TECHNICAL
PROCEDURE

Trailer Suspension Systems


SUBJECT: Bushing Replacement Procedure

LIT NO: L427 
DATE: February 2019
REVISION: H

TRI-FUNCTIONAL® II Wide
Bushing

Wide bushing and bushing tool

TRI-FUNCTIONAL® III
Narrow Bushing

Narrow bushing and bushing tool

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Safety Notices........................................................................................................................ 2
Conventions Applied in This Document.................................................................................................... 2
TRI‑FUNCTIONAL® Bushing Replacement Tools........................................................................................ 4
Pivot Bushing Inspection........................................................................................................................ 5
Pivot Connection Disassembly................................................................................................................ 5
Bushing Removal................................................................................................................................... 9
Evaluating Bushing Tube Edge Wear..................................................................................................... 13
Bushing Installation............................................................................................................................. 15
Suspension Reassembly....................................................................................................................... 20
HT™ Series Y-beam Bushing Replacement............................................................................................ 22

Bushing Replacement Procedure 

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICES

IMPORTANT: An operating procedure, practice or
condition that is essential to emphasize.

Hendrickson literature number T12007 Technical
Procedure General Safety Precautions and Information,
available at www.Hendrickson-intl.com/TrailerLit,
includes important preparation, precautionary and
safety information pertaining to the procedures
included in this document.

Safety alert symbol used to indicate
a condition exists that may result in
personal injury or harm to individuals. It
must be applied to DANGER, WARNING
and CAUTION statements, which
emphasize severity.

To help prevent personal injury and equipment
damage; warnings, cautions and other relative
statements included in T12007 are to be read
carefully and applied during the performance of the
procedures included in this document.

HYPERLINKS

Hyperlinks are identified by a dark grey line under the
linked text. Internal links allow the reader to jump to
a heading, step or page in this document. External
links open the website or document referenced. While
viewing electronically, activate the hyperlink by clicking
on the underlined text.

Improper maintenance, service or repair can cause
damage to the vehicle and other property, personal
injury, unsafe operating conditions and potentially void
the manufacturer’s warranty.

CONTACTING HENDRICKSON

Contact Hendrickson Trailer Technical Services for
technical assistance as needed. To do so, several
options are available. Technical Services must be
contacted before performing any warranty related
service.

CONVENTIONS APPLIED IN THIS
DOCUMENT

Various techniques are used in this document to convey
important information, express safety issues, provide
methods for CONTACTING HENDRICKSON and how to
identify and apply HYPERLINKS.

NOTE: DO NOT service a suspension or any
component that is under warranty without first
contacting Hendrickson Technical Services.

EXPLANATION OF SIGNAL WORDS

Hazard signal words (such as DANGER, WARNING or
CAUTION) appear in various locations throughout this
publication. Information accented by one of these
signal words must be observed at all times. Additional
notes are utilized to emphasize areas of procedural
importance and provide suggestions for ease of repair.
The following definitions comply with ANSI Z535.6 and
indicate the use of safety signal words as they appear
throughout the publication.

Prior to contacting Technical Services, it is best to
have the following information about the vehicle and
Hendrickson suspension available (all that apply):
• Hendrickson suspension information, (refer to L977
Suspension and Axle Identification) –
−− Suspension model number
−− Suspension serial number
−− Approximate number of suspension miles
• Trailer information (located on VIN plate) −− Type (van, reefer, flat bed, etc.)
−− Manufacturer
−− VIN (vehicle identification number)
−− In-service date 1
−− Fleet/owner name
−− Unit #

DANGER Indicates a hazardous situation that,
if not avoided, will result in death or
serious injury.
WARNING Indicates a hazardous situation that,
if not avoided, could result in death or
serious injury.
CAUTION Indicates a hazardous situation that,
if not avoided, could result in minor or
moderate injury.
NOTICE

Indicates information considered
important, but not hazard-related (e.g.
messages relating to property damage).
1

2

If the in-service date is unknown or not available, the vehicle date of
manufacture will be substituted.
L427 H

Bushing Replacement Procedure
• Failure information
−− Description of the system problem, the part
number and/or the part description of the reported
non-functioning part.
−− Date of failure.
−− Where applicable, location of problem on
suspension / trailer (e.g., road side, front axle, rear
axle, curb side rear, etc.).
• Digital photos of suspension and damaged areas.
• Special application approval documentation
(if applicable).

Other related literature may include:
NAME
B106
L54
L466
L578
L579
L583
L589
L750
L893
T82001
SDS

PHONE
Contact Hendrickson directly in the United States at
866‑RIDEAIR (743‑3247). From the menu, select:
• Technical Services/Warranty for technical
information.
• Other selections include:
−− Aftermarket Sales for replacement parts
information and ordering.
−− Original Equipment Sales for parts inquiries and
ordering for trailer manufacturers.

Table 1: Related Literature

Hendrickson reserves the right to make changes and
improvements to its products and publications at any
time. Consult the Hendrickson website
www.Hendrickson-intl.com/TrailerLit
for the latest version of this manual.

PREPARING TRAILER FOR MAINTENANCE
SERVICE

EMAIL
To contact Hendrickson Trailer Technical Services, use
the following e-mail address:

Information for trailer preparation, safety and
precautionary statements, refer to Hendrickson literature
number T12007, available at www.Hendrickson-intl.
com/TrailerLit.

[email protected]

RELATED LITERATURE

NOTE: DO NOT service a suspension or any
components that is under warranty without
first contacting Hendrickson Technical Services.
Refer to CONTACTING HENDRICKSON for details.

If you suspect your version of this or any other
Hendrickson manual is not “up-to-date”, the most
current version is free online at:
www.Hendrickson-intl.com/TrailerLit

WARNING Do not work under a trailer supported
only by jacks. Jacks can slip or fall over,
resulting in serious personal injury.
Always use safety stands to support a
raised trailer.

Available Hendrickson documentation can be viewed or
downloaded from this site.
All Hendrickson online documentation is in PDF format
that requires PDF reader software to open. A free
application is downloadable from Adobe at
http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

L427 H

DESCRIPTION
Pivot Bushing Inspection Procedure
T Series Bushing Replacement Procedure
Bushing Tool Instructions Poster
Preventive Maintenance Guide
Alignment Procedure
Comprehensive Warranty Statement
TRI-FUNCTIONAL® Bushing Replacement Tool Parts List
Bushing Tube Spacer Inspection/Replacement
Procedure
Replacement Bushing Tube Spacer Orientation
TRI-FUNCTIONAL® Bushing Tool Information
www.Hendrickson-intl.com/TrailerLit

3

Bushing Replacement Procedure 

TRI‑FUNCTIONAL® BUSHING
REPLACEMENT TOOLS

WIDE BUSHING TOOL

The wide bushing tool (Figure 1 also shown on front
cover) is used to remove and replace pivot bushings
on all T, HT™ Series 2, INTRAAX® and VANTRAAX®
wide-bushing suspension systems. The 63/4‑inch wide
bushings on these suspensions are commonly referred
to as wide bushing. The TRI-FUNCTIONAL® wide bushing
(abbreviated TF II, is shown in Figure 2 and on the front
cover). It has been produced since May 2003.

NOTE: The bushing replacement tool is not required
for replacing the bushing assembly on an HT
Y-beam suspension. For this suspension type,
begin with PIVOT BUSHING INSPECTION on
page 5 for pivot connection disassembly
and HT™ SERIES Y-BEAM BUSHING
REPLACEMENT on page 22 for bushing
replacement and reassembly.

Bushing position locator

63/4"

Wide bushing tool for use with 6¾‑inch wide bushings
Figure 2: TRI-FUNCTIONAL (TF II) wide bushing

NARROW BUSHING TOOL

The narrow bushing tool (Figure 1, shown on front
cover) is used to remove and replace pivot bushings
on INTRAAX, VANTRAAX and all ULTRAA‑K® suspension
systems. The 35/8‑inch TRI‑FUNCTIONAL narrow bushing
(Figure 3, also shown on front cover) is abbreviated as
TF III and commonly referred to as narrow bushing.

Narrow bushing tool for use with 35/8 ‑inch wide bushings
Figure 1: Hendrickson TRI‑FUNCTIONAL bushing tools

Hendrickson offers two TRI‑FUNCTIONAL bushing
tools (Figure 1 and shown on front cover): one for
TRI‑FUNCTIONAL wide (63/4‑inch wide bushings) and one
for TRI‑FUNCTIONAL narrow (35/8‑inch narrow bushings).
The correct tool to use is easily determined by the
bushing length or frame bracket width.
NOTICE

Bushing position locator

35/8"

Inner metal
diameter
(25/8")

The tools and components cannot be
used interchangeably. The proper tool
must be used for its applicable bushing
type.

Figure 3: TRI-FUNCTIONAL (TF III) narrow bushing

Replacement parts are listed in Hendrickson literature
number L589 TRI‑FUNCTIONAL® Bushing Replacement
Tool Parts List

For more bushing tool drive plate replacement
information, refer to Hendrickson literature number L589
TRI‑FUNCTIONAL Bushing Replacement Tool Parts List.

The bushing replacement procedure described in
this document applies to both bushing tools. Enough
similarity exists between use of the two tools so that a
single procedure can be used to describe the bushing
replacement process.

2

4

If HT Y-beam suspension (both welded collar and QUIK-ALIGN® style pivot
connections), the entire bushing assembly gets replaced, without the need
for a replacement tool. Refer to SUSPENSION REASSEMBLY on page 20.
L427 H

Bushing Replacement Procedure

PIVOT BUSHING INSPECTION

NOTE: Refer to Figure 44 on page 22 for an
exploded view of the HT Y-beam QUIK-ALIGN
pivot connection.

Prior to pivot connection disassembly, bushings
and spacers can be quickly inspected according
to Hendrickson literature numbers B106 and L750
respectively.

1. Remove the TORQ‑RITE® nut from the pivot bolt.
2. Remove the pivot bolt from the frame bracket.

PIVOT CONNECTION DISASSEMBLY

3. Carefully remove the concentric and eccentric
alignment collars.

Prior to disassembly, perform PREPARING TRAILER FOR
MAINTENANCE SERVICE on page 3.

NOTE: If in good condition, they can be potentially
cleaned and reused when the pivot connection
is reassembled with the new bushing.
Otherwise, replace with new.

IMPORTANT: If one bushing is bad on an axle, it is
recommended that both bushings be
replaced.
For HT™ Series Y-Beam pivot connection disassembly,
refer to HT™ SERIES Y-BEAM BUSHING REPLACEMENT on
page 22.

4. Discard the pivot bolt, TORQ‑RITE nut and hardened
flat washers.
IMPORTANT: Whenever the QUIK‑ALIGN style pivot
connection is disassembled or loosened
for any reason, the pivot bolt and
TORQ‑RITE nut must be removed and
discarded. A new shear-type pivot bolt
and TORQ‑RITE nut must be used for
pivot connection reassembly.

Hendrickson suspensions are equipped with either
QUIK‑ALIGN® or WELDED COLLAR style pivot connection
hardware. To disassemble, refer to the below applicable
procedure.
CAUTION Failure to follow these pivot connection
assembly procedures and to properly
torque the pivot connection fasteners
could result in a failed pivot connection
and damage to the axle, suspension or
trailer.

QUIK‑ALIGN

This pivot connection style (Figure 4) can be found on
INTRAAX®, VANTRAAX®, ULTRAA‑K®, HT™ Series and HT
Y-beam suspensions.
Frame bracket

Shear-type pivot bolt
Hardened flat washer
(X2)

Alignment
guides
Square
alignment
hole

Concentric
collar

Suspension
beam

Eccentric
collar
TORQ-RITE® Nut
Spacers
(wear pad X2)

Narrow
bushing

Figure 4: QUIK-ALIGN style pivot connection hardware
(narrow bushing shown)
L427 H

5

Bushing Replacement Procedure 
WELDED COLLAR

1. Carefully cut or grind the Huck fastener from the
Huck bolt (or the nut from the cap screw) and
remove the Huck bolt (or hex cap screw) from the
frame bracket.

This pivot connection style (Figure 5 and Figure 6) can
be found on T and HT Series suspensions with the pivot
fastener attaching the suspension beams to a frame
bracket.
NOTE: Welded collars must be removed for HT Y-beam
suspension bushing assembly replacement.
Refer to Y-BEAM PIVOT CONNECTION
DISASSEMBLY on page 23.

REMOVE
(Huck fastener or cap screw)

Huck
fastener

Back view

Side view

DO NOT REMOVE
(alignment weld)

Heavy hex
cap screw
and nut

Figure 7: Removing welded collar pivot bolt

IMPORTANT: DO NOT remove the alignment weld
(Figure 7). On a frame bracket with the
welded collar style pivot connection,
the bushing can be replaced without
affecting axle alignment.

Figure 5: Welded collar style pivot connection types

Frame bracket

2. Discard the Huck fastener (or the cap screw and
nut).

TORQ-RITE® Nut
Alignment collar

Alignment collar
Hex cap screw
pivot bolt

Delrin® liner
Suspension
beam

Spacers
(wear pad X2)

Wide bushing

Figure 6: Welded collar style pivot connection hardware

The welded collar style pivot connection is either
clamped together with a Huck fastener or torqued and
tack welded together with a 11/8‑inch heavy hex cap
screw and nut.
6

L427 H

Bushing Replacement Procedure
SEPARATING BEAM FROM FRAME BRACKET

4. Inspect bushing tube condition.Some wear
(polished metal) on the edge of the bushing tube
is considered normal (Figure 8) due to the pivoting
motion inherent with this connection. Missing metal