Side / drive axle in the simulator
Every part of the Side / drive axle zone, in the order of the inspection, with what to check and what to say to the examiner in English and in your language. Tap a part to see it on the truck.
Parts in this zone
- 1
Driver door, hinges and seals
What to check: Door not damaged; opens and closes properly from outside; hinges secure; door seal intact.
- 2
West-coast mirror and bracket (driver and passenger)
What to check: Mirror glass clean and not cracked; brackets not bent; mounted securely with no loose fittings.
- 3
Side / rear view camera (if equipped)
What to check: Camera lens clean, viewable from inside, video display operable and adjusted.
- 4
Cab entry steps
What to check: Steps securely mounted, no missing hardware, clear of debris; used with three points of contact.
- 5
Fuel tank and straps
What to check: Tank securely mounted (straps and brackets tight), no leaks from tank or lines, no damage.
- 6
Fuel cap
What to check: Cap is tight with the seal intact and tether/chain present; no leaks around the cap.
- 7
Fuel lines / crossover line
What to check: Lines secure and not leaking.
- 8
DEF tank and cap
What to check: DEF tank securely mounted, cap tight, no leaks from tank or lines.
- 9
Battery box and cover
What to check: Box, cover or door secure and not damaged; open the cover if accessible to show the batteries.
- 10
Batteries and cables
What to check: Batteries secure (hold-downs tight); connections tight with no excessive corrosion; cables secure with insulation not cracked or worn; cell caps present (2005 wording); if not accessible, say so and describe.
- 11
Tractor frame rails and cross members
What to check: No cracks, broken welds, holes, bends or other damage; no illegal welds.
- 12
Drive shaft and U-joints
What to check: Drive shaft not bent or cracked; couplings/U-joints secure and free of foreign objects.
- 13
Exhaust system (pipe, muffler/DPF, stack)
What to check: No damage and no signs of leaks such as rust or carbon soot; connected tightly and mounted securely.
- 14
Drive tires (duals)
What to check: Minimum 2/32 inch tread in all major grooves; evenly worn; no cuts, bulges or exposed plies; duals not mismatched in diameter and nothing lodged between them; valve stems and caps intact; inflation checked with a gauge.
- 15
Drive wheel rims (inner and outer)
What to check: Not cracked, bent or damaged; no welding repairs; bolt holes not elongated.
- 16
Drive wheel lug nuts
What to check: All present, none loose (no rust trails or shiny threads); no broken studs.
- 17
Drive axle hub / axle seal
What to check: Axle seal and hub not leaking (no oil on the inside of the wheel).
- 18
Dual wheel spacers / Budd spacing
What to check: If equipped, spacers not bent, damaged or rusted through; duals evenly centered and separated.
- 19
Drive axle leaf springs (if spring suspension)
What to check: No missing, shifted, cracked or broken leaves.
- 20
Drive axle air bags (air ride)
What to check: Air ride suspension secure, not damaged, no cuts or audible leaks; mounts not damaged.
- 21
Drive axle U-bolts
What to check: Not broken, missing or loose.
- 22
Drive axle spring/air mounts and torque arm
What to check: Hangers, mounts and torque arms not cracked, broken or damaged; bushings present; bolts tight.
- 23
Drive axle shock absorbers
What to check: Secure, not damaged, not leaking.
- 24
Drive axle brake hoses / lines
What to check: Not cracked, worn or leaking; fittings secure; listen for air leaks.
- 25
Drive axle brake chamber (spring brake chamber)
What to check: Not leaking, cracked or dented; mounted securely.
- 26
Drive axle slack adjuster and pushrod
What to check: No broken, loose or missing parts; pushrod moves no more than 1 inch when pulled by hand with the brakes released; about 90 degrees to the chamber when applied.
- 27
Drive axle brake drum and lining
What to check: Drum has no cracks, dents or holes and no loose bolts; lining not worn dangerously thin; no oil or grease contamination on the drum or lining.
- 28
Tractor splash guards / mud flaps
What to check: Not damaged; mounted securely.