Are you a trucker or a mechanic and want to learn how to change the truck tire seals? If yes, this post is actually for you! This guide will discuss detailed steps to replace or change truck tire seals. Indeed, it is a basic of truck tire repair.
You can also hire a professional mechanic or technician to perform this task. But doing it yourself will help you to know about your vehicle closely. The difficulty level of changing a truck tire seal depends on your expertise.
If you don’t know about semi-truck and their tires, change the truck tire seals at your own risk! You can also call Discount Truck Repair to do all truck tire repairs proficiently. If you want to change the truck tire seals yourself, do it by considering the following steps;
Collect professional Tools and Equipment
Even if you are not a professional truck tire repairer, you may still have some tools for truck tire repair in your garage or truck. You can use the same tools to change and renew the truck tire seals. You can also borrow the tools from your nearby repair shop.
If you don’t know the nearest semi-truck repair point, search for it online with 24-hour semi-truck repair near me. After locating a nearby repair point, you can borrow the tools and equipment to complete the job.
Use Wheel Chocks to Secure the Wheel
Before removing the wheels and drums, you must use the wheel chocks to secure the wheel. You can use a jack or supporting stand to raise the wheel from the ground. Once you have jacked the wheel, it’s time to adjust and release the brakes.
Remember that you cannot perform this step simply with a wrench. You’ll have to use the appropriate mechanic tools to do the job without difficulty. You can get the required tools from a semi truck repair shop. Use a screw or wrench to unscrew all bolts.
Use a heavy-duty hammer or an iron rod to unlink the wheel drum from the hub. After that, unbolt all nails.
Access the Hub Beneath the Wheel
To safely access the hub beneath the wheel, loosen the axle-flange nuts with a sledgehammer until they are flush with the drive axle’s bolt ends. This will prevent any potential damage that leads to truck tire repair. Once loose, continue to pound on the middle of the flange until it separates from its place in the hub.
Then, you can take off both lock washers and nuts – if using conical washers, be sure to help align them accordingly before taking them off. For non-drive wheels, however, there is no need for violence – simply unscrew all hubcap bolts and gently tap them away from their position within your wheel cap.
Unscrew the Hub
Many modern hubs are secured with a device that requires two large drive sockets and at least one locking ring. Other types may only require a single cotter pin and nut for fastening. To remove these hub components, purchase two big drive sockets from a reputable parts store.
Under no circumstances should a hammer and chisel be used to attempt to loosen or tighten wheel-end nuts; this could result in injury and extra repair costs. To take apart such hubs, first slide out the hub until the outer bearing is very close to the end of the spindle once all bolts have been disengaged.
Next, remove this bearing, followed by the hub itself, by threading wheel bolts into any holes on either side of the brake drum. This entire process should be done carefully to avoid damaging any part involved in removal or installation.
Time to Remove the Inner Tire Sealing
A medium to big pry bar should be used to remove the seal. The inner bearing must also be taken out. Getting rid of a worn sleeve from the axle shoulder is necessary for some seals. Hammering standard (flat) wear sleeves will cause them to expand, but for others with contamination protections, they can simply be pushed away using powerful punches or drifts without chiseling, as this could damage the surface beneath them.
Clean the Hub and Other Nuts
Submerging the hub, bearings, and hardware in a cleaning solution is best for detailed cleaning. Once rinsed with a new solvent, use pressured air or clean clothes to dry them off. It should not be done by spinning the bearing using high-pressure air as this may cause damage.
Additionally, any components soaked in leaking oil must undergo deep cleaning before being reassembled. You can get assistance from any roadside semi-truck repair shop to fix the leakage. Keeping an eye on certain signs of wear can also prevent further damage.
Check the axle shoulder for grooves or nicks while examining the bearings and cups for spalling, pitting, overheating, or other forms of wear – replace if needed.
Polish the Axle Shoulder
Any irregular axle shoulder or hub bore patches should be filed down using emery cloth strips. To fill in shallower scratches, liquid metal may be employed. After drying, use an emery cloth to ensure a smooth finish.
For any deeper grooves that circle the shoulder, a repair sleeve or hybrid seal sleeve is necessary for complete coverage. Use a non-hardening silicone sealer to cover it first and then drive the sleeve into place with a hammer and appropriate tool so that it lies flush against the surface of the shoulder. Finally, take care to wipe away any leftover sealant residue.
Replace the Seal
Once you have polished the axle shoulder, place the hub back on the brake drum and secure it with the help of bolts. If your semi-truck tire seal is still not working, you can fix it by changing its position. You can also hire a professional truck tire repair if you need help fixing the seal or repairing the tire.
Ensure to fix the seal in the same pattern mentioned on the bearing. After that, smack the seal into the bore to fix the seal appropriately.
Clean and Install the Axle Flange
After fixing or replacing the truck tire seal, clean the axle flange and reinstall it using the bolts. You can also use the sealant layer to fix the flange appropriately.
You are All Done!
Once you have followed all these steps, you have done with the truck tire repair, specifically changing the tire seals. Remember to fix the tire wheel and tighten the nuts for the proper functioning of your trucks.
Even though changing the truck tire seals is not difficult, you can still consider consulting Discount Truck Repair for better understanding. Even if the tire seal is replaced or fixed properly, check it by driving your semi-truck for a few miles.
