← NHTSA ODI investigations

NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE88018

Preliminary Evaluation · INSUFFICIENT WELD PENETRAT · Opened 1988-01-14 · Closed 1988-01-28

Investigation

Action number
PE88018
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Open date
1988-01-14
Close date
1988-01-28
Manufacturer
CHALMERS SUSPENSIOUS INTL
Affected makes
CHALMERS; WESTERN STAR; WHITE TRUCK
Affected components
SUSPENSION
Affected model years
1985, 1986, 1987, 9999
Affected (make, year) variants
12

Summary

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ON DECEMBER 7, 1987, CHALMERSSUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT (87E-038) PERTAINING TO INSUFFICIENT WELDPENETRATION OF THE UPPER TORQUE ROD ON THEIR 800 SERIES REAR SUSPENSION.FAILURE OF A WELD COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE REAR AXLE(S) MOVING OUT OFPOSITION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.SEVEN OEM'S WERENOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL DEFECT.ANALYSIS:ONE OF THE OEM'S REFERRED TO ABOVE CONTACTED THE OFFICE OFDEFECTS INVESTIGATION AND REPORTED THAT ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEENDISCOVERED ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED SUSPENSION.ALLEGEDLY THE WELDSFASTENING JOINT ENDS TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED REPLACEMENT TORQUE RODS ALSOHAVE POOR PENETRATION.SEPARATION OF A JOINT END COULD ALLOW MOVEMENT OFTHE REAR AXLE OUT OF POSITION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THEVEHICLE.PROPOSED ACTION:OPEN A PE.CONTACT THE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER AND OBTAININFORMATION ON THE NEW ALLEGATION.===

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI investigation page
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown