Each year, International Roadcheck placesspecial emphasis on a category of violations.The emphasis for 2019 is steering andsuspension systems.
Although checking the vehicle’s steering andsuspension is routinely part of roadsideinspections, the Commercial Vehicle SafetyAlliance is highlighting the importance ofproperly maintaining steering and suspensionsystems, as well as some common steering orsuspension issues found during a roadsideinspection.
Steering and suspension are safety criticalsystems for any commercial motor vehicle. Notonly do they support the heavy loads carried bytrucks and buses, but they also help maintainstability and control under acceleration andbraking, keeping the vehicle safely on the road.Furthermore, they keep tires in alignment,reducing chances of uneven tire wear andpossible tire failure, and they maximize thecontact between the tires and the road toprovide steering stability and good handling.
Your vehicle’s suspension system must beroutinely checked and maintained and in goodoperating condition. Worn suspensioncomponents may reduce the stability of thevehicle and reduce driver control, as well asaccelerate wear on other suspension systemcomponents.
Identifying Issues with Steeringand Suspension• If you begin to feel more bumps and shakes asyou drive, there may be an issue with yoursuspension.
• Take note if your vehicle pulls to the side ormakes knocking or squealing sounds duringturns.
• Pay attention to swaying and bouncing at lowspeeds. Your vehicle should have no difficultywithstanding bumps in the road at low speeds.If you go over a bump and feel your vehiclesway back and forth or bounce after passingthe bump, the suspension may be struggling tosupport the weight of the vehicle.
• Your suspension should support the weight ofyour vehicle and keep it fairly level during mostsituations. With the vehicle parked, walkaround it and visually assess how level itseems to be sitting. If one side of the vehiclerests higher than the other, worn out or brokensuspension components may be to blame.
The steering and suspension systems play a hugerole in how well a vehicle operates and how safe itis to drive. They require regular maintenance andcare. If you suspect an issue (your steering wheelpulls, your truck drifts or you have troublecontrolling speed or direction), get your vehiclechecked out as soon as possible, before itbecomes a dangerous (and expensive) problem.
What Inspectors Look ForInspectors will check the followingitems during the inspection of thesteering mechanism: Steering wheel lash (free play) Steering column and shaft Front axle beam (including hub) Steering gear box (rack and pinion,
if applicable) Pitman arm and output shaftUpper and lower steering arms Power steering reservoir Ball and socket joints Tie rods and drag links Steering nuts
Inspectors will check the followingsuspension components during aninspection: Axle parts/members Spring hangers Leaf spring assembly Coil/rubber spring and air
suspension Composite springs Torsion bar suspension Suspension connecting rods and
bushingsOther tracking components Sway bar components Adjustable axle(s) (locking pins,
body rails, slider guides)
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 2019 International Roadcheckwill take place June 4-6. Over that 72-hour period, commercial motorvehicle inspectors in jurisdictions throughout North America will conductinspections on commercial motor vehicles and drivers.For more information, visit www.roadcheck.org.
FOCUS FOR 2019 INTERNATIONAL ROADCHECK:
Steering and Suspension Systems
