NHTSA Investigation PE05044

LOOSE AXLE HARDWARE

ODI DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM DURING A SERVICE BULLETIN REVIEW.ON JULY 21, 2005, 4-STAR FORWARDED ODI A COPY OF A SERVICE LETTER RECENTLY SENT TO THEIR DEALERS AND OWNERS ADVISING THEM OF THE IMMEDIATE NEED TO INSPECT AND RETORQUE THE MOUNTING BRACKET BOLTS ON THE AXLE SUSPENSION.A LINE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS INSTALLED ON THE AXLE WERE NOT APPROPRIATELY TORQUED. ODI'S INVESTIGATION PROMPTED 4-STAR TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE AXLE CONFIGURATION AND ITS ATTACHING HARWARE.4-STAR HAS NOW CONCLUDED THAT THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ERRONEOUS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: STARTING WITH THE FIRST PRODUCTION TRAILER, A BRACE BAR WAS WELDED TO THE TRAILER'S FRAME TO ADD STABILITY TO THE FLOOR OF THE TRAILER.THE BAR WAS THEN BOLTED TO BRACKETS WITH LOCK NUTS AND THE BRACKETS WERE THEN WELDED TO THE AXLES.THEREFORE, THE ADDED STRENGTH SUPPLIED BY THE WELDS MAKES THE AMOUNT OF TORQUE IRRELEVANT.AT ODI'S REQUEST,4-STAR PROVIDED DATA AND EXAMINED TRAILERS FROM EACH MODEL YEAR AND PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION THAT SUPPORTS THEIR CLAIM.( CONTINUES ON PAGE 2)

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.