The Most Common Semi Truck Problems

Semi trucks deal with a lot of stress due to their size and the fact that they travel tens of thousands of miles every single year. Keeping up with truck and trailer repair in Centre County, PA is crucial to maintain these trucks and truck fleets so you can get years of operation out of them.

This means as an owner-operator or fleet manager, it’s crucial that you understand the most common types of semi truck problems and the methods you can employ to prevent them or lessen their severity. Here’s a quick overview of a few of the most common semi truck problems for you to focus on:

• Overheating engine: Overheating is one of the most common reasons trucks experience breakdowns or other service interruptions. There are a variety of reasons why an engine might overheat. It could be an issue with the fuel intake, or it could be a problem with improper lubrication or a lack of antifreeze. Whatever the issue, if you experience overheating, you’re going to need to have the vehicle checked out by a technician immediately so you can avoid a catastrophic engine failure or disaster.
• U-joint failure: U-joints assist in transferring power to the transmission from the differentiator. For U-joints to keep working well, you’ll need to make sure they’re constantly lubricated to a sufficient degree. This is a service task you can take on yourself without the assistance of a professional. A lack of lubrication is generally easily spotted, so take the time to address this issue before taking your vehicle back out on the road.
• Failure with the starter: This is a particularly common problem during cold weather. Starter failures often become a problem in cold weather, so make sure you have that part carefully analyzed and inspected at the start of the season to ensure it’ll be able to get through the cold weather without issue. So long as you spot the problem early or take appropriate preventative measures, starter failure is easy to fix or avoid entirely.
• Brake problems: It should come as no surprise that large, heavy vehicles might frequently experience brake problems, especially when you consider the amount of time they spend on the road. Brake fluid leaks are common and need to be addressed immediately to avoid major safety issues. It’s also important to regularly inspect the general condition of the brakes, including the brake pads and rotors. Replace brake pads as necessary.
• Wheel bearing problems: Wheel bearings are tasked with keeping the wheels moving smoothly without an unnecessary amount of friction. If a driver notices strange noises or jerking motions from the wheel area, there’s a possibility those bearings could sustain damage. Bearing issues should only be handled by trained, reliable mechanics.

Interested in learning more about some of the most common semi truck problems, or need to schedule truck and trailer repair in Centre County, PA? We encourage you to contact S & R Repairs Towing & Recovery Inc. with any questions you have about the services we offer. We look forward to getting your large trucks back into great road shape.

Categorised in: Semi Truck Maintenance