What do you actually check on a pre-trip inspection?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by expedite_it, Sep 10, 2023.

  1. Flat Earth Trucker

    Flat Earth Trucker Road Train Member

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    2017-04-25-03-18-58--35981248.jpeg
     
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  3. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

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    Thank you for teaching me about hub oil seal leaks.

    Are there ever hub oil seal leaks on the inside of drive wheels?

    A lot of people act like it's so strange that I don't know these things after trucking for nine years. I have been a company driver for my entire career. My company pays mechanics to do all repairs. I don't think that they even want me to attempt to do any major repairs myself. The instructors at my trade school didn't teach me anything about this except to say "Check for hub oil seal leaks on steer axle and trailer tandem axles. Check for axle gasket leak on drive wheels". They didn't say whether the hub oil seal leaks would be on the inside of the wheels or the outside. So how was I supposed to magically learn this over the years?
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2023
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  4. wichris

    wichris Road Train Member

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    Maybe say thank you for teaching me something I wasn't. I will add that on my future inspections.
     
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  5. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

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    I edited the post to thank him.
     
  6. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

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    When you write that you check the hub oil level, that sounds like you are checking the amount of oil in the hub as opposed to just checking for a hub oil seal leak. Is that what you meant? Do you check the amount of oil in the hub? If so, how do you check that? I'm not aware of any hub oil dipstick or hub oil gauge on trailers.

    I always hear air whooshing out of the tractor on any truck I drive. So it's hard for me to tell what amount of air whooshing sound is normal and what's excessive.

    I have an APU. I don't even know how to chec APU oil and belts.
     
  7. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    The HF one claims it can bend a 22.5 into an exact interchange for a 24.5. That could be very handy out in the boondocks to get you home. Does yours claim the same?
     
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  8. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    The tire thumper worked well for tube type tires. Tubes give off different sounds with psi difference in tires. A tube could be low on air enough to not show up on a gauge and still support the tire enough that it wasn’t sitting completely flat on the ground. Tube types can go completely flat and will still stay seated on wheel beads. Tubeless will not do that. Tubeless Steel ply sidewall radials cannot be checked by sound or feel unless it is completely flat and most times a tubeless will no longer be seated on the wheel bead anyway and visually can not be missed if you are actually looking for it. Each manufacturer is different in construction and compound. They all sound,feel, and smell different.
     
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  9. Last Call

    Last Call Road Train Member

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    You got me there .. but mine will polish after it straightens the rim
     
  10. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    Thats way more important actually. I can see it’s true value now and why you won’t budge from your firm asking price.
     
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  11. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

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    Ha! That reminds me of the thread about air inlet ports...

    "I don't say valve stem very often so I forgot they were called valve stems..." or something. LOL
     
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