NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation EA03006
Engineering Analysis · LORD CORPORATION · SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE
An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
REAR SUSPENSION SEPARATION/FAILURE
THIS INVESTIGATION FOCUSED ON FAILURES OF VELVET-RIDE REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS.THE VELVET- RIDE SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED IN 1998 - 2002 INTERNATIONAL 4700LP TRUCKS WITH AMBULANCE BODIES.THEY USED A UNIQUE METHOD OF INSTALLATION, THAT BEING FLANGE HEAD BOLTS, WHEREAS ALL OTHER VELVET-RIDE SUSPENSION SYSTEM MODELS USED EITHER U-BOLTS OR STUDS WITH NUTS.WHEN THE FLANGE BOLTS FAILED, THE REAR AXLE WOULD SOMETIMES EJECT FROM THE VEHICLE.POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THE FAILURES WERE CORROSION OF THE BOLTS AND EXCESSIVE LOADING OF THE SUSPENSION BY AN AFTER MARKET SYSTEM USED TO PULL DOWN THE BODY TO FACILITATE LOADING PATIENTS INTO THE AMBULANCE. ALL TRUCKS WILL BE RETRO-FITED WITH AN AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF A PROVEN DESIGN.INSTALLATION OF THE NEW SUSPENSION IS BEING COORDINATED WITH INTERNATIONAL TRUCK, THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER.INTERNATIONAL'S DEALER NETWORK WILL PERFORM THE INSTALLATION.THE VELVET-RIDE SUSPENSION PRODUCT LINE WAS SOLD TO LORD CORPORATION IN 2001.LORD HAS NOT SOLD THIS MODEL FOR ANY NEW INSTALLATIONS SINCE IT ACQUIRED THE PRODUCT LINE. THE EA WAS ORIGINALLY OPENED ON LORD CORPORATION SINCE AT THAT TIME, ODI BELIEVED LORD WAS THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER.
An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- EA03006
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis (EA)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- LORD CORPORATION
- Component
- SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE
- Opened
- Apr 29, 2003
- Closed
- Jan 23, 2004
- Associated recall campaign
- 03E060000
Vehicles named in this investigation
6 model years across 1 model
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.