Freightliner Columbia Striker bolt fell off

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by tallmon, Jan 2, 2019.

  1. tallmon

    tallmon Medium Load Member

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    Freightliner Columbia.
    My driver was driving around with the striker getting more and more loose. Now the striker fell off and the bolt has fallen in. I haven't looked at it yet but is there a way to access the area behind the pillar to get the bolt and screw the striker back in?
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
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  3. Bakerman

    Bakerman Road Train Member

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    Didn’t rust through?
    Maybe get one of those magnets on a long stick
     
  4. boneebone

    boneebone Road Train Member

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    You will need to remove the interior panels next to the door pillar so you can access the cab’s inner structure.

    Tell your driver to pay more attention to when he pre and post trips the truck and he should promptly report things that are wrong.
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2019
  5. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    yeah, he really should have seen or even felt that loose striker bolt, each time he opened/closed that door.

    easy enough to get at, thru the interior, by removing a panel. you still may need a long reach magnet however.

    you will need to remount it exactly where it was, provided that there is a slight rust circle on the pillar..

    next time this happens, MAKE HIM go and fish it out......and reinstall it...show him that it was his lack of attention that caused that truck to be down.
     
  6. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Fire your driver, he is lazy and stupid not to get it fixed.

    I can just imagine getting this call " ah ... boss ... the wheels fell off ... uh ... the bolts were loose but ... uh .... I just didn't think they needed to be ... uh .... tighten... "

    That driver would be out of that truck quickly, no excuse for stupidity.
     
  7. tallmon

    tallmon Medium Load Member

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    I'm not sure how the plate fell off, I looked at the truck myself the day before.

    So on the Columbias the ABS system is behind the driver seat on the pillar. there is a plastic access panel which opens up to access the ABS system and you can get at the striker plate. I just had to reach down with my arm and fish out the plate.

    I'm posting this just so that in case anyone else ever has the issue.

    Thanks everyone.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  8. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    I thought the nut was welded in place normally. I’ve changed them on my Trucks never lost the nut/plate. Got a new one now to install. Hope it doesn’t turn into a project. Lol. Door opening up going down Interstate- not good!!!
     
  9. tallmon

    tallmon Medium Load Member

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    What kind of truck?
     
  10. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    2000 Classic. I think I changed one on my 99 but might have been my WS
     
  11. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    I just rebuilt the right door. Thought I had the rod bent or something. Found roller on striker bad.In past I’ve put only the roller from new post onto old ( painted post) seems they don’t sell just the roller
     
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