COMPONENTS FOR ALL MAJOR HEAVY DUTY SUSPENSIONS
Click on a suspension category to see current parts we have in stock. |
SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY
Click on a technology to see the alternatives offered by our suppliers. |
Because of the diversified capabilities of companies like Dayton Parts, Plaza can keep an inventory of components for all types of suspensions that support drive-axles, steer-axles, and trailer-axles. We have the parts for the suspensions designed by the big names in trucks such as Mack, Volvo, Navistar, and Ford. And we have the parts for the suspensions designed by the big names in suspensions such as Hendrickson, Chalmers, Hutch, Reyco, Neway, and Watson-Chalin.
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Are you one of those who thought that only the OEM dealers have the detailed documentation, specs, and blue prints for how a suspension should be put together? Dayton Parts supplies not only the goods but also supplies Plaza with an extensive set of documentation with diagrams and cross reference information to original equipment parts. We are experts at working with suspension model numbers, spring numbers, part numbers, and dimensions to find an exact replacement for your original part.
Evolution of the Heavy Duty Truck SpringPlaza Fleet Parts has been around long enough to observe an interesting evolution of the truck spring. Leaf springs were the standard after WWII. By adding more leaves to the spring it was possible to support heavier weight, however stability was not improved. Rubber “load springs” became attractive alternatives because they could support heavy loads and also reduced the range of vertical motion.
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The Chalmers 800 and Hendrickson HN are examples of this development in load springs. The Hendrickson RS shows an even greater emphasis on stability with a smaller “load pad” to further reduce the range of motion. More recently bolster springs and load pads are being produced from polyurethane rather than rubber. Polyurethane has the advantages that it can be formulated to be stiffer than rubber and it also ages at a slower rate producing a much longer life. Can air springs now replace leaf springs or even polyurethane load springs? Air springs represent another breakthrough since the height of the load can be maintained no matter how heavy is the weight. The bed of the truck will not sag as with leaf springs. However the jury is still out as to whether air springs can do all of the jobs that have been done by the earlier technology. |