Most Common Replaced Truck Parts You Should Know
The need for truck replacement parts is essential considering even the heavy-duty truck parts are not built to last forever; some parts will just have to be replaced eventually, and probably more often than others. For truck owners, regular inspections and proper maintenance are highly encouraged to ensure truck parts are in good working condition. And knowing the most commonly replaced parts can help you keep a close monitor on their performances.
Truck Headlights
Headlights are essential for safety and visibility on the road. The most obvious signs that your headlights are bad or failing include burned-out, dim or flickering headlight, which are caused by either a problem with the fuse, module or relay. If you notice these signs you might want to consider replacement truck headlights.
Clutch
Every part of a truck is essential for a smooth ride, and for your truck to move from one place to another all parts, especially the clutch and power transmission system need to function properly. However, unlike in small vehicles that don’t wear out clutch easily, big trucks experience clutch failures more often than not. The main causes being clutch dumping, overloading and riding the clutch.
A damaged clutch can cause extensive damaged on the truck’s transmission, which can result in poor truck performance. How to avoid damaging your clutch.
- Avoid riding the clutch by not pressing the clutch whatsoever, unless you’re switching gears.
- Eliminate pressure on clutch by engaging neutral when stopped for sometime
- Park with the handbrake engaged and not on gear
- Switch gears quickly and decisively
Brake Pads
Brakes are the key safety components of any truck and vehicle out there on the road. And just like any other parts like truck headlights and clutch, they lose their functionality with time thus needing replacements. Brake pads in large trucks are replaced more often than in smaller trucks essentially because it requires more brake power to stop or slow it down. Ideally, for heavy-duty trucks, the recommended time for replacing your brake pads is 3 to 5 years.
However, the replacement period will depend on how you drive your truck. If you regularly make stops, the brake pads will definitely wear out. These are common signs you need brake pad replacement.
- Noisy brakes
- Unresponsive brakes
- Pulsating pedal
Tires
Trucks form an important part of logistics and supply chain networks of goods and most of them spend long hours on road, which eventually causes the tires to wear out. You’ve probably seen a truck tire blowing. That might be as a result of a worn-out tire. Generally, assuming you are an experienced truck driver, a set of new truck tires is expected to clock in more than 100,000 miles.
When it comes to taking better care of your tires, you need to consider regular tire inspection and maintaining proper inflation. Well-maintained tires can reduce tire failures and improve your fuel efficiency. Common signs that your tires need a replacement include:
- Excess vibration
- Splits, punctures and cracks
- Bulges
- Irregular treadwear patterns
Truck maintenance and inspections can help improve the efficiency of some of these parts. Driving style also plays an important role in improving the service years offered by truck parts; from headlights, clutch, tires, brakes and other essential components of a truck.