Start Diagnosing Your Hino With These DIY Tricks

A popping noise is never a good sound on your Hino. Over time, you become accustomed to the small hums, buzzes or clicks your set of wheels makes. But if a new noise springs up, chances are, it could be in the chassis. Known as the equivalent of a skeleton for a vehicle, the chassis is the undercarriage of a vehicle which supports the larger interior subsystems and the body of the vehicle itself. And when you're driving a Hino, that's a lot of weight resting on one frame. It's important to keep the chassis in mint condition, if you care about the performance of your truck. As with every vehicle, Hino's see a lot of wear and tear when out on the road and this can directly impact the condition of the chassis. Flying gravel can lodge itself into the frame and heavy road salt, chemicals and excess water can lead to rust and corrosion, ultimately deteriorating the undercarriage of your vehicle. Replacing worn out parts can be expensive, which is why many Hino owners are turnign to DIY practices when repairs are needed. Check out our list of tips and tricks below to restore your chassis to brand new.

Rock Sliders

Typically made for truckers who engage in serious road conditions such as unpaved routes, rock sliders are quickly becoming a popular after-market accessory to protect the underside of your truck. They are made from heavy-duty or tubular steel and run along each side of the vehicle to encompass just beneath the front and rear wheels and the door sills to protect the door sills and door bottoms from damage when crossing large obstacles. If you're a driver who frequents rocky routes, rock sills are a great way to make sure that nothing lodges itself into, or damages the chassis.

Rust Removal

If ignored, rust can lead to extensive corrosive damage on your chassis. It's important to cut away the rust a soon as you see it, and coat your chassis in something to protect it from future reoccurences. You can have a certified service professional slice off rusty sections using a metal cutting disc on an angle grinder, an sand off the rest with a grinder. Once the rust is gone, you can prevent it from coming back by picking up a rust protector spray paint in a colour that blends nicely with your truck.

Strange Noises

If your wheel has ever hit a bump in the road and your truck makes a "chucking" noise, it could indicate that loose or broken exhaust and suspension components. Since noise is easily transferred through the suspension and chassis, it's best to check out the entire chassis, even if you think you've located the source. One of the most common incidences Hino drivers encounter is a loud popping sound coming from beneath the cab while completing a turn. When this occurs, it's usually the bottom of the cushion rubbing against the steel cab bracket. Luckily, there's a quick fx that involves loosening and removing the cab mount bolt. Once that's done, jack up the cab slightly to remove the cab cushion and install a thin rubber gasket between the cushion and bracket. Always remember to install the bolts and tighten before use, to prevent this from happening again. 

At Somerville Hino, we are a certified Hino parts dealer and have Genuine Hino Parts for sale to suit all of your custom repairs. Order your parts today by contacting our Parts Department at (416)-747-7575!