Alignment

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by olpa77, Jul 3, 2013.

  1. Jul 3, 2013 #1
    olpa77

    olpa77 Light Load Member

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    Apr 9, 2011
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    My old Freightliner is giving me more problems. I had the steer axle left wheel bearing go bad and it damaged the spindle. The shop replaced the spindle and bearing. I got the truck back and now it drives straight but the wheel is at a 45 degree angle. It does not pull or any thing. If I let go of the wheel it keeps a straight path but the steering wheel is crooked. Before the repair the steering wheel was straight and it also kept a straight path. What do I have to do to get my wheel straight again? Thanks folks and happy 4th!
     
    olpa77, Jul 3, 2013
    olpa77, Jul 3, 2013
    #1
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  3. Jul 4, 2013 #2
    Semi Crazy

    Semi Crazy Road Train Member

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    May 13, 2011
    Middle Tennessee
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    Just undo the bolt at the upper most cross joint yoke and pull the splined shaft out and push it back in where you want it. Don't forget to tighten the bolt back up.
     
    Semi Crazy, Jul 4, 2013
    Semi Crazy, Jul 4, 2013
    #2
    olpa77 Thanks this.
  4. Jul 4, 2013 #3
    beltrans

    beltrans Medium Load Member

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    Nov 26, 2008
    spokane wa
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    You better check you TOE... When I replaced my spindle I got toe 2'' off.
     
    beltrans, Jul 4, 2013
    beltrans, Jul 4, 2013
    #3
    olpa77 Thanks this.
  5. Jul 5, 2013 #4
    Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    Yep, have your toe set. With a different spindle there may be a different steering or Ackerman on it throwing out either the toe, straight ahead or both. Centering the steering wheel should be part of the alignment at any competent shop. Some steering shafts are master splined. Yours may or may not be. We just recenter the steering wheel by using a steering wheel puller and popping it off and recentering it.
     
    Heavyd, Jul 5, 2013
    Heavyd, Jul 5, 2013
    #4
    Davidlee and olpa77 Thank this.
  7. Jul 5, 2013 #5
    olpa77

    olpa77 Light Load Member

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    Forgot to mention the shop charged me 8.5 hours in labor to do one spindle. Yet when they did kingpins last November they only charged me 8 hours for both sides. How much more labor is in a spindle job vs. kingpins? They told me the extra time they had in the truck is because I wanted the kingpin reused in the spindle job since they were almost new. Do you folks think 8.5 hours is steep for changing a spindle?
    The dealer I am going to use to be top notch but any more I question their work and find myself making many trips back to get the same thing repaired....... if only I could post some of my dash cam videos of some of the things they said and done!
     
    olpa77, Jul 5, 2013
    olpa77, Jul 5, 2013
    #5
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