TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ordering Parts.............................................................
General Working Direction........................................
Technical Description..................................................
Tightening Torques......................................................
Maintenance Chart......................................................
Description Repair Work...........................................
Power steering troubleshooting..
Alignment trouble shooting.....
Alignment..........

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
11.1
11.2
Grease points.. 12

-2-

Ordering Parts

Ordering Parts for your AMS SUSPENSIONS

Original AMS SUSPENSIONS parts are specially engineered and designed

with carefully specified steels. These steels are tested for quality and
consistency in both chemistry and strength. They meet exacting requirements
for each particular application. Welding processes are monitored and tested
for quality and integrity. Each type of weld is carefully and consistently
applied to insure the least amount of steel texture change for maximun
strength. Even the type of welding wire is ordered to meet the spcecificaly
requirements of the particular application. There are many imitators out there
without the design analysis, engineering or CAD-CAM capabilities of AMS
SUSPENSIONS. Quite often their parts look identical. However, without the
same steel specification, welding procedures and exact design requirements,
these imitations are not the same as AMS SUSPENSIONS original parts. In
addition to not lasting as long, they can cause genuine safety hazards. They
may expose you, your employees or your customers to injury or worse. Ours
parts are designed with safety and duration as our top priority.

-3-

GENERAL WORKING DIRECTIONS

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS

Your AMS suspension

Althought your new truck has been built, inspected, lubricated and final
adjustements performed at our Baie St-Paul assembly plant, some settling of the
system, can be brought on due to the wearing of moving parts. Quick action to
correct these minor items could prevent a major repair later.
During first 3000 miles ( 5000 kms )
After the first 125 miles ( 200 kms ), retorque the wheel nuts using an
accurately calibrated torque wrench. Recheck this torque again after 500 miles
(800 kms ).
Observe instruments often, and shut the vehicule down as soon as possible, at
first sign of any abnormal readings.
Check for leaks, loose fasteners, unusual noises , etc and correct as
necessary.
Check the U-bolts torque on AMS suspension at the end of the first 1000 miles
( 1600 kms ) of service.
At the end of first 3000 miles ( 5000 kms ) or before 4000 miles ( 6500 kms ) .
Retorque U-bolts

Note: Refer regularly to our Simard preventive maintenance schedule supplied in

this manual.

-4-

AMS SPRING SUSPENSION

Patented in Canada and the United States since 1992, AMS spring
suspensioninvolving the addition of a second axle at the front of the
vehiclepresents many advantages:
Increases and better distributes load capacity;
Improves driving stability, for greater safety and comfort;
Requires minimal maintenance, due to its rugged construction;
Extends the lifetime of tires and steering components;
Adapts to all makes of trucks

Technical description:
Suspension type

spring front tandem (multileaf)

Suspension load capacity

7,250/8 7,160/9,070 kg (16,000/18,000/20,000 lbs)

Axle type

I-beam steering axle

Axle load capacity

7,250/8,160/9,070 kg (16,000/18,000/20,000 lbs)

Axle spacing

64 to 96 inches, depending on vehicle model

Brakes

(16.5 x 5) or (16.5 x 6) S-cam air with

automatic slack adjuster (ABS optional)

Hub types

hub mount, stud mount, and 6 spoke wheels

Wheel (rim) types

aluminum or steel (11 1/4 or 13 3/16)

Tire size

315/80R22.5, 385/65R22.5, and 425/65R22.5

Steering

hydraulic power (65 series TRW steering gear)

Pump

8 GPM minimum required

Turning radius

retains the same specifications as the original equipment

Total weight

suspension and axle combined 1,134 kg (2,500 lbs)

-5-

Maintenance Chart

AMS SUSPENSION preventive maintenance chart

Check that all the suspension components are very well lubricated.

Check steering components wear ( Tie-Rod-End )

Check excessive tire wear ( sign of alignement problems or steering parts failure ).

Check power steering oil level.

Check both front axles parallelism.

Check drag ling condition .

Check wheel stoppers ( they should be well synchronized ).

Check tire pressure ( 80 to 100 psi.).

Check wheel oil level.

Check brakes adjustement on the axles.

-7-

DESCRIPTION OF REPAIR WORKS

Spring replacement...................

8.1

Tie rod end replacement.

8.2

Spring pins, rollers wear shim replacement 8.3

Equalizer removal......

8.4
8.4.1
8.4.2

Equalizer bushing replacement..............

8.5

Fix the equalizer...... 8.6

8.6.1
8.6.2
Steering assist replacement..... 8.7
Knuckle arm replacement ..

-8-

8.8

Working Suspension AMS

8.1. Spring replacement.

Pic.1

Pic.2

-8.1-

Working Suspension AMS

8.2 Tie rod end replacement
1- Before removal , mesure with accuracy the
lenght ot the drag link, center-to-center.

Pic. 3

2- If you have to remove the two drag

link be sure of their position.
DO NOT INVERT . (Pic. 4 )

Drag link avant

3- Refer to the torque chart.

See P.7

Pic. 4

4- Reinstall clamps in the same axis

to prevent conflict with another parts.

5- Refer to thee torque chart

See p.7
Pic.5
6- Check alignement .
See p.12

Pic.6
-8.2-

Working Suspension AMS

8.3 Spring pins, rollors and wear shim
replacement
1- Make sure that you use original parts.

Pic. 7
2- Make sure that you reinstall spring pins
with their grease holes in avertical axis.

3- Do not overthight the wear shim

hex. Bolts neither the spring pins
to make sure that springs and roller
can move freely in the hanger.

Pic. 8
4- Reinstall cotter pins.

Pic.9

-8.3-

Working Suspension AMS

8.4 Equalizer removal
1- Lift up vehicule

Pic. 10
2- Remove all bolts, spring pins and
cross rods. ( pic. 11-12-13 )

Pic. 11

Pic. 12

-8.4-

Pic. 13

Working Suspension AMS

8.4.1 Equalizer removal ( next )
1- If necessary, remove entire equalizer
hanger. ( Pic. 14)

Pic. 18
Pic. 14

Pic. 19

2- Remove center bolt nut . (Pic.15)

Pic. 15

Pic. 21
-8.4.1-

Working Suspension AMS

8.4.2 Equalizer removal ( next )

1- You may have to oxycut center bolt.

(Pic.16-17-18)
Pic. 16

Pic. 17

Pic. 18

-8.4.2-

Working Suspension AMS

8.5 Equalizer bushing replacement
1- Use hydraulic press with appropriate die
to remove old bushing and reinstall new
bushing. (Pic.19)

2- Use original bushing and center bolt.

Pic. 19

3- Use rubber resistant grease to lube tube and

bushing. (Pic.20)

Pic. 20

4- Center bushing in the tube .(Pic 21)

Pic. 21

-8.5-

Working Suspension AMS

8.6 Fix the equalizer
.1- Lube each of equalizer hanger, center bolt
and center bushing hole , before installation
(Pic. 22-23)
Pic. 22

Pic. 23

2- reinstall each component as shown .

( Pic.24 to 30)

Pic. 24

Pic. 29

-8.6Pic. 25

Working Suspension AMS

8.6.1 Fix the equalizer ( next )

Pic. 26

Pic. 27

Pic.28

-8.6.1-

Working Suspension AMS

8.6.2 Fix the equalizer (next )

Pic. 29

Pic. 30

-8.6.2-

Working Suspension AMS

8.7. Steering Assist replacement
1- Use original part only. (Pic.31)

Pic. 31

2- Mark each hose before removing.

3- Mark each spacer between steering and
frame. (Pic.32)
4- See torque chart.
Pic. 32

5- To drain air:
- remove cover of steering oil tank
- add oil if needed
- start engine, idle
- remove pitman arm from steering assist
without removing tie rod end.
- with wheels on the floor, turn slowly left
and right to the extreme 3 or 4 times.
Pic. 33

Note:
Its important to make sure that the
sector shaft line is perpendicular to the
steering housing.
Also, steering assist on main power
steering shaft should have the same
rotating direction.

-8.7-

Pic.33

Pic. 34

Working Suspension AMS

8.8 Knuckle arm replacement
1- Use original part only.

2- See torque chart.

Pic. 35

Pic. 36

Pic. 37

Pic.33

-8.8-

Pic. 38

Power steering trouble shooting

Check power steering
oil
level

OK

Check pump
pressure

OK

Check pump G.P.M.

Low

Low

Low

Add

Check release
valve

Repair
or
replace

Defective
Repair
or
replace

Check steering assist

hoses and coupling

OK

Defective

Check pressure at
power steering
delivery port

OK

Low

Defective

Repair
or
replace

replace

OK
Repair
or
replace

Check pressure
at steering assist
del. port

OK

Check all hoses

and
fitting

Contact Simard
au
Tl.: 1 (418) 435-5347
Fax.: 1 (418) 435-3346
WWW.EMMANUELSIMARD.COM

Low

Repair
or
replace

-9-

OK

Alignement trouble shooting (See page 11-11.1-11.2 )

Check king pin

condition

OK

Defective

Repair
or
replace

Check Nuckle Arm

condition

OK

Check drag link

condition

Defective

Defective

Repair
or
replace

Repair
or
replace

Defective
Check
alignement

Repair
or
replace

Dfective

Check tie-rod-end
installation order
On Pitman Assist

OK

OK

Repair
or
replace

Repair
or
replace

Dfective

Dfective

Check Parallelism

OK

OK

Check Axles
Alignement on
Rear Tandem

OK

Contact Simard
au
Tl.: 1 (418) 435-5347
Fax.: 1 (418) 435-3346
WWW.EMMANUELSIMARD.COM

-10-

Check
Cross tube
Condition