I took the truck into KW for a 'free' DOT inspection today. This is what they came up with and I need some unbiased advice:
ITEMS FOUND FOR REPAIR, ITEMS ARE DOT FAILURE:
1. RH WINDSHIELD IS SAND BLASTED AND HAS 3 CHIPS
2. LH WINDSHIELD IS SAND BLASTED
3. BAND CLAMP IS ROTTED OFF AT REAR OF TRANNY
4. REAR MUFFLER STRAP IS BROKEN
5. U-JOINT AT HANGER IS WORN OUT
6. KING PINS HAVE PLAY (LH .016" AND RH .024"
7. REAR DIFF INPUT HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY
8. RH FWD DRIVE AXLE SHOES AT 1/4" LINING
9. 5TH WHEEL JAWS LOOSE-OVER 1/4" FRONT TO BACK PLAY
THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL ITEMS NEEDING REPAIRS THAT ARE NOT UNDER DOT - Let us know if you would like us to make any repairs for the passing dot.
Dealer DOT inspection help needed...
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Hanadarko, Jul 12, 2010.
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Ka Ching !!!!!!!!!!!!
They sound like legit items needing repair..........
Some of that can be done without to much equipement.
Best of Luck. -
u-joint, rear diff input play are not dot items. not saying they don't need to be fixed. it would be cheaper to get fixed now then paying a tow bill later. band clamps are dot only if leaking, but then again dot sees a broken exhaust clamp they may write you up for it. everything else would need to be repaired.
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What MIGHT the dam kingpin issue cost to fix?
I suspect thats the most amount of money I am dealing with.
The ujoint carrier was $55 and the muff clamp is $60.
Windshields are $170 each installed (NON-OEM). -
SHOP AROUND FOR THE WINDSHIELDS!!!!
I usually get them for less than half of that price INSTALLED!
The kingpins are going to be a little spendy and you'll need to get the alignment done after they're installed.(Make sure you go to a good alignment shop and make sure they check and set (if necessary) the caster/camber otherwise that thing's gonna eat tires!
Mine was going through a set of steers every 40,000 to 50,000 miles until I started taking it to a better shop than the one I was using and now I'm seeing 130,000+ from a set of steers! -
Without checking for myself, the kingpin play doesn't sound like a lot. Any truck with a few miles is going to have some play.
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If it were me I wouldn't worry about the king pins for now I dont think the DOT would catch that small amount of play at a roadside insp. Same thing with the glass just get the chips fixed. The brakes and exhaust have to be fixed as well as the 5th wheel. Hopefully the 5th wheel just needs adjusted. U joint needs fixed as well. Get it running and get out there and make some money so you can spend it on your truck
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Thats sorta what I am thinking.....
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The kingpin job will be about a grand minimum.
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Looks like the parts are around $450 plus 5-8hrs of labor or so. Your right there in the guess.
I am still waiting on even a ballpark estimate, then will need to find a way to get some $ to pay them. I have some options but already blew through $14k cash in the last 45 days, which includes the truck purchase I admit.

There is really no end in sight. At least some of these 'issues' I can tackle on my own for a reasonable price...
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