Whether it’s a highway or a dirt track, your truck and trailer’s suspension does a lot for you. Not only does it provide a smooth, comfortable ride but it also absorbs bumps and shocks that would otherwise affect other parts of the truck and trailer. Let Ohio Diesel inspect your truck and trailer’s suspension system today to ensure everything is working as it should.
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The Importance of Suspension Repair & Maintenance and What We Can Do For You
An often overlooked part of your truck and trailer, the suspension is critical to providing you or your driver with a smooth ride while also absorbing the bumps of the road and supporting the overall weight of the truck and trailer. Given the position of the suspension and the types of abuse it handles on a daily basis, it’s necessary to keep up with a good maintenance routine, and proper repairs if required, to retain that comfortable ride.
By bringing your truck and trailer to Ohio Diesel, or by scheduling an appointment with one of our mobile technicians, we’ll be able to give your suspension the treatment it deserves. Our team will perform a comprehensive assessment and diagnostic of your truck or trailer’s suspension system, identifying any problems that might be present. From there, our team can walk you through every step of the repair and maintenance process so you know exactly what’s going into your suspension. We use only the highest quality tools, technology, and parts all sourced from trusted industry partners. With Ohio Diesel, your truck and trailer are in good hands.
The Big Two: Air and Leaf Suspension
When it comes to truck and trailer suspensions, there are two primary suspension types in use with the majority of today’s trucks: air-type suspension and leaf spring suspension. Being familiar with them and how they work is just as important to maintaining your truck’s suspension as a proper maintenance routine is.
Leaf spring suspensions are the most common types in use, and can come in two forms. If your truck is of pre-1970s origin, then it will use the semi-elliptical type while anything post-1970 will be parabolic. The difference is primarily one of leaf thickness; the former possesses a consistent thickness throughout, while the latter varies and takes a parabolic shape from the center of the leaf to the end. There’s also no sliding motion with parabolic leaf springs versus their older semi-elliptical brothers.
The other common type is air suspension. This uses one to two airbags on each axle per side. This provides a smoother ride than leaf springs but can come with its own issues like leakages or faulty air hoses that can impact the air suspension’s effectiveness. There’s also the air-leaf type, which uses a combination of airbags and parabolic leaf springs; these are most common on certain models of Peterbilt, Kenworth, and Freightliner trucks.
