2003 Ford F550

What is stupid?

Hi BigBird

Fist, don't let people that write hateful comments keep you from posting. 99.99% of us on here want to help. (re: the brave "Guest" who wrote 'stupid')

I'd like to get to the underlying question since others here have covered the technical side quite well. Are you being blamed for this in ways that will affect your job or just what is the real reason behind the question assuming it is not purely technical curiosity ?

Us old timers on here who have failed a lot might be able to help with the underlying problem and give some non-technical advice.

G

hitting a curb hard enough to bend one of those rims would have blown the tire. your biggest problem is probably that you are driving a ford. the suspension would never stay put on the ones i had so i don't buy them snymore

NO the bus was not inpsected in July 2008. Nobody was paying much atteinton to the rim. Dealer inspectd bus in November 2008. RIght rear wheels!

Not need tire to blow for bend rim. Often rim edge will protrude beyond tire bulge on side wall is normal for street use a proper tire/rim width matching.

Most often alignment is accomplished using a disc with off centered bolt set against a welded tab which can be knocked off the frame by a minor curbing event allowing the diff to walk about.

Is time to align the bus front and rear, tell em to fix it

Okay and how would one realgin the diff? None of the other drivers are buying this story of a curbing knockin the diff out!

Rear axles are realigned to original specifcations by many methods. The most basic would be using a plumb bob, and chalk line - to the top of the line laser systems.

I find it hard to comprehend why a 5 year old bus that works just about every day of its life isn't allowed to have some maintenance applied to get the problem fixed. Or are you trying to draw a connection between hitting the curb and some form of design problem that caused the alignment to move?

Good answer.

The rear axle alignment is non adjustable so something is bent. It's likely a bent leaf pack hangar or Ubolt. If it has axle blocks, the likely hood of bent Ubolts is increased. The pins that hold the axle to the leaf springs could have been sheared as well.

Also, if your axle is off by an inch or two, you should notice the truck not driving straight. You would need to adjust by turning the front wheels the same amount so your steering wheel would always be pointed in the direction you rear axle is pointing. You'll also notice your rear tires don't follow the "footprints" of the fronts.

And your tire wear wouldn't be effected too much as your camber and toe is not effected.

don't know where you learned the trade of truck and bus undercarraige repair but FEW if any people other than REME or CAT trained mechanics know how to set up a chassis for inspection and repair using the system you do. hats off to you sir. GREAT answers especially about the insurers denying cover, apparently since a company up in ontario canada lost a real nasty fight over the way a glass companies pick up truck chassis was extended many underwiters have put that exclusion in the policies they write in about #4 size or less print.

again smack on answer, but consider how anti american it might be thought(?) of as being.

'da ber

It seems like the dealer needs more money fast. Could they think like your business should buffer their rent & expert diagnosis of AA I/O error. OK, I am not a mechanic, but I don't see it, like you don't see it, work. It is almost inappropriate. I would thank them, and maybe call 20/20 for followup..

bigbird275,

How are ya? Are ya not an experienced large vehicle driver? are you the sole operator of this equipment? A driver should conduct a vehicle inspection before and after each and every driving operation; especially if other use equipment occurs without your supervision, check your records.

If I understand the bus was in for annual safety inspection Nov 2008 and the misalignment was noted during the safety inspection?

The normal reference of alignment of wheeled equipments is of a regular maintenance procedure which is conducted on an as needed basis. Unless significant study conclusion establishes a periodic maintenance cycle for a particular route (highly unlikely such system exists).

The misalignment can occur as a normal consequence of operation due the environmental conditions, i.e. if certain tight turning were required repetitively or if the road surface condition the is driven on is full of pot holes and repetitively as is normal when a route is driven one side may develop misalignment due to attrition.

Or maybe you did bang the curb, stuff happens. If you need drive over the curb the mark of experience will cause you to do so slowly and avoid damage to the suspension alignment next time eh

tecmate has given good descriptive answers to your question. What now?