23E095 – HAUX 2023-01 – Axle Spindles May Fracture – Hendrickson COMPOSILITE EXS20 & SC20 Lift Axles

SEOCONTENT-START

OMB Control No.: 2127-0004
Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-095
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
Manufacturer Name : Submission Date :
Hendrickson USA. L.L.C. DEC 18, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23E-095 Manufacturer Recall No. : HAUX 2023-01 Manufacturer Information :
Manufacturer Name : Hendrickson USA. L.L.C. Address : 2021 Parkside Drive
Schaumburg IL 60173
Company phone : 630-773-9111
Population :
Number of potentially involved : 131 Estimated percentage with defect : 95 %
Equipment Information : Brand / Trade 1 :
Model : Hendrickson
COMPOSILITE EXS20 and SC20 Part No. : Multiple part no’s. Size : 20,000 lb. rated capacity Function : Lift axles
Descriptive Information : A limited number of Hendrickson COMPOSILITE EXS20 and SC20 steerable auxiliary lift axle suspension assemblies and individual steering knuckle assembly components are equipped with bearing journals that may not have been seated correctly to the backbones of the left and right-side steering knuckle assembly components during manufacture.
Production Dates : SEP 19, 2023 – OCT 18, 2023
Description of Defect :
Description of the Defect : The above-referenced bearing journals may not be fully seated to the backbones of the left and right-side steering knuckle assembly components in order for the wheel end hub assemblies to be properly installed.
FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR
Description of the Safety Risk : In some cases, the above-referenced condition may cause a loss of oil
lubricant from the wheel end hub assemblies. Over an extended period of operation, use of the lift axle suspension assemblies in this condition can result in (1) the respective axle spindles to become loose from the steering knuckle assemblies or otherwise fracture and/or (2) wheel end hub damage. This can further result in foreign object debris on the roadway, increasing the risk of a crash and/or injury. Hendrickson has not received any field reports
of any such occurrences or any associated accidents. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-095 Page 2 Description of the Cause : Hendrickson identified excessive wear on the tooling used to install the journal rings and inadequate quality measurements performed after such installations. Identification of Any Warning
that can Occur : Potential signs of oil lubricant leaking from the wheel end hub assemblies. Involved Components : Component Name : Steering knuckle assemblies
Component Description : Steering knuckle assemblies equipped with bearing journals Component Part Number : multiple part no’s. Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer
Name : NR Address : NR
NR
Country : NR Chronology :
09/21/2023 – Hendrickson manufacturing group first learned of difficulty during its assembly process with installing steering knuckle assembly components and certain adjacent parts on a particular lift axle suspension assembly. 09/21/2023 – Hendrickson encountered non buildable assembly issues on other Air Disk Brake lift axle suspension assemblies. Determined the issue was associated with bearing journals not being fully seated on steering knuckle assembly components. 11/07/2023– Hendrickson engineering continued its investigation, testing, and analysis as to how the subject condition may affect the operating condition and performance of lift axle suspension assemblies in the field. Determined scope and details associated with proposed field inspection instructions and, based on inspection results, what components should be replaced on affected steering knuckle assembly components and/or complete lift axle suspension assemblies shipped to applicable customers. 11/13/2023 – Hendrickson began conferring with its other applicable vehicle manufacturer customers about the subject condition, the affected steering knuckle assembly components and/or complete lift axle suspension assemblies, proposed field inspection process, and proposed replacement of applicable components. The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-095 Page 3 Description of Remedy :
Description of Remedy Program : Hendrickson will send a formal notification to its affected commercial
vehicle and equipment manufacturer customers of this issue and recommendation they and/or their applicable customers who own any vehicles equipped with the affected COMPOSILITE EXS20 and SC20 lift axle suspension assemblies or individual steering knuckle assembly components (manufactured from 09/19/2023 to 10/18/2023) to: (1) use Hendrickson’s instructions for removing brake drums, wheel end hubs, and related components to inspect and measure the journal ring installation dimensions; and (2) work with Hendrickson to arrange for and install replacement component service kits free of charge. Such service kits will include replacement steering knuckle assemblies, wheel end hubs, and related fasteners and other components. Hendrickson will manage and track all shipments of replacement service kits. Hendrickson will provide, as applicable, standard allocation of labor hours for installation of the replacement service kits. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component :
Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The replacement steering knuckle assemblies will include journal rings that are fully seated into the knuckle backbones.
10/17/2023– Identified root causes of subject condition included a worn/ damaged die used to install the subject bearing journals. 10/18/2023 – Hendrickson (1) changed out the die used to install the subject bearing journals, (2) inspected and contained all applicable steering knuckle assembly components and completed lift axle suspension assemblies within Hendrickson’s inventory and not yet shipped to customers, and (3) implemented an enhanced quality assurance inspection procedure and revised installation press maintenance protocol. 10/30/2023 – Implemented new temporary replacement die in the bearing journal installation press work center. 11/03/2023 – Implemented controller program revision for the installation press to ensure machine cycles are complete and result in fully seated bearing journals. Revised training guide for installation press operators and conducted new training. 11/10/2023 – Revised manufacturing line process audit protocol with respect to new training guide and new quality control plan. A new permanent replacement die is scheduled for installation on 12/18/2023 and a new gauge system is planned for the bearing journal installation press work center. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : Hendrickson has begun informally notifying its applicable customers The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-095 Page 4 regarding this matter and assisting them to (1) locate affected steering knuckle assembly components and/or completed lift axle suspension assemblies, (2) facilitate proper inspections of such assemblies, and (3) install applicable retrofit components. Formal updated notifications will start within 30 days.
Planned Dealer Notification Date : NR – NR Planned Owner Notification Date : NR – NR Purchaser Information :
The following manufacturers purchased this defective/noncompliant equipment for possible use or installation in new motor vehicles or new items of motor vehicle equipment: Name : Peterbilt Motors Company Address : 3200 Airport Road
Denton TX 76207 Country : US
Company Phone : 940-220-2760 Name : Kenworth Mexicana, c/o Peterbilt Motors Address : 3200 Airport Road
Denton TX 76207 Country : US
Company Phone : 940-220-2760 Name : Kenworth Truck Company Address : 10630 NE 38th Place Kirkland WA 98033 Country : US
Company Phone : 425-828-5000 Name : Mack Trucks, Volvo Group Trucks Address : 8003 Piedmont Triad Parkway Greensboro NC 27409 Country : US
Company Phone : 301-573-5972 Name : Volvo Trucks North America, Volvo Group Address : 8003 Piedmont Triad Parkway Greensboro NC 27409 Country : US
Company Phone : 301-573-5972 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-095
Page 5
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
Name : Terex Advance Mixer Address : 7727 Freedom Way Fort Wayne IN 46818 Country : US
Company Phone : 260-213-4165
Name : Watson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc. Address : 725 East University Dr. McKinney TX 75069 Country : US
Company Phone : 972-838-1480
* NR – Not Reported

**************************************************************************************************************

**************************************************************************************************************

SEOCONTENT-END