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Less fuel & emissions,
further on tyres
Established over 35 years ago in 1978, Lasalign has strong
claims to have been the first ever dedicated mobile wheel
alignment company. Its mission has always been to provide
a mobile service utilising sophisticated, laser-assisted,
measuring systems for the commercial vehicle axle market.
This technology replaced the previous, error-prone method
of stretching a line or tape measure from the trailer kingpin
to the axle ends or periscope / trammel gauges for steering
axles.
Misalignment is frequently caused when trailer wheels
strike or ride over kerbstones. Government-funded tests at
the Road Research Laboratory proved that a single degree
of misalignment of one axle in a tandem configuration will
consume as much as 3% extra fuel from the tractor’s tank.
2% of misalignment equates to 8% additional fuel. This test
was conducted in 1980. Obviously fuel and tyre prices have
risen to record levels since then, but the percentage values
remain the same.
The ratio within a typical fleet of articulated vehicles is one
tractor unit to two trailers. The tractor uses the fuel, whereas
the trailer carries the load. If some offending trailers exist
among your fleet with axle misalignment, then the tractive
unit’s fuel consumption will vary greatly, depending on
whether it is pulling a true or misaligned trailer. All sorts
of causes are considered except the forgotten animal, the
trailer. For this reason you should insist on alignment checks
at least annually.
Lasalign prides itself on being able to set the wheel alignment
for a tractor unit or rigid to suit its application. Accordingly,
a long-haul vehicle will benefit from a setting at one end of
the manufacturer’s tolerance, whilst a multi-drop vehicle of
a similar type will be at the other end, in order to prolong
the tyre life. Once a tyre has worn unevenly, it is difficult to
correct.
Therefore resetting the wheel alignment from new – and
monitoring tyres and tyre pressures on a regular basis –
will pay huge dividends in the battle to control fuel and tyre
costs and CO2 emissions.
On the BPW axle the kingpin is a
shrink fit into the axle beam, and it
was proven that the use of controlled
induction heating to the axle beam in
the area of the kingpin produced rapid
local expansion which would enable
removal and installation of the pin
itself. This whole process is carried out
with the axle removed from the vehicle
to facilitate access for the correct press
tools.
Previous methods of heating the axle
beam, such as propane, were not
particularly successful owing to the
fact that, by the time the axle beam
was at the correct temperature, heat
had transferred through to the kingpin,
negating the heat differential effect.
Over the years Lasalign has seen the
disastrous results of trying to remove
kingpins with either too much or too
little heat.
In addition most hydraulic presses
have only a short stroke on the ram,
making extraction and installation
slow, adding to the build-up of heat
through to the kingpin. The induction
heater Lasalign uses concentrates
the heat instantly to a small, precise
area on the axle beam, with very little
heat transfer to the kingpin. Coupled
with this, Lasalign has invested in a
purpose-designed hydraulic press
that will extract or install the kingpin
or bushes in one stroke. Over the
years the company has accumulated
comprehensive tooling to exacting
standards to cater for most makes of
trailer steer axles.
With correct wheel alignment you will lower your fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, increase your tyre life and put
safer and more stable trucks and trailers on the road!
For further details, call Lasalign on 01788 860 594, email go to
Lasalign Ltd, Shawell Depot, Watling Street (A5), Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 6AR.
KINGPIN REPLACEMENT
WHEEL ALIGNMENT