I dont think you can blame Western Star for those problems, it uses the same rear ends or trans as anyone else uses. two things I would be looking at would be driver abuse or service technicians doing the job.

 

My all time fav would be the legendary Ford L9000 with a Cummins N-14 or M-11 . Drove ready-mix trucks for 10 yrs and drove the Volvos (Autocar) Sterling (JUNK) Freightliner , International , Kenworth ( great trucks VERY $$$) . Of course ALL were Cummins powered except a few Cats . Ford made the bright idea of doing away with the L9000 and bringing back the Sterling which most people hated . My company bought Fords for yrs and swithched to International after buying 10 Sterlings and I agree 100 % about quality of Int and Freightliner is pretty sad . Have personally seen the old Big Cam Cummins rip the yoke right of a driveshaft by inexperienced drivers in the mud !!

 

Ohhh how I hated the L9000 Ford , had one customer that had the Cummins K 600 in one and what a bear to work on one..... still have nightmares on doing the front gear housing on that thing and that was 22 years ago let say I am glad the Cabovers are gone forever.....

 

Actually Ford Never Changed Them To Sterling, The Freightlinert Corp. Bought them out and Changed the name to sterling.

 

Those pics are from two years ago. I didn't make it this year.

 

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