Climate Control System
Have the air conditioning system checked each spring. The refrigerant
charge, cleanliness of the condenser-evaporator cores and belt condition
are essential to system performance.
When the air conditioning system is being used daily, remove the fresh
air filter (if equipped) once each season and check for dirt, lint, etc.
Replace the filter if necessary. Vehicles operating in unusually dusty
conditions may require more frequent filter inspection and replacement.
Front Axle
Maintaining the front axle alignment to specifications is very important
and should only be performed by a qualified technician. Regular
inspections should include:
•toe-in inspection and adjustment (if necessary), particularly with
radial tires.
•checking for proper tightness of axle mounting U-bolt nuts, attaching
or mounting bolts and nuts.
•checking the axle for damage, binding, worn parts and adequate
lubrication..
•checking the kingpins for excessive wear. This should also be done
during other scheduled maintenance (tire rotation or service, wheel
bearing service, alignment, etc.). See the workshop manual for proper
procedures.
Toe-in
It is essential that correct toe-in and tire pressure be maintained for
optimum tire wear.
Inspecting steer axle tires in the first 3000–10000 service miles
(5000–16000 service kilometers) generally shows if tires are wearing
normally.
Rapid outside shoulder wear on both tires indicates too much toe-in.
Rapid inside shoulder wear on both tires indicates too much toe-out.
In P&D-type service, left-to-right steer tire tread life differentials up to
40% can be observed depending on routes and other variables.
Follow the tire manufacturer’s recommended cold inflation pressure for
the tire size, load range (ply rating) and steer axle loading typical for
their operation (each steer axle tire equals
1 2steer axle loading).
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Removing Your Vehicle from Storage
When your vehicle is ready to come out of storage, do the following:
•Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt or grease film build-up on
window surfaces.
•Check windshield wipers for any deterioration.
•Check under the hood for any foreign material that may have
collected during storage (mice or squirrel nests).
•Check the exhaust for any foreign material that may have collected
during storage.
•Check tire pressures and set tire inflation per the Tire Label.
•Check brake pedal operation. Drive the vehicle 15 feet (4.5 meters)
back and forth to remove rust build-up.
•Check fluid levels (including engine coolant, engine oil and fuel) to
make sure there are no leaks and fluids are at recommended levels.
•If the battery was removed, clean the battery cable ends and inspect.
Contact your authorized dealer if you have any concerns or issues.
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TIRES
Tire Inflation Information
WARNING:Always maintain your tires in good condition.
Frequently check and maintain correct inflation pressures as
specified by tire manufacturers. Inspect periodically for abnormal wear
patterns and repair/replace cut or broken tire casings. Always use
experienced, trained personnel with proper equipment and correct
procedures to mount or remove tires and wheels. Failure to adhere to
these warnings could result in wheel or tire malfunction, damage to
your vehicle, personal injury, or death.
WARNING:To avoid personal injury or death, always follow
these instructions when mounting radial tires on wheels:
•Only personnel that have had proper training and experience should
mount or remove tires from rims or wheels.
•Use only heavy-duty rims or approved rims for radial tires. It may be
necessary to contact your wheel and rim distributor to determine if
your rims are approved for radial tires.
•If a tube is to be used, make sure special radial tire tubes are used
because of the increased flexing of the sidewalls on radial tires.
•Never use anti-freeze, silicones, or petroleum-based lubricants when
mounting radial tires. Only an approved lubricant should be used as
an aid for mounting tires.
•Always inflate tires in a safety cage.
•Do not attempt to mix stud piloted wheels or fasteners with hub
piloted wheels or fasteners. To do so may cause premature wheel
failure resulting in property damage, personal injury, or death.
•Do not mix foreign (not made in North America) wheel mounting
parts with domestic (made in North America) parts. Many foreign
wheel components look similar to, but not exactly the same as
domestic made components. Mixing components could cause wheel
or fastener failures and result in property damage, personal injury, or
death.
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WARNING(Continued)
•Do not change from aluminum wheels to steel wheels or vice-versa
without changing the mounting hardware where required or, in some
cases with flange nut mounting systems, changing the hub and stud
assembly. Mixing components could cause wheel or fastener failures
and result in property damage, personal injury, or death.
WARNING:An inflated tire and rim can be very dangerous if
improperly used, serviced or maintained. To avoid serious injury,
never attempt to re-inflate a tire which has been run flat or seriously
under-inflated without first removing the tire from the wheel assembly
for inspection. Do not attempt to add air to tires or replace tires or
wheels without first taking precautions to protect persons and property.
All tires with Steel Carcass Plies (if equipped):This type of tire
utilizes steel cords in the sidewalls. As such, they cannot be treated like
normal light truck tires. Tire service, including adjusting the air pressure,
must be performed by personnel trained, supervised and equipped
according to Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) regulations. For example, during any procedure involving tire
inflation, the technician or individual must utilize a remote inflation
device, and make sure that all persons are clear of the trajectory area.
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Stay out of the trajectory (1) as indicated in the illustration.
WARNING:Do not mount tube type tires on tubeless wheels or
tubeless tires on tube type wheels. To do so could result in tire
or wheel failure and cause property damage, personal injury or death.
Preserving proper inflation pressure is a very important maintenance
practice to make sure safe vehicle operation and long life for the tires.
Failure to maintain correct inflation pressure may result in sudden tire
destruction, improper vehicle handling, and may cause rapid and
irregular tire wear. Therefore, inflation pressures should be checked daily
and always before long distance trips.
Follow the tire manufacturer’s recommended cold inflation pressure for
the tire size, type, load range (ply rating) and axle loading typical for
your operation. (Each steer axle tire load equals
1 2steer axle loading;
each drive tire load is1 4the axle loading if fitted with four tires).
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Checking Tire Pressure
Always check inflation pressure when tires are cold. Never bleed air from
hot tires to relieve normal pressure build-up. Normal increase in pressure
due to service conditions is 10–15 psi (69–103 kPa), which is allowable
in truck tires.
Tires should be properly inflated to manufacturers’ recommended
pressure for the size and service load in which the vehicle is being used.
See the specific tire manufacturer with which your vehicle is equipped
with for the latest information concerning service load and inflation
pressure.
It is particularly important to keep moisture from the inside of tires, and
proper selection of air compressor equipment, proper air line routing,
and the use of shop air dryers is strongly recommended to avoid
moisture in the high pressure air used for tire inflation.
Under-inflation
Tires should not be permitted to become under-inflated. Increased
flexing due to under-inflation causes heat build-up within the tire
components. This leads to reduced strength, breakdown of the rubber
compounds, and possible separation of the tire components (i.e., ply and
tread separation and reduced retreadability).
Under-inflation is the primary cause of premature tire concerns including
sudden loss of air. In addition, low inflation causes an increase in rolling
resistance. This results in reduced fuel mileage, a loss in tread mileage,
and uneven wear due to increased tread movement. To determine proper
inflation, see the tire manufacturer load and inflation guide which can be
found on the tire manufacturer website or at your local truck tire dealer.
Tire Inspection
Check the tires for abnormal wear patterns and proper inflation
pressures. Cut or broken tire casings must be repaired or replaced.
Tires should also be inspected for the following conditions. If any are
present, the tire should be removed and repaired, retreaded or scrapped
as the condition indicates.
•Any blister, bump or raised portion anywhere on the surface of the
tire tread or sidewall (other than a bump made by a repair). These
indicate the start of internal separation.
•Any cut that reaches to the belt or ply cords, or any cut that is large
enough to grow in size and depth.
•Any nail or puncturing object.
•If any stone or object is held by a tread groove and is starting to drill
into the tread base, remove the object.
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If rib tire is used on front axle and lug or off-road type on rear axle
positions:
•Front (Steering) Axle:Replace tires at front wheels when tread is
worn to 4/32 inch (3 millimeters) or less.
•Rear Axles:Tires must be removed when the tread is worn to
2/32 inch (2 millimeters) or less. Tires identified with the word
re-groovable molded on the sidewall can be re-grooved. A minimum
of 3/32 inch (2.5 millimeters) of under-tread must be left at the
bottom of the grooves.
Wheel and Tire Balancing
Out-of-round or out-of-balance wheels or tires can cause vehicle
vibration, bounce and shimmy. Replace damaged or out-of-round wheels.
Out-of-round tires and wheel assemblies can be corrected by re-clocking
the tire relative to the wheel.
The tire and wheel assembly should then be dynamically balanced.
Tire Wear
Radial tires can exhibit three types of normal wear patterns:
•Even
•Erosion
•Chamfer
Even wear:A sign that the tire is being properly used and maintained.
Erosion wear:Also called rolling wear, channel or river wear. Erosion
wear is found more often on free-rolling tires. This is an indication that
the tire is being used in a slow wearing operation. What happens is that
the belt plies are held very rigid and the tread is not allowed to distort
as it passes through the contact area. Wear only occurs at the edge of
the tread. No corrective action required. If erosion gets to be 1/16 inch
(2 millimeters) or more, the tire may be rotated to a drive axle.
Chamfer or shoulder wear:With tires inflated properly, this is a
normal tendency of most radial tire designs. If both inside and outside
shoulders are wearing evenly around the tire, no further action is
required. Over-inflation is not effective in correcting this effect.
Irregular Wear:If irregular wear is present, check the axle alignment,
tire pressure, wheel balancing, shock and suspension component
condition, and wheel bearing end play.
This condition not only shortens tire life, but adversely affects the
handling of your vehicle, which is dangerous.
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Rotating tires from one wheel position to another is a way often used to
even out many types of irregular wear or to avoid it altogether. Some of
the more effective tire rotation programs are:
•Steer tires that have developed some type of irregular wear pattern
can be rotated to drive axles if rib tires are being used on all wheel
positions. Applying steer tires to a drive position often cleans them
and they can be moved back to the steer axles or run out to re-tread
stage on the rear axle.
•Another rotation possibility for fleets with rib tires in all wheel
positions is to break in the new steer tires in the drive axle positions,
then move them to steer axles. This wears away tread rubber
relatively quickly in the early life of a tire when it is most likely to
develop an unusual wear pattern.
•Drive axle tires may be placed on the other end of the same axle so
that direction of rotation is reversed. This is often helpful if a heel
and toe or alternate lug wear pattern has developed.
Irregular wear can be minimized by:
•Using the right inflation pressure for the load being carried.
•Maintaining proper front wheel alignment, especially toe-in, to
specifications.
•Maintaining proper tire and wheel balance.
•Maintaining shock absorbers and suspension components.
Use of Tire Chains
See the chain manufacturer’s recommendation for correct tire chain
usage, installation and removal.
WHEELS
General Information
Note:Remember to replace the wheel air valves when the road tires are
replaced at the end of their useful lives.
Wheel bearings should be inspected, lubricated and adjusted at regular
intervals. This is especially important if operating in deep sand, mud or
water. See theCapacities and Specificationschapter.
Mount wheel balance weights on the dome-side of the wheel only. Failure
to do so may result in loss of wheel weight or damage to brakes or
wheels.
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