Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/620607
9 Tech Updates F irestone Industrial Products has released a brief guideline for inspecting air springs. According to Firestone, each air spring manufacturer has its own inspection proce- dure and customers should rely on information from their spring providers when build- ing an internal best practice. Firestone says the fi rst step in its protocol is a walkaround inspection. Walkaround inspections should be performed daily or weekly to ensure a suspension is fully operational. Typically, these are quick, visual inspec- tions to make sure there are no signs of irregular wear, tears or heat cracking on the air spring and that nothing is touching it or interfering with movement. Inspectors should also check air springs for suf- fi cient and equal pressure and make sure that the suspension is set at proper ride height, the company says. Firestone says inspectors also should check for any buildup of dirt, debris or rust or corrosion on the piston, which can create a surface similar to sandpaper and abrade the air spring. It is also a good idea to check for oil, grease or dirt buildup on the air spring itself. If any buildup is found on the piston or the air springs, Firestone says the inspector should clean these parts with soap and water, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol — the only industry-approved clean- ing solutions for air springs. Every 100,000 miles or once a year — whichever comes fi rst — the air spring suspension system of a semi- tractor trailer also should un- dergo a routine maintenance inspection. These inspections include the steps taken in the basic walkaround inspections, plus a more in-depth exami- nation of the rest of the air spring system, Firestone says. The air springs should be fully infl ated during these inspections and examined closely for leaks. If the inspec- tor notices even the slight- est air leak, the air spring will need to be replaced, the company says. The inspector should also check to ensure that there is suffi cient clear- ance around the complete circumference of the air spring when it is infl ated to its maximum diameter, the company says. W W W . T R U C K P A R T S A N D S E R V I C E . C O M J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6 | T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E AIR SPRING INSPECTION ADVICE