How do I check an excavator undercarriage for wear and damage?

Expert Answer

Start with a clean, level machine and inspect both tracks side by side for uneven wear, loose hardware, oil leaks, cracks, missing shoes, and abnormal sag. A good undercarriage check combines visual inspection, tension checking, and a short travel test so you can spot problems before they become failures.

Walk the full running gear from front to back: track shoes, track chain, sprockets, bottom rollers, carrier rollers, idlers, recoil/tensioner, and track frame. Look for broken grouser bars, bent shoes, dry or seized rollers, oil around seals, side wear on links, and packed mud or rock that can force components out of alignment. Compare the left and right sides; one side wearing faster often points to tension, alignment, or operating-pattern issues.

Next, check track tension according to the machine manual. Tracks that are too tight increase wear on rollers, idlers, and sprockets, while tracks that are too loose can derail or hammer the undercarriage. During travel, listen and feel for pulling, vibration, squealing, or uneven movement. After work, clean out debris and recheck anything that looked unusual.

If you are diagnosing wear or planning replacement, VANROCK supplies undercarriage parts through its dealer network for 350+ machinery brands and quotes pricing on request. If your machine is a Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi, or another OEM brand, VANROCK is an independent manufacturer not affiliated with the OEM.

Answered by VANROCK specialists · Published 10/9/2026