Transverse torque rod

[vinny933]

My 2019 granite  triaxle dumptruck  didn't come with transverse torque rod, saddles wore out spring  guy says i should  have one.its a heavy thick single  frame.should I have one installed?

[Mark T]

They came all different ways.  54" spread on camelbacks,  rod on the back rear was common.  I bet the truck he's asking about is one of those "county spec" trucks. Least that's what us guys around here call them. They were usually white with Ox bodies. Several of them come into the used truck marked on a regular basis. Hardly any miles and , no offence to anyone but they're cheaped out on in many ways to knock a couple thousand dollars off the price. They're actually pretty good low milage trucks. A little plain maybe. Usually well worth putting a few dollars into to upgrade a couple items  here and there.  Be a little tricky on this truck as it may require a reinforcement plate inside the frame channel or small plate on the outside.   Well worth putting on it though in my opinion .  Vinny's in NJ  that's 80K.  That truck very well have been made to haul 15 tons or so.  27......yeah, it's gonna get worn out pretty quick 

[Joey Mack]

definately needs a plate on the outside, and I would go with 3/8'' thick rather the the 3/16'' plate, high grade bolts, and stover nuts..  

[Mark T]

2 minutes ago, Joey Mack said:

definately needs a plate on the outside, and I would go with 3/8'' thick rather the the 3/16'' plate, high grade bolts, and stover nuts..  

Those big 10.9 flange bolts and nuts.  Like if it was made with it.

[Joey Mack]

yep...

[vinny933]

Quality  work with brand new aftermarket  shit tightened with multimeter  and still move with load. It's like pissing in the wind. 1200 and change to change both saddles  and this is what I get. 20 years ago I would  have done them myself.  New ones ordered  from mack

Edited August 15, 2024 by vinny933

[Joey Mack]

That picture is fuzzy, i hate that everything now a days is junk

[Mark T]

5 hours ago, vinny933 said:

Quality  work with brand new aftermarket  shit tightened with multimeter  and still move with load. It's like pissing in the wind. 1200 and change to change both saddles  and this is what I get. 20 years ago I would  have done them myself.  New ones ordered  from mack

Lots of guys don't realize how tight those need to be.  They're like 1600 ft/lbs.  Then retorqued after a few miles in service. 

[vinny933]

I'm finally  getting  the transverse  torque rod put on  mack is ordering  parts and will let me know when to bring it in quoted 3200 bucks

[Joey Mack]

$3,200.00 for a torque arm??? Are you Joking..???  Those are easy as shitting to replace..  

[Geoff Weeks]

I think he is installing where it never had them, Not excusing the price quote, but not just replacing.

[Joey Mack]

Oh.. ok..  I guess this is the older post about the torque arm.. that makes sense.  A re-Mack rear rear is around $2500.00 ish, plus labor.   Thanks for getting me back on the rails GW..  hi

[Lmackattack]

From what I see 34K camelback rears did not have transverse rod. everything over 34k I think did have one.  Not sure on newer macks if they even offer 34k anymore?  regardless the transvers rod deffenatly helped keep the axles aligned as now the axles had 3 points of contact to prevent side to side movement. the down side to the transverse rod is it puts alot of stress on the upper diff housing.  some guys say over time it can make your diff bolts loosen up and thus leak oil. also your diff needs to have 4 holes drilled into it so that it can accept the bracket to recive one end of the rod.

I think the rod is still better than not having one.

[Joseph Cummings]

Back in the day I used to see them with chains going over to the frame rail to keep from walking. They'd let them walk until they started hitting. For some reason nobody had a multiplier

[mechohaulic]

19 hours ago, Joseph Cummings said:

Back in the day I used to see them with chains going over to the frame rail to keep from walking. They'd let them walk until they started hitting. For some reason nobody had a multiplier

"back in the day";; multipliers were in the same desk drawer as computers. rule  of thumbs was -- tighten that S O B as much as possible. having a unit with only 34 k suspension . load shouldn't require  sway bars. install later on in yrs would defiantly be more costly.

[Joey Mack]

Mech, his current carrier does not have the 4 threaded holes on the back for a rear bracket. Theres no more eyelets on top for the ball and socket type.. 

 

If im reading you correctly 

[Joey Mack]

Mech,, would believe that I have actually lined up camel backs and WELDED the torque arms once i had the right length.. only did a few, but i did 'em. 

[mechohaulic]

went back to square one read every post (some twice). 34's not built to carry 55 capability. expense of adding cross bars to rear(s) will accomplish what ? feeling of security to carry more. saddles are wearing prematurely just says "I'm not made for this" . so the rears won't (shouldn't) walk ;;  will over load take it's toll on rears themselves ???

[Joey Mack]

Yes, i expect more damage later. However i think he has tried to keep the rears straight, i like to think he is not beating his truck. 

[mechohaulic]

2 minutes ago, Joey Mack said:

Yes, i expect more damage later. However i think he has tried to keep the rears straight, i like to think he is not beating his truck. 

don't think as an Owner Operator he would beat the truck ; 34's on a triaxle unless on farm hauling hay ;; not best combo. just sayin.

[Joey Mack]

Yes sir, thats pretty light. Im going to go with this add on will work for him..  

[Lmackattack]

I wonder if these modern 34k axles are diffrent than say 40k axles.

 

If I recall right back In the R model days the 34k camelback was cast round tube and the higher capasity rears were welded square tube. 

 

[Mark T]

That truck in the pictures has 46s

[Vladislav]

Maybe that 3.2K figure included drilling 4 holes in the carrier for the rod bracket?  

[Mark T]

37 minutes ago, Vladislav said:

Maybe that 3.2K figure included drilling 4 holes in the carrier for the rod bracket?  

The picture looked like it had bolts in the four already.  Wouldn't surprise me at all if the parts were over half the cost. I could see that bracket being close to $1000.00 in 2024.  Then the frame bracket and plate that goes with it. Probably couple  hundred at least in flange  nuts and bolts that actually belong on it. Stuff is nuts what it costs. 

[Vladislav]

Yes, stuff gets too high in the cost definitely. Seems like too many people aren't eager to check out used parts or fabricate any. And sure there are more and more parts in modern vehicles which are impossible to find by other ways than at a dealer. To me it seemed European car/truck manufacturers started establishing as high parts costs as the customers could afford for a couple decades earlier than American ones. I was honestly very surprized purchasing a brand new shiney Bulldog mirror for $35 in 2012 when at the same time Mercedes was offering plastic outside one for their Gelandewagen for Euro 700 (or so).

But the times got a change pretty soon (and too unlikely). To me it's still difficult to suit the fact that bracket was extimated $1K since I have a couple laying in my shed (or 3 or 4-?)