Suspension and driveline parts carry the load, and East Tennessee gives them plenty to carry it over.
Potholes open up on I-40 and I-640 after every freeze-thaw cycle. Construction and quarry roads around Knox, Blount, and Loudon counties are rough on dump trucks and equipment haulers. Winding two-lane roads through the ridges twist frames and work torque rods and spring hangers. And the long grades put constant torque through U-joints and carrier bearings. A small vibration today can be a broken driveshaft next week.
We handle chassis and driveline repairs at your yard, truck stop, or roadside location, and we’ll tell you straight if something needs a lift.
What’s included with our Suspension & Driveline Repair
- Air spring (air bag) replacement on tractors and trailers
- Ride height checks and leveling valve adjustment or replacement
- Shock absorber replacement
- Leaf spring and U-bolt inspection, and spring replacement where access allows
- Torque rod and bushing replacement
- Air suspension line and fitting leaks
- U-joint replacement
- Driveshaft carrier bearing replacement
- Wheel seal leaks on drive and trailer axles
- Hub oil level checks and wheel bearing inspection
- Fifth wheel lube, adjustment, and locking jaw inspection
- Pinion and differential seal leak diagnosis
What needs a shop instead
- Transmission removal and clutch replacement
- Differential rebuilds and rear-end replacement
- Frame straightening or cracked frame rail repair
- Complete axle replacement or alignment
- Wheel bearing jobs where the hub or spindle is damaged
Repair it where it sits, or tow it?
A blown air bag, a leaking leveling valve, a failed U-joint, or a leaking wheel seal can usually be fixed on site. With a broken leaf spring or failed air spring, the truck may need to stay put until it’s repaired, especially loaded.
A tow is safer when a driveshaft has come apart and damaged other parts, when a wheel bearing has failed and damaged the hub or spindle, or when a broken spring or torque rod has shifted the axle. Don’t drive a truck with a driveshaft that’s banging or a wheel end that’s smoking.
Have this ready when you call
A few details up front help the mechanic load the right parts and tools and get it done in one trip.
- Where the problem is — steer axle, drive axles, or trailer — and which side
- Whether the truck or trailer is leaning or sitting low
- Any vibration, clunk, or grinding, and at what speed it happens
- Oil or grease on the inside of a wheel or tire
- Loaded or empty
Makes & engines we work on
- Freightliner
- Peterbilt
- Kenworth
- Volvo
- Mack
- International
- Western Star
Class 6 through Class 8 trucks, including engines from Cummins, Detroit Diesel, PACCAR, Volvo, Mack, Navistar, and Caterpillar.
Suspension & Driveline Repair around Knoxville & East Tennessee
Suspension and driveline repairs come up often with dump trucks and equipment haulers working construction sites and quarries around Knoxville, with yard tractors at distribution centers, and with road trucks that just came off the grades on I-75 and I-40. Rough stretches of I-640 and I-40 through the city do their share too.
Highways we cover
Towns we cover
- Knoxville
- Farragut
- Maryville & Alcoa
- Oak Ridge
- Clinton
- Lenoir City & Loudon
- Sevierville & Pigeon Forge
- Morristown
Suspension & Driveline Repair: common questions
Can I drive with a blown air bag?
It’s not recommended, especially loaded. A failed air spring changes ride height and load distribution, can damage other parts, and can put the truck out of service.
What causes a driveline vibration?
Worn U-joints, a failed carrier bearing, a bent or unbalanced driveshaft, or bad driveline angles. A vibration that changes with road speed often points to the driveline.
How do I know if a wheel seal is leaking?
Look for oil or grease on the inside of the wheel and tire, or a low level in the hub cap sight glass. A leaking seal can lead to a wheel bearing failure — a bad thing to find on a downgrade.
Why is my trailer leaning?
Usually a failed air spring, a leak in the suspension air line, or a bad leveling valve. On spring-ride trailers, a broken leaf spring can do it.
Is a broken leaf spring an out-of-service violation?
It can be, depending on how many leaves are broken and which ones. See our DOT out-of-service guide.
Do you work on fifth wheels?
Yes. Lubrication, adjustment, and inspection of the jaws and release handle are routine. A worn fifth wheel that needs replacing may need a shop, depending on parts.