Being a trucker might not seem like the most rewarding job, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a job some people choose to pursue nonetheless. And while some jobs are quieter than others, there’s always a search for quiet. When it comes to trucking, that includes the general life style — and the sounds the truck makes, as evidenced in the experimentation of different parts in “The Quest for Peace and Quiet.”
Key Takeaways:
- Noise, Vibration & Harshness is not the name of a truck-chasing law firm.
- NVH is something manufacturers try very hard to engineer out of their products, but it’s often like a game of whack-a-mole. Once you solve one problem, another shows up.
- Engineers do everything possible to eliminate the obvious sources of noise and vibration – they design new cab and engine mounts, they isolate the frame and the powertrain from the cab as much as they can.
“Drivers have been known to tamper with their tractor air suspension leveling valve in the mistaken belief that lowering the ride height will produce a smoother ride. That’s generally not the case. Instead, altering the driveline angle places additional stress on the U-joints, which can instead create vibration, and may ultimately lead to a failure.”