What Are the Most Often Replaced Truck Parts?

Trucks are known for their heavy-hauling capabilities, durability and power, which rely on high-quality parts and upkeep. Some parts are more likely to wear out over time and need replacement. Components like tires, batteries, brakes and leaf springs bear the brunt of your truck's daily use, requiring more frequent attention.

Being aware of the critical components that need more frequent replacement will help you keep your truck performing well and operating safely. This information will also help you understand how to extend each part's life span through maintenance and precautionary measures.

Frequently Replaced Truck Parts

Trucks are made for heavy-duty use, but their parts still have a service life. These are some of the most commonly replaced truck parts:

• Brake pads: Due to the heavy use trucks endure, brake pads and rotors wear out over time. Replacing them when they show signs of wear is crucial for safe braking performance.
• Batteries: Vehicle batteries degrade with time, typically lasting between three and five years, even in storage. Replacing them periodically ensures the truck starts reliably, especially in extreme weather conditions.
• Tires: Truck tires experience a lot of wear and tear, especially if the truck is used for heavy-duty tasks. Regular inspections and replacements keep the truck running safely and smoothly.
• Filters: Air, oil and fuel filters keep the engine running efficiently by preventing damage from dirt and debris. Replace them according to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule.

Suspension Components

Parts like struts, leaf springs and shock absorbers wear out over time, especially on heavy-duty trucks and vehicles regularly traveling on rough roads or hauling heavy loads. Towing adds additional stress on your truck's components, especially on the suspension system. It increases load on the suspension system, causes coil springs to compress more and increases demand on shock absorbers.

This makes the regular maintenance and timely replacement of specific parts even more crucial. These suspension components must be checked often and upgraded with heavy-duty alternatives:

• U-bolts: U-bolts secure your vehicle's lead springs to the shocks, maintaining the suspension system's alignment.
• Springs: Heavy-duty coil springs support the vehicle's weight, absorbing shocks from the road to create a smooth ride.
• Bolts: Various bolts throughout the truck hold critical components together, including the body panels, engine and suspension system.
• Shocks and struts: Shocks dampen and absorb impact to give the vehicle stability and driving comfort. The struts integrate the shocks with suspension components to offer structural support.

The Importance of Leaf Springs in Trucks

Leaf springs are essential components in a truck's suspension system. They help the truck carry heavy loads by distributing weight evenly across the chassis, creating balance and stability. Leaf springs absorb shocks from rough roads to offer a smoother ride that helps to reduce wear and tear on other components. Maintaining the truck's height and alignment improves handling and control, especially on a fully loaded vehicle.

Leaf springs are made from layers of steel and designed to withstand the stresses of heavy-duty use. These characteristics make them ideal for trucks carrying oversized loads. They are robust and cost-effective solutions for truck suspension systems, offering you a long service life with minimal maintenance.

Signs of Wear

As leaf springs support your truck chassis, it is important to look for these signs of possible wear:

• Sagging: Is your truck sitting lower than usual? It could be a sign that your leaf springs are sagging and need replacement. The same goes for vehicle leaning. If one side leans more than the other, there may be a weakened or damaged leaf spring.
• Noise: Clunking or squeaking noises from the truck's rear can indicate that leaf springs or their components are damaged or worn.
• Rough ride: Any noticeable decrease in ride quality, like more jolts or bumps, may indicate worn leaf springs.
• Visible damage: Mechanics may inspect the leaf springs directly for cracks, fractures or other visible signs of damage.
• Uneven tire wear: Worn leaf springs can also cause uneven tire alignment, leading to irregular wear.

Factors Leading to Truck Parts Replacement

Various factors cause the need to replace truck parts, especially critical components like leaf springs. Truck parts need replacement as they start failing over time due to several factors, including:

• Wear and tear: Continual use and exposure to various road conditions can weaken suspension components, brakes and tires over time.
• Corrosion: Exposure to salt, moisture and other environmental elements that cause rust and corrosion will weaken the metal parts in your truck, reducing its effectiveness.
• Overloading: Frequently carrying loads heavier than the truck's capacity stresses the suspension system, specifically the leaf springs, brakes and shocks. This overloading can cause premature failure in suspension components.
• Cracks and breaks: Potholes, curbs and debris can crack or break shocks, leaf springs and other vehicle components.
• Poor maintenance: Regular maintenance can prevent parts from failing prematurely instead of prolonging their life span.
• High mileage: Consistently carrying heavy loads and dealing with intense operational demands like towing results in extra strain on vehicle components. This strain significantly impacts the suspension system and leads to quicker wear on parts like brakes and shocks.

How to Extend Truck Part's Life Span

Regular inspections are the first line of defense for your truck parts. Check the truck components for cracks, sagging or rust, especially the leaf springs. Keep moving parts well-lubricated, as friction can also cause premature wear. Drive carefully over rough terrain, avoiding sudden stops, starts and truck bed overloading, which causes stress on the suspension system.

Follow the manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule to keep your truck's parts in optimal working condition. Replace parts without delay to avoid damaging components like the leaf springs. When replacing parts on your truck, opt for high-quality, manufacturer-recommended components. Additionally, follow these general rules:

• Regularly clean the truck, especially the undercarriage, as debris and rust can damage critical components.
• Ensure every load is evenly distributed to prevent uneven stress on leaf springs.
• If you live in an area prone to harsh weather conditions, learn how to winterize your truck to keep it performing at optimal capacity.

Why Trust Us

General Spring KC is your go-to truck suspension professional. We are a nationwide provider of premium-grade leaf springs and other truck suspension system components that meet or exceed original equipment manufacturer specifications.

Since 1965, we've supplied parts to both professionals and DIY enthusiasts and only work with manufacturers that are members of the Spring Research Institute. We have warehouses with various products and the ability to customize leaf springs to suit your needs.

Our products come with a one-year warranty, reasonable pricing and select drop shipping capabilities. These products are also built to handle various vehicle brands, including Ford, Jeep, Chevrolet, Toyota and Nissan truck requirements.

Shop Truck Parts Online With General Spring

Regular maintenance and premium-quality replacement parts that last longer are essential to keeping your truck's operations safe and smooth. By staying proactive and addressing wear and tear early, you can keep your truck reliable on the road.

Your suspension system gives you control over your vehicle. We supply leaf springs and other essential suspension components to improve your vehicle's suspension system. From add-a-leaf kits that replace broken or worn parts to springs, shackles and more, we have what you need to keep your truck working as expected.

Order truck parts online today from General Spring!