Freightliner Century Class Maintenance Manual

Scheduled maintenance provides a key element for the safe operation of your vehicle. A proper maintenance program also helps to minimize downtime and to safeguard warranties. This maintenance manual provides information necessary for years of safe, reliable, and cost-efficient vehicle operation.

Perform the operations in this maintenance manual at scheduled intervals. Perform the pretrip and post-trip inspections, and daily/weekly/monthly maintenance, as outlined in the vehicle driver’s manual. Major components, such as engines, transmissions, and rear axles, are covered in their own maintenance and operation manuals, that are provided with the vehicle. Perform any maintenance operations listed at the intervals scheduled in those manuals. Your Freightliner Dealership has the qualified technicians and equipment to perform this maintenance for you. They can also set up a scheduled maintenance program tailored specifically to your needs. Optionally, they can assist you in learning how to perform these maintenance procedures.

Freightliner Century Class Parts Replacement Considerations
Do not replace suspension, axle, or steering parts (such as springs, wheels, hubs, and steering gears) with used parts. Used parts may have been subjected to collisions or improper use and have undetected structural damage.

Performing regular maintenance on your Freightliner will help ensure that your Freightliner delivers safe reliable service and optimum performance for years to come. Failure to follow a regular maintenance program can result in inefficient operation and unscheduled down time.

To determine the correct maintenance intervals for your vehicle you must first determine the type of service or conditions the vehicle will be operating in. Generally, most vehicles operate under conditions that fall within one of the four types of service described. Before placing your new vehicle in service, determine the type of service (Service Schedule I, II, III, or IV) that applies to the intended use of the vehicle. After determining the vehicle’s type of service, refer to the service schedule table or the vehicle maintenance schedule table, to determine how often maintenance should be performed.

When the vehicle reaches the distance given for a maintenance interval, see the Maintenance Interval Operation Table for a list of the maintenance operations to be performed at that maintenance interval. Use the maintenance operation reference numbers to find detailed instructions in the manual on each operation.

Freightliner Century Class Service Manual
Service Schedule I (severe service) applies to vehicles that annually travel less than 6000 miles (10000 kilometers) or that operate under severe conditions. Examples of severe service, Schedule I usage include: operation on extremely poor roads or where there is heavy dust accumulation constant exposure to extreme hot, cold, salt-air, or other extreme climates frequent short-distance travel construction site operation city operation (fire truck) or farm operation.

Service Schedule II (short-haul transport) applies to vehicles that annually travel less than 60,000 miles (100 000 kilometers) and operate under normal conditions. Examples of Schedule II usage are: operation primarily in cities and densely populated areas local transport with infrequent freeway travel or high percentage of stop-and-go travel.

Service Schedule III (long-haul transport) is for vehicles that annually travel more than 60,000 miles (100 000 kilometers) with minimal city or stop-and-go operation. Examples of Schedule III usage are: regional delivery that is mostly freeway miles interstate transport or any road operation with high annual mileage.

Service Schedule IV (long haul transport for Optimized Vehicle Configuration) is for vehicles that annually travel over 60,000 miles (100 000 km) and meet the following qualifications:

1. Meritor 15-1/2 inch dampened/ceramic Lite Pedal LTD clutch with sealed release bearing.
2. Synthetic transmission fluid used in transmission.
3. Meritor FF–961 or FF–981 front axle (12,000 lb. capacity) with synthetic lubricant.
4. Meritor RPL series, or Spicer SPL series driveline U-joints.
5. Synthetic lubricant used in rear axle.
6. Equipped with any Freightliner AirLiner suspension.
7. Equipped with Meritor Q-Plus extended-lube cam brakes and automatic slack adjusters, front and rear.
8. Standard brake system package including Bendix AD-9 air dryer—mounted on the right-hand frame rail, located directly behind the front bumper—with heater, and a Bendix air compressor.
9. TRW TAS-65 power steering.