That Tingling Sensation

The driver climbs out of the cab, rubbing a leg when dropping the truck off for regular service.

“How’s your day going?” you ask.

“Great!” the driver responds, “Except for my leg going to sleep.”

“Yeah, I hate it when that happens” you respond.

rubber mountings and grommets Front Cab Mount Bolt Repair

Click to enlarge.

The conversation goes on as you and the driver discuss the items due for service, and the driver’s tingling leg is quickly forgotten. However, driver discomfort can be any important clue to potential issues, revealing areas of the vehicle in need of inspection and maintenance — namely cab mountings and other rubber connections between the cab and chassis.

Vibrations naturally exist in all components but are particularly prevalent in the moving parts of the drive-train. These vibrations happen when the vehicle is in operation and do not necessarily indicate a problem with any particular component or system. Since these vibrations occur naturally, rubber mountings that separate the cab and chassis throughout minimize the vibrations that reach the cab and cause that tingling sensation felt by the driver and passengers.

rubber mountings and grommets Front Cab Mount Bolt Repair

Click to enlarge.

Unfortunately, the rubber mountings and grommets do wear out or get compressed, resulting in direct contact between the cab and chassis — causing those uncomfortable vibrations. Sometimes there is no indication that this contact has taken place, other than when the driver begins to experience tingling or other discomfort.

So, it’s a good idea not only to pay attention to the driver’s discomfort, but also to include a quick visual inspection of cab mountings and connecting grommets on a maintenance list as a reminder to check these parts on a regular basis. Truck repair information resources like TruckSeries from Mitchell 1 provide information about these components, along with illustrations like the ones shown below, to guide you to the correct component locations and procedures.

These steps can keep those chassis vibrations at bay, helping drivers stay comfortable and alert as they operate the vehicle.

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About the Author

Jake Schell

Jake Schell is an editorial consultant with Mitchell 1. Previously, he served as Product Manager for the Commercial Vehicle Group from 2002 to 2023. Prior to joining Mitchell 1, Jake spent 20 years as a technician. He holds a Chevrolet Master certification in the transmission category as well as ASE certifications in both cars and trucks.