Selecting a Custom Driveline Store: Evaluation, Balance, Custom U Bolts, and Repair Factors To Consider for Work Trucks

Business Name: Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment
Address: 2640 State Hwy 99 N #1, Eugene, OR 97402
Phone: (541) 688-8686

Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment

Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment is a long-established truck parts and repair company located in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1949, the business has served the region for more than 70 years, building a reputation as a reliable source for heavy-duty truck parts, custom fabrication, and equipment repair. The company works with commercial vehicle owners, fleets, and equipment operators who need dependable parts and services to keep their trucks operating safely and efficiently.

A core focus of Anderson Brothers is providing specialized services for heavy-duty trucks and equipment. Their shop offers custom driveline fabrication and repair, helping customers build, rebuild, or balance drivelines for a wide range of applications. They also specialize in custom U-bolt bending and fabrication, producing precisely sized components for trucks and other heavy equipment. In addition, the company sells both new and used truck parts, stocking a large inventory and offering local delivery in the Eugene and Springfield areas.

Beyond parts sales, Anderson Brothers provides repair and maintenance services for truck components such as transmissions, differentials, and related systems. Their experienced team focuses on delivering practical, cost-effective solutions that help keep trucks and equipment running reliably. With decades of experience and a commitment to local service, Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment continues to support the trucking and transportation industries throughout Eugene and surrounding communities.

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2640 State Hwy 99 N #1, Eugene, OR 97402
Business Hours
Monday: 7:30 AM–6 PM Tuesday: 7:30 AM–6 PM Wednesday: 7:30 AM–6 PM Thursday: 7:30 AM–6 PM Friday: 7:30 AM–6 PM Saturday: 8 AM–2 PM Sunday: Closed
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andersonbrotherste/


Work trucks make their keep under load, not on stands. When vibration starts sneaking in at 45 to 55 mph, when a center carrier groans on departure, or a yoke slings grease and dust like confetti, performance falls off a cliff. A great driveline store keeps your iron moving. The difference in between a capable store and a careless one is the distinction in between a week of callbacks and a year of quiet miles. If you spec and service fleets, or you run a single-ton dump that needs to start every cold early morning in January, you appreciate who touches your driveline.

This guide concentrates on evaluation, balance, Custom U Bolts, and repair choices with the truths of work trucks in mind. The details matter. Drivelines reside in a geometry issue that changes with every load, every suspension tweak, and every used bushing. The right shop comprehends that and acts accordingly.

What quality appears like in a driveline shop

The best driveline outfits are part machine shop, part diagnostic lab. They measure two times, file angles, and ask concerns about how the truck actually works. A decent shop is tidy where it counts. Their balancers are tidy and kept, their V-blocks hold true, and you can see old shafts tagged by consumer and condition. You will see yoke protectors on ended up pieces, labels on tubing sizes, and a rack of weld yokes and slip stubs that cover the common service classes from light-duty half lots to Class 7 and 8.

Staff is the greatest tell. If the counter individual asks for running angles and wheelbase rather than simply a VIN, you are in good hands. If a tech walks the truck with you, takes a look at axle wrap evidence on the springs, and notes a dinged up tube half-hidden by an exhaust heat guard, much better still. I rely on shops that can describe why a double cardan was chosen for a lifted service body F-350, and why a long single-piece might be the much better path for a Class 6 box truck with a low trip height and a long wheelbase. There are trade-offs, and they will say them out loud.

The stakes for work trucks

A buzzing driveline is more than a convenience problem. Vibration chews through u-joints and pinion seals, loosens fasteners, and fatigues tubes. On multi-piece drivelines, a stopping working center support bearing can turn a simple service see into a crossmember and flooring repair if it releases at speed. Downtime costs rapidly stack up: one day off a task for a bucket truck or a dump can cost a number of thousand dollars between lost billable hours and rescheduling. Spend a bit more in advance on a store that checks correctly, and you redeem quiet, safe miles and fewer roadside headaches.

Inspection that surpasses the bench

You can diagnose quite a bit before you ever pull the shaft. First, a roadway test informs the speed at which the vibration appears, which hints at whether it is first-order driveshaft speed, tire speed, or an engine harmonic. If the vibration is available in constant at a particular miles per hour throughout all gears, it frequently points at the shaft. If it reoccurs with throttle input, look at pinion angle changes and u-joint brinelling.

Under the truck, search for witness marks. Intense rings at the u-joint caps recommend spinning caps due to loose straps or incorrectly sized bearing caps. Rust dust at the cups is a free gift for dry joints. A moist band around television a foot from the weld can conceal a minor damage that changed wall thickness, which will toss balance off even if runout procedures marginally within spec. A great shop will clean up television, dial it up in V-blocks, and examine overall showed runout along multiple points, not simply at the ends.

On two-piece drivelines, a center carrier bearing makes complex the image. The rubber isolator can look fine at rest, yet collapse under torque. I like stores that pry the carrier gently to replicate load, checking for extreme motion or rubber tearing. The bearing itself ought to spin without gritty feel. If you have a truck that tows heavy or carries a crane body, the carrier sees more pounding than the spec sheet anticipates. Changing it preemptively while the shaft is down is frequently less expensive than repeating labor later.

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Measuring and documenting angles

Geometry ruins more driveshafts than bad parts. A strong shop documents angles and sets a target based upon the truck's function. They will put an inclinometer on the transmission output, the driveshaft tube, and the pinion yoke. On multi-piece shafts, they do the same on both sections and reference the carrier bracket to the frame. The objective is generally 1 to 3 degrees of operating angle at each joint with parallel or near-parallel output and pinion lines, remedying for engine mount sag and rear suspension behavior. A lifted work truck that still carries heavy material typically requires a different strategy than a shopping mall spider. More angle equates to more speed variation in the joint, which requires to be canceled by an equivalent and opposite angle elsewhere. Miss this, and you will chase phantom vibrations for weeks.

Shops that develop for fleets typically fabricate basic adjustable shims or suggest pinion wedges to satisfy angle targets. You might hear them suggest a double cardan in the front of a four-wheel-drive chassis if the drop from transfer case to front differential is serious. In the rear of a greatly crammed truck with a leaf spring pack, they might plan for packed angles to be somewhat various than unloaded ones. That is honest attention to use case, not a one-size answer.

Balance is not just a device reading

Dynamic balancing on a contemporary balancer is important, but it is not the whole game. A shaft can be completely stabilized at the wrong angle set or with a stiff slip that binds under torque, and the truck will still shake. Good shops examine runout, stage, and spline fit before they spin the shaft. They mark all yokes and tube ends so reassembly lands in the exact same clocking. If they re-tube, they line up yokes exactly in stage and confirm weld integrity and straightness before balancing. When the balancing weights go on, they must use tack welds and final welds that do not get too hot and misshape the tube.

Balance specs differ by service class. For light-duty trucks, you often see tolerances on the order of a few gram-inches. For heavy shafts, the outright numbers are larger, however the principle is the exact same: attain smooth operation throughout the common operating rpm variety. A store that asks your cruising speeds, PTO rpm, and whether the truck hangs around in low variety reveals they comprehend the window they need to strike. Years ago, I watched a balancer tech add 2 small weights 180 degrees apart to tweak a shaft predestined for a local sewer jetter truck that sat at 2,400 shaft rpm for extended periods. They evaluated it at that target rpm rather than simply at a standard low speed, which saved the city crew a lot of cabin buzz.

Material choices, yokes, and functional components

Truck drivelines are not glamorous, but the parts menu matters. Tubes come in a number of diameters and wall thicknesses. A longer wheelbase service truck with a welder and crane perched aft requires sufficient stiffness to avoid vital speed concerns. A good shop will compute or at least recommendation crucial speed standards and will recommend upsizing tube size or wall density if the current construct is limited. They may even suggest transforming a long single-piece shaft to a two-piece with a carrier to raise the safe operating rpm margin.

U-joints can be found in various series with needle bearing counts and bearing cap diameters matched to the torque load. Off-brand joints with careless tolerances will end up costing more. For work trucks, I choose superior joints with strong crosses and zerk fittings where practical, but sealed sturdy joints have their location in mud and grit if maintenance compliance is poor. The store needs to ask how your trucks are greased and at what intervals. If they never ever see a grease gun, sealed may outlast neglected serviceables.

Carrier bearings, slip yokes, flange yokes, and splines all deserve attention. Extreme play at the slip will imitate an out-of-balance shaft. Rusty or galled splines bind, which loads joints unpredictably. If a yoke is pitted at the seal surface, changing it while the shaft is down saves a comeback for a leakage. Good stores stock the typical Truck Parts that wear out the most: u-joints in the typical 1310, 1330, 1350, 1410, 1480 series and their heavy-duty variants, carrier bearings for popular fleet chassis, and weld yokes and tube yokes that match OEM dimensions.

Custom U Bolts and appropriate clamping

Loose or misfit U-bolts destroy new work. Axle U-bolts hold leaf packs to the axle and indirectly control pinion angle under load. Used, stretched, or incorrect-diameter U-bolts permit the axle to stroll on the spring pack, altering angles and inducing vibration. On top of that, yoke strap bolts and U-bolts at the pinion yoke demand precise torque and clean threads to avoid spinning caps.

A shop that offers Custom U Bolts can conserve a day or more when a truck is paralyzed. They bend from quality rod stock, cut threads easily, and match bend radii to the spring perch. If you have non-standard spring packs or an aftermarket axle swap, this service is necessary. You should see them take measurements, validate leg length and inside width, and ask about torque specifications. For a medium-duty truck, U-bolt torque numbers can strike triple digits in foot-pounds, and re-torque after 100 to 500 miles is not optional. A correct shop will stress that and, if they are installing, will paint-mark nuts so you can see if anything withdraw during early use.

Repair or replace: finding the inflection point

Not every shaft should have a complete rebuild. In some cases a simple re-balance and fresh joints suffice. Other times a re-tube is smarter. The decision sits on a few realities: tube condition, yoke wear, service history, and expense versus downtime. If a tube has a crease, even shallow, I favor replacement. Creases concentrate tension and tend to break later. If yokes are egged or the bearing cap bores have elongated, you will chase after cap spin no matter how tight you torque. Change the yokes in that case, or keep a spare shaft ready to go.

On older fleet trucks that see salt, replacing the slip stub and spline can bring back a great deal of lost smoothness. You can feel the difference when the slip moves like it should. A shop with a reasonable stock can often turn a re-tube and new slip in a day. Complete custom or unusual flanges can stretch that to numerous days while parts ship. I keep a spare shaft for the worst transgressors in a fleet because pulling a spare from the rack beats waiting when a bearing takes off midweek.

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Turnaround, logistics, and communication

Time is a resource. A shop that promises the world without asking for context makes me anxious. For a standard u-joint and balance on a one-piece shaft, same day is often possible if you call ahead. For a two-piece with carrier and yoke replacement, next day is reasonable. Totally custom builds, oddball flanges, or hard-to-source weld yokes can take three to 5 service days. If a shop explains this up front, you can plan truck rotations.

I value stores that identify shafts with orientation arrows, u-joint series, and torque specifications on the return. Basic directions decrease install mistakes. Some compose angle targets on the work order and hand you a copy. When there is a presumed angle issue on the truck, they might send out a tech out with an angle finder to validate, or they will coach your mechanics through the measurements by phone. That level of interaction lower misdiagnosis and saves both sides a headache.

Field measurement done right

If you are buying a custom shaft or altering wheelbase, the measurements you bring to the store drive the drivelines construct. Getting it wrong by even half an inch can result in inadequate spline engagement or bottoming the slip under compression. A determined, repeatable method matters.

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Use a good tape, get the truck on its weight, and if you can, load it the way it usually runs. Step from the face of the transmission output seal to the centerline of the rear u-joint cap, or from flange face to flange face if your truck utilizes flange style connections. Take angles at each yoke so the store can forecast running angles. On two-piece shafts, measure from flange to provider install and then provider to pinion. If your leaf springs are worn out and arch changes under load, inform the store; they can factor that into slip length and angle choices. A little extra spline travel can conserve you from bottoming out when you struck a hole while loaded.

The economics: what you must anticipate to spend

Numbers differ by region and supply, however basic varieties assist planning. A balance and u-joint replacement on a light-duty one-piece shaft may run a couple of hundred dollars, depending on joint quality. Re-tubing with new weld yokes and a fresh balance can extend into the mid hundreds. Add a provider bearing and you will see a bit more labor and parts expense. On medium-duty equipment, bigger series joints and much heavier tube increase prices. Custom U Bolts are normally a modest line product, but they are vital when you require them same day. I prevent the cheapest parts bin. A stopped working bargain u-joint on a packed truck in traffic is a bad trade.

Downtime costs more than parts most days. If a somewhat greater parts expense purchases dependability and a service warranty you can impose, it frequently pencils out. Some shops use fleet prices or prioritize industrial accounts. If you bring them consistent, clean measurements and install their work thoroughly, they will prioritize you when something immediate pops up.

Real-world examples that highlight the choices

A local rake truck can be found in with a consistent 50 miles per hour vibration that did not alter with equipment. Tires were new, and the axle had actually just recently been re-geared. The store found the rear pinion angle at almost 7 degrees nose down, likely from years of work and an additional spreader mounted aft. They set it to about 2.5 degrees with wedges, re-balanced the rear shaft, and replaced the carrier. The truck ran quiet for the remainder of the season. Without the angle repair, they would have eaten through joints again by February.

A cable television service bucket truck had actually duplicated rear u-joint failures. Twice the shop replaced joints and re-balanced. The third time, they noticed the yoke bores were somewhat out of round. New yokes and a slip stub fixed it. Low-cost joints became part of the earlier failures too. They switched to a premium 1480 series joint and saw no further problems for more than a year and approximately 25,000 miles of stop-and-go service.

A landscaper lifted a three-quarter-ton pickup and transformed to larger tires. The angle at the rear joint increased, and a light shudder began on launch. The driveline shop recommended a double cardan at the transfer case and changed the rear pinion to intend more closely at the rear section of the shaft. Balance alone would not have actually resolved it. When geometry matched the hardware, the shudder went away.

When to include the shop before you modify

Suspension modifications, PTO setups, longer wheelbases for energy bodies, and axle swaps all impact driveline habits. Before you devote to a new spring pack or a frame stretch, speak to the driveline shop you trust. They can sketch out how your options effect angles and crucial speed. Sometimes the option is straightforward: upsize tube, split the shaft, or plan for a various yoke. Other times a small modification in advance conserves you from going after a persistent vibration later on. If you are adding a hydraulic pump PTO that runs at a set rpm for hours, tell them that number so they can balance the shaft in that window.

The indications you have the right partner

Shops that do it right are foreseeable. They ask how the truck operates in real life, not just what it is. They balance with intent, procedure with care, and stock the Truck Parts that matter for your fleet. They construct Custom U Bolts without drama and hand you hardware that fits. Their invoices and tags check out like a record you can use later, listing u-joint series, tube size, and any angle notes. And when something goes sideways, they answer the phone and help you repair it instead of blame the truck or the driver.

Here is a short, practical list you can utilize when searching a driveline shop for work trucks:

    Do they measure and record running angles, not just balance the shaft? Can they discuss tube size and critical speed options in plain language? Do they stock common u-joint series, provider bearings, and yokes for your service class? Will they make Custom U Bolts to spec and offer appropriate torque guidance? Do they provide useful turn-around times and communicate parts lead times honestly?

Installation discipline in your own shop

Even the best driveline will not survive sloppy install work. Clean the yoke bores. Use new straps or appropriately torqued U-bolts. Do not hammer caps into place; utilize a press or vise to seat them squarely. Ensure the slip stub is totally engaged to a safe depth, with adequate travel left for suspension compression. If your shop paints index marks, line them up. After set up, a fast road test on a known route at normal cruise speed verifies the fix. I ask drivers to note particular speeds that feel smooth or rough. Those details help if you require to circle back.

Re-torque U-bolts holding axles to springs after the very first hundred miles approximately. I have seen brand name new spring packs shift a little under first heavy loads and alter pinion angle by a degree or more. A quick re-check captures those early shifts before they create a complaint.

Questions to ask before licensing work

You do not require to be a driveline engineer to make great decisions. A couple of targeted questions unlock clarity.

    What are my operating angles now, and what are you targeting? Will you re-tube or try to correct the alignment of, and why? What u-joint series and brand name are you installing? What is the slip engagement at ride height, and how much travel is left? Can you balance at a specific rpm that matches my cruise or PTO speed?

The answers need to be matter-of-fact. If a shop dodges or speaks in vague terms, keep moving.

Warranty and the worth of documented work

Shops that back up their work offer clear, written guarantees tied to parts and labor. They usually omit abuse and contamination, which is fair. What makes the service warranty helpful is good documentation. If they taped angles, joint series, and tube size, you both have a standard. If a failure happens, it is easier to determine whether something altered in the truck or if a part simply stopped working too soon. Fleets that keep those records together with lorry upkeep logs find warranty claims smoother and trust grows on both sides.

Sourcing, parts quality, and supply chain reality

Recent years have taught everyone that supply chains flex and break. A smart shop diversifies sources without compromising quality. They know which u-joint lines hold up under plow responsibility and which carrier bearings survive grit and brine. If a specific weld yoke is months out, they might propose a common-flange conversion with matching bolt pattern and pilot to keep you moving, and they will describe any compromises. Prevent mystery-brand joints and bearings unless downtime forces your hand. Conserving twenty bucks on a joint that stops working in two months is not savings.

Final thoughts from the field

I have actually seen new shafts pulled back for rework since a truck left on unequal tire pressures vibrated hard enough to mask the real problem. I have actually seen completely well balanced assemblies rattle on launch because a torn transmission mount permitted the output to swing. The driveline never lives alone. A great shop understands where its limits are and when to suggest a suspension or mount assessment before they bonded anything.

Choose partners who appreciate measurement, who construct cleanly, and who interact plainly. Give them the info they need: realistic loads, typical speeds, and the peculiarities of your routes. Let them provide the right parts, from quality joints to Custom U Bolts that actually fit. Your trucks will run quieter, your teams will grumble less, and your calendar will hold less unscheduled stops. That is the return on doing driveline work the right way.

Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment is located in Eugene, Oregon
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment was founded in 1949
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment serves commercial truck owners
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment serves fleet operators
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment provides heavy-duty truck parts
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment provides truck equipment repair services
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment specializes in driveline fabrication
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment performs driveline repair
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment offers custom U-bolt bending
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment manufactures custom U-bolts
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment sells new truck parts
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment sells used truck parts
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment maintains heavy-duty trucks
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment repairs truck transmissions
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment repairs truck differentials
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment supports the trucking industry
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment operates in Lane County, Oregon
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment provides parts delivery services
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment supplies components for heavy equipment
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment serves customers in Eugene and Springfield, Oregon
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment has a phone number of (541) 688-8686
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment has an address of 2640 State Hwy 99 N #1, Eugene, OR 97402
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment has a website https://andersonbrotherste.com/
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment has Google Maps listing https://maps.app.goo.gl/ta67Qi9fc5DCZZzp7
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment has Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/andersonbrotherseugene
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment has an Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/andersonbrotherste/
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment won Top Driveline and Truck Part Company 2025
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment earned Best Customer Service Award 2024
Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment was awarded Best Custom U Bolts 2025

People Also Ask about Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment


What does Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment do in Eugene, Oregon?

Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment is a Eugene-based truck parts and repair company that provides custom U-bolt bending, driveline repair and replacement, new and used truck parts, and other medium- and heavy-duty truck services. They have served the area since 1949.

Where is Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment located?

Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment is located at 2640 Highway 99 N, Eugene, Oregon 97402. Our website also lists phone number (541) 688-8686 and business hours for local customers needing parts or repair service.

How long has Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment been in business?

Anderson Brothers has been serving Eugene since 1949. The business is a long-established local provider of truck parts, fabrication, and repair services.

Does Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment sell new and used truck parts?

Yes. Anderson Brothers sells both new and used truck parts for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. We focus on parts categories such as brakes and drums, wheel shafts, Baldwin filters, straps and tie downs, exhaust parts, and other accessories.

Does Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment offer local truck parts delivery?

Yes. The company offers local delivery for truck parts in Eugene and Springfield, and our truck parts page also notes delivery to Eugene, Springfield, and surrounding areas.

What driveline services does Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment provide?

Anderson Brothers specializes in custom driveline solutions, including driveline replacement, drive shaft repair, and precision fabrication. These services are available for heavy trucks, cars, and pickup trucks.

Can Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment make custom U-bolts?

Yes. We offer custom U-bolt bending in Eugene and can produce U-bolts in different lengths, widths, thread sizes, and thicknesses. We can bend both round and square U-bolts depending on the application.

What truck repair services does Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment offer?

We perform repair and maintenance work for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, including flywheel resurfacing, oil changes, brake services, suspension repair, and king pin replacement. We work to reduce downtime and keep trucks performing at their best.

What truck brands does Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment service and supply parts for?

Anderson Brothers says it services and supplies parts for major truck and equipment brands including Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Mack, Volvo, and Cummins, among others.

Who owns Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment?

Anderson Brothers is now led by the Weld Family, who also own Buck’s Sanitary Services and Royal Flush Environmental Services. The current ownership remains focused on serving Eugene and the surrounding community.

Where is Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment located?

The Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment is conveniently located at 2640 State Hwy 99 N #1, Eugene, OR 97402. You can easily find directions on Google Maps or call at (541) 688-8686 Monday through Friday 7:30am to 6:00pm, Saturday 8:00am to 2:00pm. Closed Sundays.


How can I contact Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment?


You can contact Anderson Brothers Truck & Equipment by phone at: (541) 688-8686, visit their website at https://andersonbrotherste.com/ or connect on social media via Facebook or Instagram

Visitors enjoying outdoor time at Alton Baker Park are only a short drive from expert Drivelines repair, Custom U Bolts services, and high-quality Truck Parts.