CentraMatic's Review

I have GY 399 LHS steers load range "H". Have centamatics onboard also. Still had a crappy ride. Installed Gabriel gas SLX shocks all around. Truck rides smooth as glass. Better than when I got truck new. Also have 162,000 on steer tires with 10/32" tread left. Alignment was done two years ago. Still goes straight as an arrow.

 

Well - I'm going in to have the tractor tires rotated, balanced and install Centramatics on the drive axles.

I had Chad at MD Alignments in KC align the tractor after replacing AG200 with AG400 suspension, and put balance beads in the front - after the new tires went on 60,000 miles ago.

While the truck drove 100% better, there is still a vibration felt through the whole truck, not terrible, but not smooth.

Road King shocks on the front made a massive difference to ride and handling, but not the vibration.

I'll have them check balance on the drives, and put a runout guage on tires and rims to check for bent rims or out of round tires.

XZA3 steers, BS Ecopia 710 drives. KW T2000, 2001.

I'll report back.

 

And that's the last we ever heard.

 

Somebody was interested in a report.

 

Sorry.

Balancing the drive wheels, all 8, sorted out the rest of the vibrations. The aluminum outlets required several ounces to balance, also the steel inners.

All tires are wearing exceptionally well now. I also installed Centramatics on the spread axle trailer after rotating tires and balancing all the same. Not much difference noticed, but again - all rims needed weight added.

Runout guage tested on all 18, and were within 'acceptable ' limits, but still surprising as to the amount of 'wobble' in quality , relatively new tires.

At last check,

135,000 on steers and drives.
170,000 on trailer tires.

By my calculations, steers will run to 200,000, drives to 350,000 and trailer to 225,000 before replacement.

I take a depth guage recording and chart every 3 months or so.

Spread axle needs rotation/monitoring more often, and I will rotate drives again front to back when needed.

At about $7-8k for a full set of quality tires, I believe the Centramatics at $800 for 5 axles, and balancing/out of round checking, along with regular monitoring and rotation is time/money well spent.

 

Such a helpful little rat you are. I now see why Mrs Rat keeps you around.

 

She keeps him around to nudge me when I forget what I promised to do.

 

Your turn sunshine.

 

Ok..ditched the T680.
No issues with centramatics on the kw.
Drives were wearing like iron..steers were replaced but that was my fault..alignment problem.

Put the centramatics on the Volvo.
Bridgestone ecopia's..checked alignment(see I learn).
83k and everything looks new.
Both steers and drives.
Truck rides like a car with no issues.

Centramatics are worth the money..get them on all axles and enjoy.