Services — 06
What we do
The walking beam carries the tandem, and when its bushings and center pins wear out you feel it — a bumpy, hammering ride, worst when the truck is empty. We replace, repair and re-bush beams so the tandem stops beating the frame.
Signs it's time
01
Bumpy ride when the truck is empty
02
Clunk from the tandems over bumps
03
Tandem hop under braking
04
Uneven tire wear across the tandem
06.1
Walking Beam Replacement
Worn-out beams replaced complete when repair will not bring them back.
06.2
Walking Beam Repair
Beams inspected and repaired — hardware, wear surfaces and alignment brought back to standard.
06.3
Walking Beam Rebushing
Bushings and center pins pressed out and replaced — the usual fix for a hammering tandem, at a fraction of a new beam.
Signs it's time
01
Bumpy ride when the truck is empty
02
Clunk from the tandems over bumps
03
Tandem hop under braking
04
Uneven tire wear across the tandem
Common questions
Walking Beams questions, answered
How do I know if it's the walking beam and not the springs?
A bumpy, hammering ride that's worst when the truck is empty, a clunk from the tandems over bumps, or tandem hop under braking point to the beam. Sagging under load with the truck sitting low points to the springs instead — see our leaf springs page for that.
Can a walking beam be repaired, or does it need to be replaced?
Most of the time it's the bushings and center pins that wear out, and those get pressed out and replaced for a fraction of a new beam. Full replacement is for beams that are worn out or cracked past that.
What trucks have walking beams?
Mack and Hendrickson camelback tandem suspensions, common on dump trucks and anything else riding on a walking-beam tandem.
What happens if I keep driving on worn beam bushings?
The hammering gets worse, it beats up the frame, and the tandem's tires wear unevenly. It's a cheaper fix caught early than after the frame takes the abuse.
Do I need an appointment?
Walk-ins are welcome. The shop is at 1050 West Penn Pike, Tamaqua, Monday to Friday, 7:00 to 4:30.
What does a walking beam job cost?
Rebushing costs a lot less than a full beam, so we inspect first. Call (570) 386-4195 or send the symptom through the quote form and you'll get back which one it needs.
Other suspension services