Bouncing After Bumps
A truck that keeps bouncing after a bump has shocks that aren't absorbing the energy anymore.
Checked:ShocksMountsAir springs
Often a repair
Heavy-duty truck suspension · Louisville, KY
Heavy-DutySuspension Repair.
Worn shock absorbers, air suspension that won't hold ride height, and tired leaf springs. Superior Truck & Trailer repairs suspension on heavy-duty trucks, fleets and trailers in Louisville, KY, for a comfortable, safe ride under a heavy load.
- Shock AbsorbersSoak up every bump
- Air SuspensionRide height to the load
- Leaf SpringsCarry the truck and load
What keeps the ride smooth
Shocks, Air Or Leaf.
Pick one and watch the suspension work over the bumps, the load, and the miles.
Shock Absorber Repairs
Shocks absorb and dissipate the energy from bumps and vibration. When they wear out the ride gets rough and other parts start to suffer.
Air Suspension Repair
Air suspension gives a smooth ride by adjusting the height of the truck to the load. Watch a load come on and the air springs fill back to ride height.
Leaf Spring Suspension Repair
Leaf springs are the most common suspension on heavy-duty trucks and carry the weight of the truck and its load. Worn ones mean poor handling and uneven tire wear.
Shock absorber checklist
Worn shocks: what gets checked
- Oil leaking down the shock body
- Dents or a bent rod
- Damping on a push test
- Heat after a drive, side to side
- Shock length and fitment
- Replaced in pairs across the axle
Bounce: what gets checked
- How many bounces after a bump
- Cab and seat ride
- Cupped or scalloped tire wear
- Shocks against spring and air spring condition
- Load and ride height
- Cab suspension as well
Mounts: what gets checked
- Upper and lower bushings
- Mounting bolts and torque
- Brackets and welds
- Clunks over bumps
- Rod end wear
- Shock contacting anything
Air suspension checklist
Air springs: what gets checked
- Cracks and dry rot in the bellows
- Chafing against tires or brackets
- Leaks at the bead and fittings
- Piston and bumper condition
- Upper and lower mounts
- Matched side to side
Height control valve: what gets checked
- Ride height against spec
- Linkage and arm condition
- Response when loaded and unloaded
- Exhaust port leaks
- Dump valve operation
- Valve adjustment
Air leaks: what gets checked
- Fittings and push-to-connect lines
- Lines chafed or kinked
- Overnight leak-down
- Supply from the pressure protection valve
- Leak test with soapy water
- Air system pressure
Leaf spring checklist
Leaves: what gets checked
- Cracked, broken or shifted leaves
- Spring sag and arch
- Truck leaning side to side
- Rust between the leaves
- Center bolt
- Spring rebound clips
Bushings: what gets checked
- Spring eye bushings
- Hanger pins and wear
- Shackles and shackle pins
- Hanger brackets and rivets
- Play with the axle loaded
- Grease points where fitted
U-bolts: what gets checked
- U-bolt torque
- Axle seat and clamp plates
- Axle alignment and tracking
- Uneven tire wear
- Torque rods and bushings
- Center bolt sheared
Suspension work, part by part
Shock AbsorbersWorn, leaking or bent shocks replaced, mounts and bushings checked.
Air SpringsCracked or leaking air bags replaced and ride height reset.
Height Control ValvesValves and linkage that hold ride height to the load.
Leaf SpringsCracked leaves, sagging packs and center bolts.
Bushings & HangersSpring eyes, hanger pins, shackles and brackets.
U-Bolts & Torque RodsClamped tight and aligned so the axle tracks straight.
Related repairs and services
Tire RepairUneven tire wear often starts in the suspension.Axle RepairAxle seats, hubs and bearings under the springs.Brake RepairA truck that sits right stops straight.Truck & Trailer AlignmentAligned after suspension work so tires wear evenly.Welding & FabricationCracked hangers, brackets and frame repairs.DOT InspectionsSuspension is on the annual inspection.
What drivers notice first
Signs It Needs Suspension Work.
Where each one usually leads. A rough ride wears out more than the driver.
Leaning Or Sagging
One corner sitting low means a tired or broken leaf spring, a leaking air spring or a valve out of adjustment.
Checked:Leaf springsAir springsHeight valve
Repair or replace
Sagging Overnight
An air-ride truck that sits low after it's parked has an air leak in a spring, a fitting or a line.
Checked:Air springsFittingsLines
Often a repair
Uneven Tire Wear
Tires wearing unevenly or cupping point to worn springs, bushings, shocks or an axle that shifted on its U-bolts.
Checked:Leaf springsU-boltsShocks
Repair and align
Clunks And Knocks
A clunk over bumps or when the load shifts usually means worn bushings, loose U-bolts or a broken leaf.
Checked:BushingsU-boltsLeaves
Often a repair
Poor Handling
Wandering, swaying in the wind or a loose feel in turns comes from worn springs, bushings and shocks.
Checked:SpringsBushingsShocks
Repair or replace
Suspension work
From The Lift To The Road.
Suspension work starts with the truck up where the springs, shocks and air springs can all be checked.
How suspension work moves through the shop
From the first call to a smooth, level ride.
Tell us how it rides, leans or wears tires. We check the suspension, lay out the repair, do the approved work and get the truck back into service.
01You call
Tell us the truck and what the ride is doing: the bounce, the lean, the clunk.
02We check it
Shocks, springs, air springs and bushings get checked with the truck up.
03You approve the repair
The repair and the parts, laid out before any work starts. Nothing gets done until you approve it.
04You roll
The work gets done, the ride height gets set, and the truck goes back to work.
Working trucks, real shop work
The work happens here, on the road and in the bay.
The trucks, trailers, service vehicles, roadside calls and shop work behind the services on this site. This is the kind of commercial equipment Superior works on every day in and around Louisville.
Truck repair customer reviews
What Drivers SayAbout The Shop.
Read customer feedback on Superior Truck & Trailer's repair work, communication, and service experience in Louisville.
Suspension work backed by a full truck shop
The Rest Of The Truck,Same Shop.
Suspension work often turns up other jobs. Everything else the truck needs is handled from the same Louisville shop.
Suspension repair FAQ · Louisville, KY
Truck Suspension Questions.
Shocks, air springs, leaf springs and uneven tire wear: the suspension questions truck owners ask most.
(502) 789-6644What does a shock absorber do on a truck?
Shock absorbers absorb and dissipate the energy from bumps and vibrations in the road. When they aren't working properly the ride can become very uncomfortable, and it can cause damage to other parts of the truck.
How do I know if my truck's shocks are bad?
The truck keeps bouncing after a bump, the ride gets harsh, a shock is leaking oil down its body, or the tires start cupping. A shock that stays cool after a drive while the others are warm usually isn't working.
How does air suspension work on a semi truck?
Air suspension provides a smooth ride by adjusting the height of the vehicle according to the load. A height control valve adds air to the air springs when a load comes on and lets air out when it comes off, holding the truck at ride height.
Why does my air-ride truck sag overnight?
Air is leaking out while it's parked, usually from an air spring, a fitting or a line. A height control valve that leaks through its exhaust can do it too. A leak test finds where the air is going.
What does a height control valve do?
The height control valve reads the distance between the frame and the axle through its linkage, then adds or exhausts air in the air springs to keep the truck at the correct ride height.
What are leaf springs on a truck?
Leaf spring suspension is the most common type of suspension used in heavy-duty trucks. The stacked steel leaves support the weight of the truck and its load, and they wear over time.
What are the signs of worn leaf springs?
Poor handling and uneven tire wear are the most common, along with a truck that leans or sags, a clunk over bumps, and cracked, broken or shifted leaves you can see.
Can bad suspension cause uneven tire wear?
Yes. Worn leaf springs, bushings and shocks, or an axle that shifted on loose U-bolts, can wear tires unevenly. Fix the suspension first, then check the alignment so the new tires wear evenly.
Why does suspension matter when hauling heavy loads?
A properly functioning suspension keeps the drive comfortable and safe, especially under a heavy load. It keeps the tires on the road, the truck level and the load settled.
Should shocks be replaced in pairs?
Usually, yes. Replacing shocks in pairs across an axle keeps the damping even side to side, so the truck rides and handles the same on both sides.
Do you repair air suspension and leaf springs?
Yes. Superior Truck & Trailer repairs shock absorbers, air suspension and leaf spring suspension on heavy-duty diesel trucks, and offers a wide range of suspension services.
Where can I get truck suspension repair near Louisville, KY?
Superior Truck & Trailer repairs heavy-duty truck suspension at 3816 Bishop Lane in Louisville, KY, for trucks from Louisville and the surrounding Kentucky and Southern Indiana counties. Call (502) 789-6644 with the truck and what the ride is doing.
Bouncing, leaning or wandering?
Get The Suspension Checked.
Call Superior Truck & Trailer in Louisville, KY with the truck and what the ride is doing. We'll check the suspension and lay out the repair.
(502) 789-6644
3816 Bishop Lane #1, Louisville, KY 40218