one it keeps happening to
My bag is lean to
Loose u bolts
Thank you!!!!very much. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌
You are welcome!
Hi DIY, my freightliner columbia columbia steering wheel shakes between 40mph to 55mph. Balanced steer tire and installed new tire but still shaking. Any idea sir?
To be perfectly honest, it could be a whole lotta things. Warped rim, out of balance brake drums, check all steering components, king pins , tie rods, drag link and Pittman arm. Maybe its worth a trip to an alignment shop. They might spot it quickly.This kinda thing is hard to guess without seeing. What kind of wear are your steer tires showing? Abnormal? I highly recommend m.d. alignment in Kansas City MO.
I don't know exactly all what you are feeling, but unbalanced drive shaft, and bad u joints, hanger bearing can also cause vibration...but you should feel that in the floor.
@@DIYSEMI thank you sir, l will take my truck to m d allightment in Kansas
@@kalisterkalister5925 Chad hohn is the man you want to talk to tell him what you have going on. He is brilliant.
@@DIYSEMI okey thank you.
@@DIYSEMIIs he the guy that did the work for you in this video? I will tell him you sent me if it is. I want to rebuild the front AND rear. I have a 2009 Columbia, 13spd, 3.55, 14L S60. She's a beast. I want her to have my babies!
Great information about this freighliner truck malfunction, it’s gotten worries suspicious problem’s, I never seen this happening on any other trucks, thanks brother
pls rpl where is that shop located at thank you sir
T and e tire . Kansas city mo
Thanks very much!
Sounds like the loose u bolts have been missed on the DOT inspection. I'm surprised the DIT officers haven't caught it, the did to me!