Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Farmerbob1, Jan 7, 2019.

  1. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    The odd wear on my left front steer is not going to make it to home time. It's borderline legal now. Looking at it closer, the whole inner edge of the steer is wearing abnormally fast, so I will need to get the steers checked for alignment as well, hopefully at the same place I get the steers replaced.

    I suspect one of the lovely potholes on I80 in the Chicago/Joliet area banged the front end out of alignment. I can normally avoid big potholes in most areas I see regularly, but the stretch of I80 around exit 132 is horrible, and tends to be too crowded to safely dodge all the potholes. I will be happy when the construction in that area is done. The roads will likely still be trash, but I will be able to dodge potholes better.
     
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  3. Opus

    Opus Road Train Member

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    If you're going to keep it, might want to look at centrimatics. $350, but they work for me.
    But make sure you get the right size. I didn't know there were sizes until my tire guy told me
     
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  4. Brettj3876

    Brettj3876 Road Train Member

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    We have double coins on the rear of the 99 that are wearing like iron. Expect to get around that much out of em too. Would buy again
     
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  5. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    Well, yesterday while I was in Wyoming, I called the Petro here in York, NE, and was told that they would have someone in on Sunday AM to do an alignment on my truck after I got my steers replaced.

    Paid for a parking spot this AM, got here tonight after stopping about 100 miles early, and then get told when I tried to set an early AM appointment that they don't have anyone here on Sunday (tomorrow) to do an alignment.

    I really hate being lied to.

    Just checked my steers. Still legal. Barely. Not spending my money in this shop.
     
  6. 77fib77

    77fib77 Road Train Member

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    You need a three axle alingment anyway. Right? Most little shops don't do that.
     
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  7. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    They did you a favor, take your truck to an actual alignment shop.
     
  8. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    I have recently had a 3 axle alignment. I just wanted them to check the steer axle.
     
  9. RStewart

    RStewart Road Train Member

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    It would be worth the money to dead head to Kansas City and let Chad look at your alignment. Trusting a truckstop shop for that job is not a wise choice. Chad won't lie to you. Alignment Solutions is the name of his business and he's at the same site as T&E Service Co. in Kansas City, MO.
     
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  10. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    I second not wasting money at an inferior shop and getting to KC instead. There’s also a mobile alignment guy in Lincoln as well as a shop in Fairmont NE that are MD shops. But Chad in KC is by far the best.

    If you were just checking the front axle, you can check the toe yourself with a tape measure and some tape. But many times steer tire wear is cause by drive axles that are out of alingment. Also your rear suspension bushings could need replaced too, and that would cause steer tire wear.
     
  11. 77fib77

    77fib77 Road Train Member

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    I would put a new set of steers on and go to the alingment shop. Or depending on rates new steers and run it. A new set of tires for 500 or a 1000 miles and then getting it all checked out would be fine to me. Riding on nearly illegal steer tires is a bit of an uneeded risk imo.
     
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