Damage from being towed?

[Teleman]

My truck was towed from a shopping center parking lot on fri. The parking brake was on, so they had to pick it up from the rear. The front end on this truck was real solid before it was picked up. After I picked it up I noticed within 2-3 blocks that the steering was "wandering" a little, no better way to describe it, and there is now a loud klunk from the front end when hitting pot holes or bumps. Before this, only me and the dash made noise when hitting bumps:-laf . I thought it was just me because I was #@$%! someone had even touched my truck in the first place, but at highway speeds it was undeniable. I had a friend drive it, didn't tell him what happened just asked him to drive it, he didn't notice around town but picked right up on it at highway speed. We looked at it and the only thing that was noticeable was the camber was off on the right wheel and was not like that before it was towed. The roads are pretty bad in Arlington where this happened, all I can figure is that he hit some bad pot holes or a curb. The truck had new leafs put on all the way around with 1 extra leaf added to the front 12000 mi ago and I am running 285 75 16 on MT classic II's. Wheel bearings and cups were replaced about 7000 mi ago. What kind of damage should I be looking for? Like I said the camber is off, negative on the right side and thats all that's visible. Thanks for your time.

 

[Makaio]

Teleman,



Try popping the cap off that holds the kingpin bushing and spring and check the bushing itself. I'm thinking it could have gone bad. I've seen a bushing rotate and wear prematurely, causing a camber change. A good preventative measure is to preload the spring more by adding another spring seat so you have one on the top of the spring and one on the bottom.





Aloha,

Matt

 

[KOG]

Picking it up by the rear bumper/rear of frame puts more load on the front end than it carries when the rear is supported on the rear axle. Could have bent the front axle over a bad bump.

 

[Teleman]

Matt, good call on the bushings, that would explain the negative camber and the klunk. Could the bushing or even the kingpin itself been damaged from the tow truck driver hitting a hole or curb? I'm not experinced with kingpins, is doubling up on the spring retainers good for both the top and bottom bushings.

I almost forgot, I locked my hubs in this morn because of the weather and noticed a very slight binding, after 3 turns out of the parking lot it was gone. This also did not happen week (feb 14) when we got snow. Would that fit into the bent axle theory? If it was a bent axle wouldn't there be a vibration, like needing a wheel balance... . I don't really notice any thing like from the steering wheel. thanks guys

 

[Makaio]

Matt, good call on the bushings, that would explain the negative camber and the klunk. Could the bushing or even the kingpin itself been damaged from the tow truck driver hitting a hole or curb? I'm not experinced with kingpins, is doubling up on the spring retainers good for both the top and bottom bushings.

I almost forgot, I locked my hubs in this morn because of the weather and noticed a very slight binding, after 3 turns out of the parking lot it was gone. This also did not happen week (feb 14) when we got snow. Would that fit into the bent axle theory? If it was a bent axle wouldn't there be a vibration, like needing a wheel balance... . I don't really notice any thing like from the steering wheel. thanks guys

Teleman,



I don't think the kingpin would get damaged as it's a pretty solid piece of steel. The bushing, however, is made of plastic and a number of factors could cause it to fail. Doubling up on the retainers keeps the bushing tight where it sits. You only have bushings on the top kingpins. Anyhow, you'll need to take things apart to diagnose the problem. A bad wheel bearing could cause the binding you experienced. There could have been premature wear on the new bearing and race. An out of round spindle will cause a new bearing and race to fail. Somewhere, while in tow, your rig must have encountered a bad pothole or something. As KOG mentioned about all of the burden on the front axle, something broke causing the camber change. I would check the kingpin bushing first and then the wheel bearing. Keep us posted as it would be interesting to learn what happened in tow.



Aloha,

Matt

 

[DVolk]

Damage from being towed ?

Any body ever thought of a cracked steering gear box plate or the frame its self ????

 

[Makaio]

Hi Don,



From the info that Teleman has posted, it seems axle related. Teleman quote:Like I said the camber is off, negative on the right side and thats all that's visible.



Aloha,

Matt

 

[JLEONARD]

Ever watch them tow a truck from the rear? It ain't pretty. First thing they do is lash the steering wheel with the seat belt to try to keep it straight.

It goes downhill from there.

 

[JMarhofke]

I would first check your vehicle manual for the correct procedure for towing your truck. If it is not listed, contact a AAA tower and ask him to check the AAA towing manual for the proper procedure for towing your vehicle. If your vehicle was towed incorrectly, and damage occured, the towing company is liable for any damage that was caused. As for securing the steering wheel with the seatbelt, or a steering wheel strap, this is a common practice when a rear wheel drive vehicle is towed with a wheel lift tow truck. This helps keep the pressure of the steering wheel lock, and the wheels straight.



Jim

 

[dpuckett]

Around here, if it's towed for whatever reason, and the owner didnt initiate it, any damage incurred is the responsibility of the owner. You get some yeah-hoo who takes an $8/hr job as part of his probation/ parole deal, and he isnt going to be careful in whatever he does. Add to that a nice vehicle, and it becomes a case of class envy- the driver hates the "rich"; they DESERVE to have their vehicle damaged, cause they dont deserve thier money. I know a towing company in Poplar Bluff, that if the driver says they did it right, that is as good as video tape proof no matter the evidence to the contrary. Considering they have been in busniess 50 years, they either have connections in the courts, or all of the towing outfits are that way.



BTW- why WAS it towed?



Daniel

 

[Teleman]

Here's what I've done so far. Bushings looked ok, but replaced anyway, compression springs already had 2 retainers in there. Inner and outer wheel bearings looked ok, repacked and replaced, new wheel seal. Spindles and axels appeared straight (used straight edge and moved around OD) but u-joints could be replaced (when it's warmer) and I wasn't smart enough to get spindle needle bearings and seal, so just shoved grease in there. Problems are still there, except the little bit of binding and that only happened the one time.

On to the story... I'm a independent contractor for the phone co. and was working on the lines behind this strip mall. There's only a fire lane in back so I parked in the lot, off in a corner, away from the stores and walked around back. N. VA is over crowded so there's a lack of parking spots around here so these tow co sit and wait, its so bad the countys cap how much the tow trucks can charge. When I came back around and saw my truck was gone I knew it was towed, so I found one of the "call if your towed signs" and that's where it was. I told the lady I was working on the lines in back and she said I was seen leaving the shopping center. I told her if someone was watching me then they would have seen me carrying my gear and tools around back and climbing a telephone pole, and then there was a little more :-{} . So I caught a cab, paid the fee, left a message for the manager to call me, went back to the shopping center to find out who the management for the mall was and then contacted them. They were nice, said she was sorry and would get back in touch with me. Tow truck manager never called me, lady from management co called today and said the money would be returned to my card and they were sorry:-laf

... So Daniel, its the same here, owners responsible and all, but since I got them to refund the fee I think that's the same as admitting to a wrongful tow and I think that would make them liable for my repairs. So now I think I'm going to try to find a good shop to look at my truck, they would make a better witness than me.

The truck was locked so they had to pick it up from the rear wheels which would leave the front wheels to turn until the steering wheel locked! The red owners manual isn't very clear on towing, I will call AAA. Thanks for all the responses.

 

[rumblefish]

Wow... you seem to be taking this alot better than I would.

 

[dpuckett]

I'd find a state or town where tow trucks cant sit like vultures in wait for an errant parking. Then get some signs that signify you are a phone company contractor.



DP

 

[DieselBuzz]

The slight binding you talked about sounds more like the axle u-joints, they have been known to throw the steering off. See what a seach turns up, if you haven't already. My two cents