The defect
A HARDENED WASHER REQUIRED IN MOUNTING THE UPPER RADIUS ROD BRACKET TO THE TOP OF THE FRONT AXLE WAS OMITTED DURING ASSEMBLY. THE OMISSION OF THE HARDENED WASHER COULD CAUSE A GAP UP TO .063" BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE AND THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. THIS GAP WILL PREVENT THE SPECIFIED CLAMPING FORCES FROM BEING APPLIED TO THE UPPER RADIUS ROD BRACKET. THE INABILITY TO CORRECTLY CLAMP THE UPPER RADIUS ROD BRACKET TO THE AXLE COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL STRESS LOADS TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRACKET DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. CONTINUED OPERATION UNDER THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN VERTICAL BRACKET FRACTURE. IF COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET OCCURRED, THE FRONT AXLE COULD SHIFT, CAUSING BINDING AND RUBBING OF THE STEERING SHAFT AND, EVENTUALLY, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
The remedy
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE BRACKETS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|
Components: SUSPENSION
Other suspension recalls in 1979
24 of the 274 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1979 concerned the suspension; GRUMMAN FLXIBLE CORP. filed 42 campaigns in all.
| 79V275000 28 Dec 1979 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 79V270000 27 Dec 1979 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 79V255000 4 Dec 1979 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 79V254000 3 Dec 1979 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 79V251000 20 Nov 1979 | FIAT MOTORS OF N.A., INC. |
| 79V217000 21 Sept 1979 | PULLMAN, INCORPORATED |
| 79V205000 12 Sept 1979 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 79V193000 28 Aug 1979 | VOLVO OF AMERICA CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1979