Pete air-trac issues

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by special-k, Jul 2, 2014.

  1. special-k

    special-k Road Train Member

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    My 2000 Pete has air-trac rear suspension in it. The last 5 years or so I've been having issues with the u bolts in the rear axle coming loose. This last time the lower saddle walked back and forth enough to wear 1/4 of material off of it. It's all coming apart in the next couple days to try and fix it right. I have all the shims and spacers plus the lower saddle coming. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas or tips. The front drive has never had any issues.
     
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  3. Duramaxxed

    Duramaxxed Light Load Member

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    U bolts need to be re torqued after initial torque. Could be the issue. Usually a few weeks after install.
     
  4. special-k

    special-k Road Train Member

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    Should have said that they were retorqued and checked periodically after that.
     
  5. Duramaxxed

    Duramaxxed Light Load Member

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    Then you have something worn. Maybe the bottom of the axle housing has worn. That can be welded and ground pretty close to stock. Good idea by replacing the saddle. Make sure your using genuine pete parts because the ubolt nuts are special. If nothing is worn and it still comes loose, I have nothing for you =P
    I've seen that aluminum lower saddle wear into the axle tube several times.
     
  6. Passin Thru

    Passin Thru Road Train Member

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    Try Thread lock, double nuts using a thinner nut for the locking nut. Mine never came loose.
     
  7. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    Be carefull.
    Some axles cannot be welded because they crack just beside the weld.
    Has to do with the thickness off the axle.
    Don't know about yours.
     
  8. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    Once ubolts come loose and the saddles start to bang around they can lose their flat/smooth edges and surfaces. Once they are bolted back up again, the mating surfaces between the axle housing and saddles and the spring itself never wants to sit flush. If anything has any angles or irregular wear you will need to replace those parts. Always use new ubolts and use an actual torque wrench on them.
     
  9. special-k

    special-k Road Train Member

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    Just for an update. Two days in the shop and lots of money spent :( ended up replacing both spring leaves and u bolts and lower saddles on both sides and did wear pads also. Truck sits level now. I'll see tomorrow when I load it if it stays level. Before I was having an issue with it sagging toward the left when loaded heavy. It will be a nice surprise it this fixes that issue too. We'll retorque them tomorrow night. Got to do a full brake job on that axle and wheel bearings thanks to gear oil having water contamination. Was 3 years since last change. Front diff was fine. Changed it with fresh synthetic. More dollars. No real idea where all the moisture came from.
     
  10. freightlinerman

    freightlinerman Road Train Member

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    Are you using new u-bolts?
     
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