2002 KW T2000 Rear Suspension Question

That sounds like a typical dealer answer to try an gouge you buying what you don't need and paying double or triple what you should have to correct the issue. Any good suspension shop can put new bushings in no big deal. Can recommend a couple of shops Five-oh-Five or TAFA in Nashville, TN this is the kind of work they do.

 

No, I'm closer to Nashville. I was told the same thing from some crook on commission pay at the parts desk of MHC Nashville - that you must replace the entire components of suspension and new bushings alone aren't available - and so I walked out the door. Kenworth dealers are only interested in taking care of big fleets - for little guys like you and me they try to get us to pay for their kids college. You might pm and ask TTR member Redforeman he is from the Atlanta area and maybe knows suspension shops around there. Several other drivers from GA on here who can maybe recommend one.

 

I agree with RC on this one. A good independent shop can fix you up with bushings. I would also look at a salvage operation and see what a newer rear clip would cost. Your truck is 12-13 years old so everything back there is worn, diffs included.

 

What you have is a AG 200 suspension. If you can get bushing for it the big problem is keeping it greased and even then the longevity is not that long. This suspension is just a poor design on kenworths part. I have seen it first hand people will rebush all of it and not even make it a year and it is needing done again. I can't remember what one is the easiest to switch the AG100 or the AG200 over to the AG400. If you have the money I would make the switch over to the AG400 and your suspension issues will go away. In my opinion the AG400 is the best KW suspension made.
Good Luck

 

Not meaning to hijack your thread but what exactly am I looking for to determine if the bushings need replacing?

 

The reason the dealer can't get bushings for it is because there is a retrofit for it to upgrade it to an AG400, KW knows it's a bad design.

 

You are better off to convert to the AG 400 suspension. If I recall correctly the play is in the vertical pin and where it sits. If you hook to a trailer, leave the trailer brakes set, and pull forward to put tension on the susp. then back up and put tension on the susp. While you do this have someone watching between the tires where you took the picture. They will be able to see the play. Or remove the nuts from the end of the wishbone. Loosen the wishbone on the other end at the axle. Move the wishbone out of the way. Then use your hand to wiggle the vertical pin that was bolted to the wishbone. Check the rubber bushings in the clamp on each end of the cross shaft. I think there are bushings where the cross shaft passes through the elephant ear i.e. the component bolted to the frame.

 

Do bigguns inspection. Instead of bushings I believe those are steel threaded pins screwed into an aluminum housing. You can not fix them and I could not find any new ones. I bought newsed AG 400 setup from Richard Kerns Truck Parts in Ellenwood Ga. ,delivered motor freight, saved about $1700.00. That was frame brackets, axle to axle & side to side assy. You would have to find someone to do installation and alignment.