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jbeech · 11-22-2012, 10:35 AM

Folks, I have a problem. The driver's corner of my truck sags. The alighment shop said the frame is straight and the problem is in the leaf springs, e.g. they are worn out. Anyway, they blocked the left front 1", which straightened the cab about 3" because it's a very visible sag.

Now the cab sits square and they aligned the front end, of course but the problem now is the truck feels funny to drive. It's because it gives a little wiggle/shimmy over expansion cracks, which it didn't do previously. I'm not happy.

Anyway, Lynn dug though the truck records recently (past invoices). She put them into a spreadsheet. One of them is from August 2010 (basically 2 years ago) showing the truck went in with a clicking noise in the front spring and Freightliner of Orlando billed for replacing both front leaf springs, shakles, etc. It was a hefty bill too. The thing is, they record the mileage on all these invoices and that was all of 2000 miles ago because the truck sat the last few years as the seller's business went into the toilet.

So I took the truck to Orlando Freightliner (the dealer who did the work) and they did a song and dance about if it had been reported inside a year, yada, yada.

Anyway, I wondered out loud if perhaps the wrong springs had been installed on the truck (chatting with the shop foreman) and then the song and dance became about how they were slammed with work right now and maybe I could come back next week (but call us first so I can assemble the properly qualified folks to measure and see if everything is in order on the truck). Anyway, I agreed and plan to return next week.

Meanwhile, I'm wondering about the proper front leaf springs for the truck, which is a Century S/T Expediter. The wheelbase (I measured it) is about 298 inches, which I suspect is rather longer than a conventional dual drive-axle truck with 5th wheel. Anyway . . .

The last six of the VIN # are G23436 (I'm always asked for just the last 6 when buying parts) and the part number on both front leaf springs is A16-15657-000.

Does anyone have a clue what might be going on?

11-22-2012, 10:35 AM	#1
jbeech Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 135	Sagging spring Folks, I have a problem. The driver's corner of my truck sags. The alighment shop said the frame is straight and the problem is in the leaf springs, e.g. they are worn out. Anyway, they blocked the left front 1", which straightened the cab about 3" because it's a very visible sag. Now the cab sits square and they aligned the front end, of course but the problem now is the truck feels funny to drive. It's because it gives a little wiggle/shimmy over expansion cracks, which it didn't do previously. I'm not happy. Anyway, Lynn dug though the truck records recently (past invoices). She put them into a spreadsheet. One of them is from August 2010 (basically 2 years ago) showing the truck went in with a clicking noise in the front spring and Freightliner of Orlando billed for replacing both front leaf springs, shakles, etc. It was a hefty bill too. The thing is, they record the mileage on all these invoices and that was all of 2000 miles ago because the truck sat the last few years as the seller's business went into the toilet. So I took the truck to Orlando Freightliner (the dealer who did the work) and they did a song and dance about if it had been reported inside a year, yada, yada. Anyway, I wondered out loud if perhaps the wrong springs had been installed on the truck (chatting with the shop foreman) and then the song and dance became about how they were slammed with work right now and maybe I could come back next week (but call us first so I can assemble the properly qualified folks to measure and see if everything is in order on the truck). Anyway, I agreed and plan to return next week. Meanwhile, I'm wondering about the proper front leaf springs for the truck, which is a Century S/T Expediter. The wheelbase (I measured it) is about 298 inches, which I suspect is rather longer than a conventional dual drive-axle truck with 5th wheel. Anyway . . . The last six of the VIN # are G23436 (I'm always asked for just the last 6 when buying parts) and the part number on both front leaf springs is A16-15657-000. Does anyone have a clue what might be going on?