Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Meritor Steer Axle -> Expert Advice Needed Re: Upgrade

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by rbrauns, Apr 6, 2020.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Apr 6, 2020 #1
    rbrauns

    rbrauns Light Load Member

    164
    56
    Dec 7, 2014
    0
    I hope there are some Meritor steer axle specialists on this forum.

    My truck's springs and kingpins are worn out. I have a Meritor MFS-12-143A-N axle abd dm thinking that I should upgrade my steer axle to 13,200 lbs (Meritor MFS-13B-143-A-N) or even 14,600 lbs (Meritor MFS-14F-143-A-N).

    I asked Meritor if I could reuse the spindles, hubs and brakes from my existing 12,000 lb axle but Meritor told me to contact my Freightliner dealer.

    Of course, the dealer will sell me a shiny, new and overpriced complete steer axle but I want to know if I can just buy a used I-beam and new springs and reuse my existing spindles, hubs, brakes, etc.

    Does anyone know if these other components are the same?
     
    rbrauns, Apr 6, 2020
    rbrauns, Apr 6, 2020
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Apr 7, 2020 #2
    spsauerland

    spsauerland Road Train Member

    4,296
    10,879
    May 31, 2010
    West Harrison, In
    0
    The short answer is yes, knuckles will work so that means hubs and brakes will too. Why do want to change beam? Are bores wore out? If trying to change GAWR for steer, the law man goes by sticker in door, not tag on axle.
     
    spsauerland, Apr 7, 2020
    spsauerland, Apr 7, 2020
    #2
    062, Goodysnap and pushbroom Thank this.
  4. Apr 7, 2020 #3
    rbrauns

    rbrauns Light Load Member

    164
    56
    Dec 7, 2014
    0
    Thanks for your response. I haul triaxle flat deck and with tanks more than 1/2 full, I'm always overweight on my steers. I will need get a dealer to change my GAWR for the steers but they said I needed a new beam because they are stamped with a weight rating. The dealer is willing to change the GAWR for a fee but I'll need to ask how much.

    Thanks for your answer. It was super helpful.
     
    rbrauns, Apr 7, 2020
    rbrauns, Apr 7, 2020
    #3
    Vampire and spsauerland Thank this.
  5. Apr 7, 2020 #4
    062

    062 Road Train Member

    5,851
    31,704
    Oct 20, 2013
    0
    @earnies2 had a steer axle re-rated not long ago.
     
    062, Apr 7, 2020
    062, Apr 7, 2020
    #4
    Vampire Thanks this.
  7. Apr 7, 2020 #5
    spsauerland

    spsauerland Road Train Member

    4,296
    10,879
    May 31, 2010
    West Harrison, In
    0
    The MFS 13 and 14 do have 1" wider track. Just remember you would probably have to go to a 315 tire on steer to meet weight rating of MFS 14 and at least 16 ply tire on MFS 13.
     
    spsauerland, Apr 7, 2020
    spsauerland, Apr 7, 2020
    #5
    Vampire, pushbroom and BoxCarKidd Thank this.
  8. Apr 7, 2020 #6
    earnies2

    earnies2 Medium Load Member

    690
    281
    May 17, 2012
    Dedham, MA.
    0
    Yes I did I went to a spring shop. They added 1 leaf to each side to bring the spring capacity to 14k. I also went to load range H tires that gave me 14k the spring shop than put a sticker on my door jamb for 14,400 lbs. I also unbolted my 5th wheel and was able to move it back 2 bolt holes now I run between 12800 and 13800 when full of fuel...
    Go to a spring shop not a dealer
     
    earnies2, Apr 7, 2020
    earnies2, Apr 7, 2020
    #6
    Vampire, BoxCarKidd and 062 Thank this.
  9. Apr 7, 2020 #7
    earnies2

    earnies2 Medium Load Member

    690
    281
    May 17, 2012
    Dedham, MA.
    0
    I run goodyear 295/22.5 and they are rated at 14,400 or 7200 each
     
    earnies2, Apr 7, 2020
    earnies2, Apr 7, 2020
    #7
    Vampire Thanks this.
  10. Apr 7, 2020 #8
    tommymonza

    tommymonza Road Train Member

    4,519
    12,847
    Sep 10, 2013
    S.W. Florida
    0
    Long as you are all on the subject may I ask a question?

    I bought a used 1997 international 9300 with 2-150 tanks slung forward but have yet to put on the road, shows it has a 13800 front axle on the original build sheet it came with.

    So if I have the similar weight rated steer tires and I go over the scales at 13200 do you you get pulled around every time your over 12000?
     
    tommymonza, Apr 7, 2020
    tommymonza, Apr 7, 2020
    #8
    Vampire Thanks this.
  11. Apr 7, 2020 #9
    earnies2

    earnies2 Medium Load Member

    690
    281
    May 17, 2012
    Dedham, MA.
    0
    Most scales set there weight at 14k there are a few that lower it to 12k to be a ###
    The scale that got me in Tennessee stated I can write up every prostar and Volvo because they are built overweight on their front axle and I had just filed. He was just being an ### but he was correct I was over on my front axle but way under gross weight I only had 15 k on the deck. He made me buy 2 new load range H tires. The tires I had on were 2 months old. ...so in one way he was rite for the tire r as thing but my springs and axle was still 12k so even though he wouldn't let me bobtail 3 miles to get the tires after they installed the tires he let me leave with a overweight axle and springs go figure....in 45 years of trucking I have never seen that and I'm sure he got a kickback from the tire guy
     
    earnies2, Apr 7, 2020
    earnies2, Apr 7, 2020
    #9
    Vampire, tommymonza and 062 Thank this.
  12. Apr 7, 2020 #10
    062

    062 Road Train Member

    5,851
    31,704
    Oct 20, 2013
    0
    I think it was the Greenville Tn scale that a cop was busted for something like that a few months ago.
     
    062, Apr 7, 2020
    062, Apr 7, 2020
    #10
    Vampire Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 2