PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE REAR AXLE AND SUSPENSION
Regional Haul
(R05/10) Y53-6033 – 245 –
Rear Axle and Suspension
General Maintenance
WARNING! Do not work on the vehicle without
the parking brake set and wheels chocked
securely. If the vehicle is not secured to pre-
vent uncontrolled vehicle movement, it could
roll and cause death, personal injury or dam-
age to the vehicle.
• Use wood blocks (4 in. X 4 in. or larger)
against the front and rear surfaces of the
tires. Be sure the vehicle cannot move.
Your vehicle's suspension, by design, requires a minimal
amount of maintenance. However, suspensions in “over-
the-road” operations require periodic inspection to ensure
trouble-free performance.
WARNING! Do not operate the vehicle if the
U–bolts are not properly tightened. Loose U–
bolts do not properly secure the axle to the
suspension. This could cause loss of vehicle
control and an accident resulting in death or
injury. Loose U–bolts can also cause uneven
tire wear and poor alignment.
WARNING! Failure to maintain the specified
torque values or to replace worn parts can
cause component system failure, possibly
resulting in an accident causing death or
injury. Improperly tightened (loose) suspen-
sion U–bolts can lead to unsafe vehicle condi-
tions, including: hard steering, axle
misalignment, spring breakage or abnormal
tire wear. See the Fastener Torque Tables for
proper torque specifications.
CAUTION: Do not spray the suspension with
chemical products or mineral oil; it can cause
damage to the bushings.
NOTE: Failure to follow these recommendations
could void warranty. See the “Maintenance Man-
ual” for further information on servicing the rear
suspension.
Visual Inspection
For all vehicles, mandatory maintenance procedures
include retightening of U–bolts and complete inspection.
However, even with proper maintenance, many factors
affect the service life of springs and suspension compo-
nents, such as: fatigue, vehicle gross weight, type of load,
road conditions and vehicle speed.
