Suspension issues in a commercial vehicle can affect its handling, safety, and performance. If you notice any signs of suspension problems, such as uneven tire wear, excessive bouncing, steering difficulty, or noise, you should troubleshoot them as soon as possible. Here are some steps you can follow to diagnose and fix common suspension issues in a commercial vehicle.
The tires are the first contact point between the vehicle and the road, and they can influence the suspension system. You should inspect the tires for any damage, such as cracks, bulges, or punctures, and check the air pressure and tread depth. If the tires are underinflated, overinflated, or worn unevenly, they can cause the vehicle to bounce, pull, or vibrate. You should also check the alignment and balance of the wheels, and correct any issues with a professional service.
Under pumped wheel also put out negative on your steering check tyre pressures as it will feel like your Allignment is out and you waste money by taking your vehicle in, just check tyre pressures first
Vehicle suspension system is mounted in the tyre zone. So always check the tyres first. For instance, deflated tires can reduce ground clearance, increase rolling resistance, compromise handling and stability, cause uneven tyre wear, stress suspension components, lead to overheating and damage, and impact wheel alignment, collectively affecting the overall performance and safety of the vehicle's suspension system.
I've had an experience of bouncing vehicle, firstly, I checked the tire pressures and it was overinflated. After inflating to the required pressure, the vehicle stopped bouncing.
Troubleshooting suspension issues in a commercial vehicle requires a systematic approach to identify and address potential problems. Visual Inspection: Start by visually inspecting the entire suspension system. Look for signs of damage, wear, or leaks. Check for any loose or missing bolts, nuts, or other fasteners. Inspect the suspension components, including the springs, shocks, struts, control arms, and bushings. Ensure that the wheels are properly aligned. Misalignment can cause uneven tire wear and affect the vehicle's handling. Align the wheels if necessary and inspect for damaged suspension components contributing to misalignment. Use a diagnostic tool to scan for any suspension-related trouble codes in the vehicle's computer system.
The tires are the first contact point between the vehicle and the road and they can influence the suspense system you should inspect the tyres for any damage such as cracks bulges aur punctures and check the air pressure and trade depth if the tyres are under inflated over inflated or worn unevenly they can cause the vehicle to bounce pul aur vibrate you should also check the alignment and balance of the wheels and correct any issue with a professional service
The springs are the main components that support the weight of the vehicle and absorb the shocks from the road. They can be coil, leaf, or air springs, depending on the type of suspension system. You should inspect the springs for any signs of wear, breakage, sagging, or corrosion, and replace them if necessary. You can use a jack to lift the vehicle and measure the height of each spring, and compare it with the manufacturer's specifications. If the springs are too low or too high, they can affect the ride quality and stability of the vehicle.
One of the problems I have dealt with on semi trucks is broken springs in the winter time. It can cause all kinds of ride problems
The shock absorbers are the devices that dampen the movement of the springs and prevent the vehicle from bouncing excessively. They can be hydraulic, gas, or electric, depending on the type of suspension system. You should test the shock absorbers for any signs of leakage, damage, or malfunction, and replace them if necessary. You can use a bounce test to check the shock absorbers by pushing down on each corner of the vehicle and observing how many times it bounces back. If the vehicle bounces more than once or twice, the shock absorbers may be worn or faulty.
Shocks should be warm after use, when working properly they convert kinetic energy into heat energy. If you have been driving your truck and your shock is not warmer than ambient temp, you have a shock that is not working.
Also please check if there is any oil residues on the shocks if there are any please replace as it can make your vehicle unstable and uncomfortably
Normalmente, um comportamento oscilatório n?o amortecido, ou como um "pula-pula" é um ótimo indicador de amortecedores estourados, uma vez que toda a carga está sob as molas
Check the shock abosorbers Know that defective shock absorbers adversely impact a vehicle's suspension system, causing reduced stability, poor handling, increased body roll, longer stopping distances, heightened wear on other suspension components, diminished comfort, and safety concerns.
This maybe time consuming but remove & test the shocks by hand is a good indicator as a leak may not always be present especially when talking about heavy vehicles like road trains & prime movers, pushing down on a corner will achieve bugger all.
The bushings are the rubber or polyurethane elements that cushion the joints and connections between the suspension components and the chassis. They can reduce the friction, noise, and vibration in the suspension system. You should examine the bushings for any signs of cracking, tearing, or deformation, and replace them if necessary. You can use a flashlight to inspect the bushings visually, or use a pry bar to check for any excessive play or movement in the suspension parts.
Vale ressaltar que as buchas / coxins n?o necessariamente precisam estar trincados, ou deteriorados para perder eficiência. Um profissional especializado deve fazer um teste de rua, principalmente em pavimento de má qualidade para avaliar os ruídos, assim como verificar as folgas com o veículo suspenso. Pode ocorrer de as buchas perderem rigidez com o tempo, n?o cumprindo totalmente com seu papel. Sempre utilizar pe?as de reposi??o com qualidade original.
Bushings are one of the most popular reason for feeling uncomfortable while driving, apart from the huge amount of click noise conducted to the chaises, disturbing the passengers.
The sensors are the electronic devices that monitor and control the suspension system, especially in vehicles with adaptive or active suspension systems. They can adjust the suspension settings according to the road conditions, speed, and driving mode. You should scan the sensors for any error codes, malfunctions, or miscommunications, and fix them if necessary. You can use a diagnostic tool to connect to the vehicle's computer and read the codes, or use a multimeter to check the voltage and resistance of the sensors.
The maintenance history is the record of the services and repairs that have been performed on the suspension system. It can help you identify any recurring or unresolved issues, or any parts that need to be replaced or upgraded. You should review the maintenance history for any gaps, inconsistencies, or discrepancies, and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the suspension system. You should also keep a log of the troubleshooting steps you have taken, and the results you have obtained, for future reference.
Even something it may happen be having a very goog log of previous maintenance, we could guess the defected part. Some manufacturers have the maintenance SOP for their suspension.
Keeping journal entries on what operating conditions the vehicles were subjected to, and what the required repairs were will help guide you to the most likely area of concern in the future.
In my experience, after verifying a customers concern, and doing an initial inspection for any worn parts, there’s a few more avenues to follow. See if you can get the noise to replicate in the shop. If you don’t know what the noise is, you can use a chassis ear or similar device and test drive the vehicle flipping between different channels to see where the noise is coming from. if you can replicate it in the shop, you can either use a long handle screw driver (like placing your ear on a railroad track) or a mechanics stethoscope to pinpoint the exact part at fault.
Information is key from the driver as to what the suspension is actually doing? Is it air bag? Is the trailer bouncing? How are the tyres wearing? Do they wonder along the road? Does it lean to one side? Is it slow to build air? There are many factors to take into account a visual inspection with clear communication from the customer almost always point you in the right direction.