When it comes to maintenance on a heavy duty vehicle, the old adage "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later" is as important as ever today. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), #7 in the top 10 reported vehicle violations was lack of inspection/repair of parts. The result of these violations can be costly in terms of fines, let alone the cost associated with downtime or repairs if a component fails because of lack of maintenance. This can be especially true when it comes to wheel ends.
This issue of The ConMet Connection will provide guidelines on properly inspecting and maintaining your wheel ends anytime the wheels and drums are removed from your vehicle. Follow these guidelines to help prevent wheel end problems in the future. These practices should be part of every vehicle maintenance program.
When the wheels and drums are removed or the wheels are removed from a vehicle with disc brakes, all mounting surfaces on the wheel, brake drum and the flange face of the hub should be cleaned in order to remove any buildup of dirt and/or rust. A hand held wire brush or a wire brush on a die grinder are effective tools for cleaning these components.(See figures 1,2,3 and 4).
Caution: When cleaning mating surfaces, use only a wire brush or Scotch Brite pad. Do not use a hard grinding wheel.
