“Many of our systems are being used in mobile alignment service environments where the alignment is performed onsite at the customer’s shop,” says Greg Brock, heavy-duty training instructor.įleets will see improved tire life and fuel economy. The actual measurement equipment is not dependent upon anything other than a level floor. Hunter Engineering’s heavy-duty alignment system can be used in any available shop bay. Preventive alignment can provide 30 percent more tire miles and 2 percent better fuel economy. When a trailer is “dog tracking,” it takes more horsepower to pull the rig.
Full service with axle correction like the most successful large fleets do will save more fuel dollars.”
“Even a tune-up, which is typical of what truckstops do, will increase tire mileage dramatically. “It depends on how far you want to go,” says Mike McCoy, national account sales manager.
The company’s portable “tune-up” system provides front toe and rear tracking on the shop floor, while its full-service system uses a platform and allows camber correction of the front axle. “You don’t have to jack the vehicle up and let it down,” Beckett says.īee-Line’s systems provide two alignment methods. The laser-based system can measure an axle in 6 minutes and is designed for any trailer configuration without any additional equipment. MD’s portable Protrak alignment system – which doesn’t require racks, pits or turnplates – can accommodate wheels ranging from 16 to 24½ inches, and can be used on vehicles with wheels up to 445/95/25.
Hunter’s WinAlign alignment systems feature real-time monitoring of live vehicle measurements and viewing of vehicle-specific adjustment illustrations and digital images. “If you have a pull to the right, align the drive axles,” Beckett says. The front tires carry 12,000 pounds, while the rear tires handle 34,000 pounds – plus they have all the horsepower. “Just ask yourself which end of the tractor is in charge,” says Mike Beckett, president of MD Alignment. Up to 70 percent of steer tire irregular wear comes from improper alignment of the drive axles.
Every wheel on a rig should be aligned, experts sayĪlignment experts believe it’s critical to align the entire truck or rig, and not just set the toe and check the camber on the front axle.