Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

1991 379 w/front air ride

Discussion in 'Peterbilt Forum' started by mtmval, Jan 8, 2011.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Jan 8, 2011 #1
    mtmval

    mtmval Bobtail Member

    5
    0
    Jan 8, 2011
    0
    New to this forum and this is my first post. Just bought my first truck for hauling grain and cattle; mostly less than 100 miles at a time. Didn't realize front air ride was such an oddball. Guys at the alignment shop working there for twenty years said they had never seen it. Anybody familiar with this suspension and what might be causing the truck to occasionally wobble. King pins show very little wear and tie rod ends are tight.

    Also, the truck has some vibration issues. Not jar your teeth out, but makes every loose piece of interior trim buzz. I replaced the midshaft bearing and the u-joints are tight...still vibrating. Truck has Cummins 460E and 15spd. Odometer shows 775,000 but the speedometer is not working (need help there too).

    Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.
     
    mtmval, Jan 8, 2011
    mtmval, Jan 8, 2011
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jan 8, 2011 #2
    Flying Finn

    Flying Finn Heavy Load Member

    972
    556
    Jun 22, 2010
    Ontario, Canada
    0
    Front air ride is getting more and more popular. Go to a better shop, if they do not know how to work on it they will not do the job right.

    Some 'wobble' is normal for a front air ride suspension. As is the feeling of 'hunting' on the road. Big thing is whether or not the steering wheel has more free play than allowed and if the steering components have any free play. Very little is allowed.
     
    Flying Finn, Jan 8, 2011
    Flying Finn, Jan 8, 2011
    #2
  4. Jan 8, 2011 #3
    Bent Wrench

    Bent Wrench Medium Load Member

    588
    205
    Aug 11, 2009
    Cornholio, OR
    0
    I disagree with this as an air ride front is a leaf spring setup with an air assist. Thus will behave the same as a leaf sprung setup. Air advantage being more supple and a consistent ride height under different loads.
     
    Bent Wrench, Jan 8, 2011
    Bent Wrench, Jan 8, 2011
    #3
  5. Jan 8, 2011 #4
    Flying Finn

    Flying Finn Heavy Load Member

    972
    556
    Jun 22, 2010
    Ontario, Canada
    0
    Every Volvo I have driven reacts as I stated. The spring is only connected at one end, the air bag by nature allows some wobble.
     
    Flying Finn, Jan 8, 2011
    Flying Finn, Jan 8, 2011
    #4
  7. Jan 9, 2011 #5
    Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

    2,493
    1,066
    Jul 25, 2010
    Wisconsin
    0
    The Peterbilts didn't use the junk Hendrickson front air ride system... there is no reason any air ride system should have 'wobble'... as far as 'hunting' that usually means not enough caster angle...
     
    Krooser, Jan 9, 2011
    Krooser, Jan 9, 2011
    #5
  8. Jan 23, 2011 #6
    HISPEED428

    HISPEED428 Light Load Member

    157
    21
    Mar 28, 2009
    Plum Coulee,MB
    0
    Junk the OEM Pete airride front suspension and install taper-leaf's. Trust me you'll be glad you did...
     
    HISPEED428, Jan 23, 2011
    HISPEED428, Jan 23, 2011
    #6
  9. Feb 4, 2011 #7
    Rig Wrench

    Rig Wrench Medium Load Member

    398
    66
    Dec 24, 2010
    northeast
    0
    What speed is the vibration? how are the tires wearing? bad tire on the steer axle could cause vibration and wabble in the steering. sounds like your drive shaft could be a bit out of balance. is the slip shaft balanced as well as the mainshaft or is just the mainshaft balanced? could also be a worn slip shaft. check all input/output bearings in the drivetrain.
     
    Rig Wrench, Feb 4, 2011
    Rig Wrench, Feb 4, 2011
    #7
  10. Feb 4, 2011 #8
    MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

    5,799
    6,440
    Jan 13, 2007
    Woodville, TX
    0
    the reason nobody has seen them on the petes is because it was such a cluster #### of a system everyone removed it. Don't compare it to the new systems out these days. it was a stupid double shackle type thing with an air bag. there was way too many pivot points and you had to reshim them CONSTANTLY, just a little wear in it and the truck would be swapping lanes on you all the time. Best thing I ever did to my 91 was take it off and go to regular springs
     
    MedicineMan, Feb 4, 2011
    MedicineMan, Feb 4, 2011
    #8
    25(2)+2 Thanks this.
  11. Feb 7, 2011 #9
    mtmval

    mtmval Bobtail Member

    5
    0
    Jan 8, 2011
    0
    Thanks for all the help. It was indeed a front tire causing the wobble and some of the vibration. Also put in 4 degree wedges under the front axle and now it drives great. The main vibration was coming from the front interaxle yoke being loose. Now it drives great.
     
    mtmval, Feb 7, 2011
    mtmval, Feb 7, 2011
    #9
  12. Dec 20, 2011 #10
    Infrared61ranger

    Infrared61ranger Light Load Member

    149
    36
    Dec 15, 2011
    killeen,tx
    0
    its nothing wrong with is its just a new feeling for you and its very touchy if your not use to it you will continue to turn the wheel left and right to compensate its just weird and dont hit a bump in a curve its just a funny feeling
     
    Infrared61ranger, Dec 20, 2011
    Infrared61ranger, Dec 20, 2011
    #10
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 2