2018 FORD F-650/750 suspension

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the
certification label. Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the
limit of the vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transmission damage, structural
damage, loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and personal
injury. Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See Fuses
(page 165).
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an extra
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation. Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires.
• Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
manual. See
Load Limit (page
140).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online. RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Website
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VEHICLE INSPECTION
INFORMATION
To make sure your vehicle is ready to
operate, conduct a pre-trip inspection at
the beginning of each work period. Follow
the steps listed in this section to verify a
proper vehicle inspection procedure.
WARNINGS
Exercise great caution when working
on a vehicle equipped with an
automatic fan clutch. The fan starts
in motion only after the engine coolant
reaches a predetermined temperature or
the refrigerant pressure (if equipped with
air conditioning) reaches a predetermined
setting. The fan starts at this point with no
advance warning. Never reach near, or
permit objects to protrude into, the fan
blade radius while the engine is running as
this could result in vehicle damage,
personal injury or death. WARNINGS
Do not operate the vehicle if any
suspension conditions listed in the
following charts are evident. Loss of
steering or suspension could result in
property damage, personal injury or death. If a wheel must be changed, obtain
expert tire service help. Mounting and
un-mounting of tires should only be
performed by a qualified technician using
necessary safety procedures and
equipment, otherwise the result could be
property damage, personal injury or death. Note:
Always make sure you apply the
parking brake before starting the engine. Engine compartment (with engine off)
Use the dipstick to verify the oil level is in the proper operating
range. See Engine Oil Dipstick (page 190).
Engine oil
Look through the plastic reservoir and verify the coolant level
is within the proper operating range. Do not remove the
pressure cap until the coolant has cooled. See
Engine
Coolant Check (page 198).
Engine coolant
Verify that the fluid level is in the proper operating range. See
Power Steering Fluid Check
(page 205).
Power steering fluid
Remove the master cylinder caps and inspect the fluid level.
See
Brake Fluid Check (page 205).
Brake fluid
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Front of vehicle
Verify running lights are clean and unbroken.
Inspect for any missing or loose fasteners, power steering
fluid leaks and damage to power steering hoses.
Steering gear
Verify connecting links, arms and rods are not worn or cracked.
Steering linkage
Verify joints, sockets and boot seals are not worn or loose.
Verify cotter keys, nuts and bolts are not loose or missing.
Inspect front and rear tow hooks for damage or loose
mounting. This is particularly important on vehicles that use
them frequently.
Tow hooks Front suspension
Inspect for missing, broken or shifted leaves, or leaves that
may be in contact with (or nearly contacting) a tire, rim, brake
drum, frame or body component.
Springs
Note: Never apply grease to spring pads.
Make sure there the following items are properly tightened
and that there are no cracks, breaks, wear, damage to spring
hangers, bolts, bushings, axle mounting bolts, and nuts.
Spring mounts
Inspect for any cracks, leaks, or missing or broken bolts or
bushings.
Shock absorbers
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Tractor-coupling system
Inspect for loose or missing mounting brackets, clamps, bolts
or nuts. Verify solid attachment of both fifth wheel and the
slide mounting.
Mounting bolts
Inspect for cracks or breaks in the platform structure.
Platform
Verify engagement of the safety latch.
Safety latch
Verify the safety latch is in the engaged position, and that
any safety latch is in place.
Release arm
Verify the kingpin is not bent or worn, the apron lies flat on
the fifth-wheel skid plate and that the visible part of the apron
is not bent, worn, cracked or broken.
Kingpin and apron Rear suspension
Inspect for missing, broken or shifted leaves, or leaves that
may be in contact with (or nearly contacting) a tire, rim, brake
drum, frame or body component.
Springs (if equipped)
Inspect for any cracked or broken spring hangers; broken
missing or loose bolts; missing or damaged bushings; broken,
loose or missing axle mounting parts.
Spring mounts (if
equipped)
Verify torsion arm is not cracked, broken or missing.
Torsion arm and shock
absorbers
Inspect the shock absorber for cracks or leaks. There should
be no missing or broken mounting bolts or worn bushings.
Inspect for missing, broken or leaking components.
Air suspension (if
equipped) Inspect for any cracked, broken or loose bolts; missing or
damaged bushings; broken, loose or missing axle mounting
parts.
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Rear brakes
Inspect for cracked, worn or frayed hoses, and that all coup-
lings are secure.
Hoses
Verify that there are no cracks or dents, and that the cham-
bers are securely mounted.
Brake chambers
Inspect for broken, loose or missing parts.
Slack adjusters
Note: The angle between the push rod and adjuster arm
should be approximately 90 degrees when the brakes are
applied. When pulled by hand, the push rod should not move
more than approximately
1 in (2.5 cm).
Verify that there are no cracks, dents, holes, and no loose or
missing bolts and that the brake linings are not worn,
dangerously thin or contaminated by lubricant.
Drums Rear wheels
Check for even separation of dual wheels, and that the tires
are not touching each other.
Spacers
Inspect for damaged or bent rims. They should not have
welding repairs, and there should be no rust trails, which
indicate it is loose on the wheel.
Rims
Verify all lug nuts are present and not loose (look for rust
trails around the lug nuts). There should be no cracks radiating
from the lug bolt holes or distortion of the bolt holes.
Lug nuts
Trailer
If you are pulling a trailer, perform an
inspection of the trailer similar to that of
the tractor. The inspection should follow
trailer manufacturer recommendations
and should include at a minimum: general
condition, landing gear, doors, sides, lights,
reflectors, suspension, brakes, tires,
wheels, cargo placement, stability and
tie-downs. Transmission WARNING
If the unit starts in gear and/or the
neutral start switch is not functioning
correctly, the vehicle may
inadvertently move which could result in
property damage, personal injury or death. Regularly inspect the transmission's
neutral start switch. The engine should
only start in neutral (N) or park (P) (if
equipped with a park position).
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Quality service parts are available through
an authorized dealer. If dealer parts are not
used, make sure the replacement parts are
of equivalent quality.
Working with the Engine Off
1. Set the parking brake and shift to
neutral (N) or park (P).
2. Switch off the engine.
3. Block the wheels.
Working with the Engine On WARNING
To reduce the risk of vehicle damage
and/or personal burn injuries, do not
start your engine with the air cleaner
removed and do not remove it while the
engine is running. 1. Set the parking brake and shift to
neutral (N) or park (P).
2. Block the wheels
Supporting Your Vehicle for
Service WARNING
Do not use a jack when working
under a vehicle. It may give way,
causing the vehicle to fall and result
in property damage, personal injury or
death. Always use floor stands to support
the vehicle. Prepare your vehicle for service repairs by
doing the following:
1. Park your vehicle on a level, concrete
floor.
2. Set the parking brake and block the wheels to prevent your vehicle from
moving. 3. Select a jack with a rated capacity
sufficient to lift and hold up your
vehicle.
4. Raise your vehicle with the jack applied
to the axle(s). Do not use the bumper
as a lifting point.
5. Support your vehicle with floor stands under the axle(s). When servicing the
axle or the suspension, support your
vehicle with floor stands under the
frame side-members, preferably
between the axles.
OPENING AND CLOSING THE
HOOD WARNINGS
Always set the parking brake fully
before opening the hood. Failure to
follow this warning could result in
serious personal injury or death. Do not stand under the hood when
you raise or lower it. Failure to follow
this warning could result in serious
personal injury or death. If the engine is running while the
hood is open, stay clear of moving
engine components. Failure to follow
this warning could result in serious
personal injury or death. Opening the Hood
Before opening the hood, set the parking
brake fully, shift into park (P) or neutral
(N) and switch the ignition off.
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•
Maintaining proper steering gear and
power steering pump lubricant levels.
• Checking steering column joint bolts
and steering linkage, particularly for
body-to-chassis clearance.
Steering Column Joint Bolts
As a good maintenance practice, check
steering column joint bolt tightness every
60,000 mi (96,000 km) or annually,
whichever occurs first. Do not overtighten
the bolts.
Hydraulic System
Whenever draining and refilling the power
steering's hydraulic system for any reason,
bleed air from the system before returning
the vehicle to service. Failure to bleed the
hydraulic system properly can result in
degradation of power system performance.
Consult an authorized dealer who is aware
of the proper procedures for filling and
bleeding the system.
SUSPENSION SYSTEM
INSPECTION
Note: Do not adjust air suspension height
to any setting other than the specified
setting. Altering the height setting changes
the driveline angle and may result in
unwarrantable component damage, such
as transmission component damage.
Verify drive axle air suspension height and
height control valve performance at engine
oil change intervals.
Periodically check:
• Condition of spring leaves for evidence
of fatigue, bending or breakage.
• Condition of suspension mounting
brackets and bushings.
• Torque rod mounting fasteners for
tightness. •
For proper suspension alignment.
Maintain proper alignment at all times.
• U-bolts. After the chassis has been
operating under load for
1,000 mi
(1,600 km) or six months (whichever
comes first), the U-bolt nuts must be
re-torqued. Re-torque the U-bolt nuts
every
37,000 mi (60,000 km)
thereafter. Clean and lubricate the
U-bolt and nut threads and seats to
make sure a like new condition when
re-torqueing. See
Spring U-Bolt
Check (page 228).
FRAME AND TOW HOOK
INSPECTION
Your vehicle's chassis is manufactured
with frame rails of either HSLA steel or
heat-treated steel. Handle each in a
specific manner to make sure maximum
service life. Consult the service manual or
an authorized dealer before attempting
frame repair or modification.
It is important, particularly on vehicles that
use tow hooks frequently, to inspect the
front and rear tow hooks for damage or a
loose mounting.
REAR AXLE FLUID CHECK
Your rear axle may have an optional
synthetic lubricant that allows the use of
extended service intervals. A tag on the
filler plug identifies the use of the synthetic
lubricant.
Only use a lubricant that meets
manufacturer specifications. Only use a
lubricant that meets manufacturer
specifications. Use of a non-approved rear
axle lubricant may cause internal axle
component damage. See Capacities and
Specifications
(page 269).
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*Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
*Avoid potholes and objects on
the road
*Do not run over curbs or hit the
tire against a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive
there
’s always the possibility that
you may eventually have a flat tire
on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic.
This may further damage the flat
tire, but your safety is more
important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or
ride disturbance while driving, or
you suspect your tire or vehicle
has been damaged, immediately
reduce your speed. Drive with
caution until you can safely pull
off the road. Stop and inspect the
tires for damage. If a tire is
under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and
replace it with your spare tire and
wheel. If you cannot detect a
cause, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest repair facility or tire
dealer to have the vehicle
inspected. Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or
pothole can cause the front end
of your vehicle to become
misaligned or cause damage to
your tires. If your vehicle seems to
pull to one side when you’re
driving, the wheels may be out of
alignment. Have an authorized
dealer check the wheel alignment
periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front
or the rear can cause uneven and
rapid treadwear of your tires and
should be corrected by an
authorized dealer. Front-wheel
drive vehicles and those with an
independent rear suspension may
require alignment of all four
wheels.
The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire
and wheel assembly may result in
irregular tire wear.
Tire Rotation
Note:
If your tires show uneven
wear ask an authorized dealer to
check for and correct any wheel
misalignment, tire imbalance or
mechanical problem involved
before tire rotation.
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