Hendrickson walking beams alignment

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by 2006gmcdmax, Feb 6, 2018.

  1. 2006gmcdmax

    2006gmcdmax Light Load Member

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    I replaced both spring packs this past weeknd on my 96 357 peterbilt dump truck. The truck has rte 460 suspension which is 46000 rears and mine has the little tail off the end of the leaf spring. far as the walking beams goes it can not be shimmed with the two bolts per end mine. just has one bolt per end that holds beam to axle so no adjustment there. this truck has play in the steering wheel this truck always has driven straight as an arrow, but now this truck feels like it's crab walking down the road. Front is pulling to passenger side rear is pulling to driver side. Rear axle looks to be In further than front drive axle and vice versa on passenger side looking at the tires in the mirror. My question is did I miss something when I put it back together? does the set screws at the top of the leaf spring cap align the springs which align the parts the walking beams are held to or what? The tires used to be perfectly straight with the bed when looking in mirror now they are out of wack. Do walking beams have alignment adjustments or what?
     
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  3. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    Been a long time since I had a date with Hendrickson but we used to go steady.
    When the truck is driven straight on to a flat surface the distance between the inside tires and the frame should be about the same all around. Should have dog bones ( radius rods? ) between the frame and each axle. They use shim plates to center the axles under the frame. Then if you need to align the axles ( with with single bolt ends ) Euclid makes excentric end caps for them which can be rotated for proper alignment.
     
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  4. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I believe the single bolt through the ends of the walking beam have a little cam type setup that you rotate to move the axle fore and aft at each corner to adjust the drive axle alignment.
     
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  5. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    That is what what I am talking about. The factory ones used to just be straight but the aftermarket came out with adjustable, excentric, cam type caps for adjustment. If he has those and just slapped them in his suspension is all out of wack.
     
  6. 2006gmcdmax

    2006gmcdmax Light Load Member

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    I will have to check into that. this truck drove straight as an arrow before, now it feels like its dog walking. front drive goes towards driver side not much but rear drive goes towards passenger side they seem to be about 1/2" out. where as they used to track perfectly straight. both rear axles in mirror used to make first set of lugs on the tires dead even with dump body.
     

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  7. 2006gmcdmax

    2006gmcdmax Light Load Member

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    I guess I could unbolt it and see. who would've ever thought just changing springs would cause an issue should've just left it broke and said hell with it!
     
  8. 2006gmcdmax

    2006gmcdmax Light Load Member

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    The leafs used to ride dead even in the saddles on the truck now the both ride to the outside of the saddles the truck has about an 1.5" of play when turning with a load other than turning they used to stay straight in line.
     
  9. 2006gmcdmax

    2006gmcdmax Light Load Member

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    This is the spring set up I have on my truck the saddle which is the piece that the walking beams actually hook to have maybe and 1/8" of play to them if you push with a prybar
     

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    Mgrimmett28 Thanks this.
  10. 2006gmcdmax

    2006gmcdmax Light Load Member

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    The truck is dog walking that bad
     

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  11. spsauerland

    spsauerland Road Train Member

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    You have rubber center bushings or bronze? Sounds like might be time for a rebush.
     
    BoxCarKidd and Roger McG Thank this.
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