Drive axle alignment

[Jeff D.]

Recently I purchased an International S1954 dump truck,with a Hendrickson suspension.I noticed when I'm turning tight corners the drive axles come out of alignment by around an inch,maybe more.Once the truck is straightened out,and I move forward they return to the correct alignment.

I've never had this style suspension before,all my other trucks have been air ride.Those haven't moved side to side at all.

Is this common with this type suspension,or am I going to need to do more investigating?I can't see any obviously worn,or broken parts in the suspension,and the truck goes down the road straight,with no wandering.

Thanks.

[Ford LT-9000]

Yes that is normal don't get scared when you need work done is when the tires start contacting the frame rails otherwise the axles are allowed to walk.

The trunnion bushings are probably getting a little worn not a easy job changing the trunnion bushings. Also your upper links are probably worn too but its not uncommon for dump trucks.

I would rather have Hendrickson Walking beam suspension over anything else anyday of the week. Its tough and fairly simple to repair and maintain.

[Jeff D.]

OK,thanks!!Another thing it has on it,that I'm not familiar with,is a cannister mounted on the frame,rear of the drivers step,that has engine oil running to it.The guy told me it was an oil filter system,in addition to the standard filters on the engine.

I've a centrifical filter on my Mack,that spins in a housing,but this one doesn't make any spinning sounds.It also is fairly large.I've no other info on it.

Are you familiar with these,and what type of maintenance,or how often, is required?The engine is a DT466,but I don't know if this "filter" is standard equipment.

[Ford LT-9000]

It sounds like a cartridge filter or a old style Frantz filter I personally would eliminate it or change it to a remote filter which uses a normal spin on filter.

If the engine already has one filter on the engine eliminate the other one completely. Some trucks have remote oil filters like the one International I worked on with 6v92 power the filter was on the passenger side behind the fuel tank.

I bet if you took the filter housing apart and open it up you may find some rolls of toilet paper soaked in oil :bouncegri

Like I meantioned you can get a remote filter block to replace that canister filter and use a Fleet Guard spin on.

[Jeff D.]

The standard oil filter is still on the engine,so this assembly must be in addition to that.I haven't disasssembled it yet,but I was thinking of taking it off already,if it wasn't necessary.I like the idea of the added oil capacity,but this thing looks like it's begging to get a line ripped off by something on the road bouncing up and hitting it.

Thanks for the help LT.

[Ford LT-9000]

I doubt you would rip it off from road debris but you do have to watch if you blow a oil line and you don't know it and the engine goes to a grinding hault.

As for extra oil capacity its usually not a big problem with the 466 its not like you got a 600hp engine heating the oil up and working it hard.

[Jeff D.]

Yup,that's what I meant,the oil lines gettting knock off.They enter the housing at the center of the bottom,with 90 degree elbows,and they are hanging lower than most the stuff around it.

She definately isn't 600hp.Quite a bit better pulling than my 3208,but it still won't be winning any races.It feels about like a 5.9 Cummins,maybe a little stronger,it's kinda hard to gauge until I get the first load on it.

[Jeff D.]

I guess it's time to rebuild the suspension.I put some new sneakers on it,and I noticed that the right rear inside tire had some scrub marks on the inside from the rear spring hanger/slider.

The repair shop quoted me $1500 for the rebuild,so bye-bye mo' money!!:crying

It's always something with these old trucks!!:yup

[Orchard Ex]

The repair shop quoted me $1500 for the rebuild,so bye-bye mo' money!!:crying

Time to Ebay that old brake controller!:thumbsup
Did I say old? I meant Classic / NIB/ mint condition/ hard to find brake controller... yeah, that's the ticket...

[Dozerboy]

OK,thanks!!Another thing it has on it,that I'm not familiar with,is a cannister mounted on the frame,rear of the drivers step,that has engine oil running to it.The guy told me it was an oil filter system,in addition to the standard filters on the engine.


I would bet it is a bypass oil filter and if it is a good one can will double the life of your motor. Aswell as increase you oil change intervals, there are system on OTR truck that don't have to chage the oil for up to 100K miles +.

This (http://fs2500.com/) is the system I think I might will be putting on my diesel pickup.

Here (http://www.oilguard.com/Chevy.php) is another

[Jeff D.]

I would bet it is a bypass oil filter and if it is a good one...

:thumbsup That's what it was.It ran from the oil cooler/heat exchanger,into the cannister,and back to the engine where it dumped into the pan.

As for being a "good one"????It was about 1ft in diameter,2ft tall,very heavy,with oil dripping out of it all over.It was an odd looking assembly,that needed too be disassembled to get to the filter element.Not an easily replaceable filter element.I don't even know where I would've gotton an element for it.I'm guessing it was an early attempt at bypass filter design.

I do agree that the bypass filters can extend an engines life,if they're serviced correctly.One's like you posted links too I'd consider using.My Mack has one,and they recommend a 40k mile oil change interval,when using it,even with a petro based oil.A synthetic could push this out even farther.I still change at 15k though,anyway.

[Jeff D.]

Time to Ebay that old brake controller!:thumbsup
Did I say old? I meant Classic / NIB/ mint condition/ hard to find brake controller... yeah, that's the ticket...

:yup Maybe,just maybe,them old brake controllers are like guitars,and Harley's??The older they are,the more they're worth.

I could even put a fake autograph on it,like "Willie G" or "Jimmie Hendrix",put a $1500 reserve on it,and pay for the suspension rebuild in one shot,Woo-Hoo!!

I might just be sitting on a gold mine,with all my junk,er stuff......Thanks Orchard:thumbsup

[Ford LT-9000]

With the International 1900 being a light duty tandem it prolly has smaller trunnions so they will wear out faster. I imagine the truck has 38,000lb rears or lighter.

After you get the trunnions rebuilt you will probably notice the truck won't turn as sharp when the rear axles walk sideways its like having rear wheel steering :laugh

[Jeff D.]

You like them suspensions huh,LT??

I'm not sold on them yet,but maybe I'll come around.It really rides rough,especially since I aired up the drives to 95psi.I may drop them back down to 70psi,like the old ones were,although I don't care to run them that low.

When I cross R/R tracks I hang on for my life now.It ain't like my air ride at all.I'm gonna have to learn to put some air in the chair.I usually ride with em' on the floor,so I can look like a Peterbuilt driver,with the top of my head level with the window:bouncegri (but really it's so I can reach the pedals)

[Ford LT-9000]

Its all our gravel trucks have here is walking beam suspension be it rubber block or spring. Air ride isn't used for dumps it is too dangerous for the terrian we run on its so easy to flip a truck because we get on off camber roads that really tilt the truck.

The axles that are used are 44,000 or 46,000lb running 11R22.5 rubber or 24.5 rubber aired up to max pressure.

A good air ride seat is a must :bouncegri

The worst riding suspension of the bunch is "Break your back Camel Back" Mack suspension you think walking beam is rough :eek:

I imagine the International you have is a shorter wheelbase dump which makes it harder on the walking beams and suspension when you get that much weight over the tandems.

With our dumps we usually have a 222-238" wheelbase truck with a 16'6" box so the load is spread out more.

Oh I forgot to meantion one thing if the bushings are worn enough so you have metal to metal contact on the trunnions you may have to change the walking beams.

Good Luck

[Jeff D.]

She's in the shop now,so time will tell if I'll need new beams,but I don't think I will.

I'd really liked to put 22.5 rubber on it,and roll the 20"er's into the dump,but 10 new rims AND tires would've been more ching than I wanted to spend.

So,I'll roll around on 20" new recaps for awhile.Besides them drop center rims are a pain to get off when they're Daytons.You've got to have the rim just so,to get it off the drum.The split rims,with their smooth center come off easy.The only excitement I get anymore,is the adrenaline rush I get when I'm airing up them split rims,and wondering if I'll live through it.:bouncegri

(Actually they're the type with the ring on the end,not the dangerous center splitting split rim,but still I worry about it anyway. ):rolleyes:

[Ford LT-9000]

Dad told me that a tire shop he used to take his tires too years ago when spit rims were the only thing around. One of the tire guys got killed from a lock ring coming off and taking the guys neck out pretty much decapitating him.

I won't touch old 20" splits if I do have to air one up I will put the tire in a cage and use a clip on air chuck.

[Steve Frazier]

I know a guy who was almost killed by a split rim. He was the tire tech for the company that was hired for tire service by the construction firm I worked for. In watching him change tires, I knew his luck would run out one day. The ring took off 3 of his fingers and shattered his jaw, driving his jawbone up into one ear drum. He ended up deaf in that ear and it took nearly a year for him to recover.

Any time I changed a tire, I'd chain up the rim with a 3/8 load chain in several places and tap the ring into place as the tire filled.

[Jeff D.]

Steve,and LT,

Are you guys talking about the rims with the locking ring on the end??

If so,I did not know that they were dangerous too.I thought it was the center splitting rims that blew apart.

Maybe I need to be more careful from now on.Thanks!

[Ford LT-9000]

The split rims that all I know of are the ones with the inner rim ring and the outer ring. Its the outside ring that comes off like a bullet because its under tension.

I have done Forklift wheels that bolt together its I never had any problems with them.

Even airing up tubeless tires like 22.5 can be dangerous especially when seating the bead.

[Jeff D.]

I remember a split rim that split closer to the center,the one half was turned inside the other half,which locked them together.I know these were outlawed due to failures,and injuries.

But,I imagine any split rim should have precautions taken when airing up the tire.

I've even heard of a "zipper failure" in the sidewalls of the tubeless tires run underinflated,which can/has cause injuries.They'll make a zipper sound (the steel cords breaking)just before the BOOM,while they're being re-inflated.

[Jeff D.]

With the International 1900 being a light duty tandem it prolly has smaller trunnions so they will wear out faster. I imagine the truck has 38,000lb rears or lighter.


I stopped into the shop doing the work on it yesterday(its been there over two weeks now:eek: )to see "why the &%$#@ my truck wasn't done yet!!"

The $1500 rebuild is now exceeding $3000,and it's still not finished.They've decided to replace everything but the beams.Apparently they were fine.But everything else was excessively worn.Including the spring packs???

But,you were right,38K rear ends.I asked while I was there what they were.

[Ford LT-9000]

Welcome to the world of dump trucks :roll

The Hendrickson spring is the cheapest suspension to rebuild its pretty basic compared to a Chalmers or the ones that use lots of rubber bushings.

What happens is when you have 38,000 rear ends the springs are usually not heavy either. I imagine that old truck has seen some heavy loads.

Well atleast you don't have to replace the beams they are not cheap to replace.

I wouldn't be surprised if the 38s haven't had a few axle shafts over the years or the drop outs have been changed. Back in the days when old gas pot tandems were used we have one with a knuckle boom crane mounted on it for yard use that truck has 34,000lb rears. The axle shafts on it are no bigger than the ones on my F-450.

[Jeff D.]

Well I just picked it up from the shop,and it all came too $3532(including some other repairs)

LT,I measure the box,just for curiousities sake,it was 14',and the truck has a 218" wheelbase.

It sure did ride alot better though.I was suprised I was able too notice a difference.They commented everything else looked pretty good,after they did an annual inspection.

So,I may throw a paintjob on her,and we'll be off like a prom dress.:thumbsup

[Ford LT-9000]

Thats a pretty short box our trucks here have 16'6' boxes the L-9000 Fords have a 222' wheelbase the Kenworths and Western Stars have a 230 wheelbase.

It sounds good the truck should be pretty much good for the rest of its life just have to avoid making tight turns with a loaded truck.