Truck drivers are often the first to experience a difference in the performance of a vehicle. In some cases, those warning signs could signify a possible costly driveline failure.
Notify drivers of the following warning signs, provided by Meritor's Product Technical Specialist Eric Iott, and perhaps also prepare an easy way for drivers to report these symptoms to the proper authority so these issues do not go unreported.
Meritor, Inc. (www.meritor.com) is a global supplier of axle, brake and suspension solutions to OE manufacturers and the aftermarket.
Consider the following warning signs drivers should be aware of on the road:
Driver Feels a Vibration in the Seat
"When drivers start to feel a vibration in their seats, it could be associated with the driveline," Iott explains. "Drivelines rotate at a different frequency than a tire and that vibration will have a different sound and feel than tire hop. Drivers can be secondary advisers of a pending driveline failure, but the pending failure is more advanced by the time drivers feel it in the cab. Drivers should seek immediate help and have a qualified technician look into the vibration."
This vibration may also increase with driveline speed, PACCAR Parts' Product Director Pepe Ramos adds.
PACCAR Parts (www.paccarparts.com), a division of PACCAR, Inc., is a global distributor of aftermarket parts for heavy and medium duty trucks, trailers, buses and engines.
Suspension Ride Height Issue
"A lower-frequency 'growling' noise coming from the transmission could be the sign of a suspension ride height issue," Iott says. "Driveline cancellation angles are affected when the air ride height on the tractor’s air ride suspension is not maintained at correct height. Drivers may be the cause of this vibration problem if re-inflating the tractor’s air suspension after detaching from a trailer was overlooked. The driveline U-joints and slip yokes splines will be damaged if the condition continues for a long period of time."
