The defect
THE DRAGLINKS HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-TILT SEAL ON THE PITMAN END THAT CAN AFFECT THE TAPER FIT OF THE BALL STUD TAPER INTO THE PITMAN ARM. THE RECOMMENDED TORQUE ON THE STUD NUT DOES NOT OVERCOME THE COMPRESSION OF THE ANTI-TILT SEAL.
The risk
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOOSENING OF THE JOINT AND ULTIMATE SEPARATION RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE WASHERS WITH 90 DEGREE FLANGES WITH WASHERS HAVING A 45 DEGREE FLANGE AND SANDWICH THE RUBBER BUSHING IN THE ANTI-TILT SEAL. THE FLANGES ALLOW THE BUSHING TO PROPERLY EXPAND. IF A BODY HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THE CHASSIS, THE PITMAN ARM WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Spartan Alpine | 1996 |
| Spartan Bus | 1996 |
| Spartan Highlander | 1996 |
| Spartan Mountain Master | 1996 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartan Alpine | 1996 | 0 | 3 |
| Spartan Bus | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Spartan Highlander | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Spartan Mountain Master | 1996 | 2 | 3 |
Other steering recalls in 1996
27 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the steering; SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. filed 45 campaigns in all.
| 96V249000 17 Dec 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V229000 18 Nov 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V230000 18 Nov 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V195000 8 Oct 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V187000 26 Sept 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V171000 24 Sept 1996 | WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC. |
| 96V180000 23 Sept 1996 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 96V167000 19 Sept 1996 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996