24E031 – Bearing Journals May Not Be Fully Seated – W&C SL2065 Steerable Lift Axle Suspension Systems

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004
Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24E-031
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
Manufacturer Name : Submission Date :
Watson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc. APR 03, 2024 NHTSA Recall No. : 24E-031 Manufacturer Recall No. : W&C 2024-01 Manufacturer Information :
Manufacturer Name : Watson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc.
Address : 725 East University Drive McKinney TX 75069
Company phone : 972-547-6020 Population :
Number of potentially involved : 24 Estimated percentage with defect : 95 % Equipment Information : Brand / Trade 1 :
Model : W&C SL2065 Part No. : 160131 Size : 20,000 lb. rated capacity Function : Lift axles
Descriptive Information : A limited number of Watson & Chalin (“W&C”) SL2065 steerable auxiliary lift axle suspension assemblies 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 : DEC 08, 2023 – DEC 08, 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. W&C has not received any field reports of any such occurrences or any associated accidents.
Description of the Cause : The supplier of the steering knuckle assembly components identified excessive Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24E-031 Page 2 Identification of Any Warning
that can Occur : wear on the tooling used to install the journal rings and inadequate quality measurements performed after such installations.
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 numbers Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer
Name : Hendrickson USA, L.L.C. Address : 2021 Parkside Drive
Schaumburg Illinois 60173
Country : United States Chronology :
10/20/2023 – W&C received preliminary information regarding a potential condition associated with bearing journals not being fully seated on certain steering knuckle assembly components that Hendrickson had supplied to W&C. Such steering knuckle assembly components were equipped on a limited number of W&C SL2065 steerable auxiliary lift axle suspension assemblies. 11/13/2023 – W&C provided Peterbilt Motors Company and Kenworth Truck Company with preliminary information regarding the above-referenced potential condition associated with steering knuckle assembly components equipped on a limited number of W&C SL2065 steerable auxiliary lift axle suspension assemblies. 11/17/2023 – W&C created a new replacement axle subassembly part number intended for installation on affected W&C SL2065 steerable auxiliary lift axle suspension assemblies. 12/08/2023 – W&C started manufacture of the replacement axle subassemblies (including steering knuckles, brakes, hubs, shocks and tie rod assembly components, along with a hardware kit). 12/20/2023 – W&C started (1) shipping the replacement axle subassemblies to appropriate locations as designated by Peterbilt Motors Company and Kenworth Truck Company and (2) and started assisting, as- needed, Peterbilt, Kenworth, and their respective dealers, body builder installers, and/or end user trucking The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24E-031 Page 3 fleets with installation, per W&C instructions, of replacement axle subassemblies on affected W&C SL2065 lift axle suspension assemblies. Description of Remedy :
Description of Remedy Program : W&C will send a formal notification to its affected commercial vehicle
customers of this issue and recommendation they and/or their applicable customers who own any vehicles equipped with the affected W&C SL2065 lift axle suspension assemblies (all manufactured on 12/08/2023) to work with W&C to arrange for and install, per W&C instructions, replacement axle subassemblies free of charge. Such replacement axle subassemblies include steering knuckles, brakes, hubs, shocks and tie rod assembly components, along with a hardware kit. W&C will manage and track all shipments of replacement axle subassemblies. W&C will provide, as applicable, standard allocation of labor hours for installation of the replacement axle subassemblies. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The replacement axle subassemblies include new steering knuckles (with journal rings that are fully seated into the knuckle backbones), brakes, hubs, shocks and tie rod assembly components, along with a hardware kit.
10/20/2023 – Upon receipt of preliminary information regarding the potential steering knuckle condition, W&C inspected and contained all applicable steering knuckle supplied components and completed W&C SL2065 lift axle suspension assemblies within its inventory and not yet shipped to customers. Recall Schedule :
Description of Recall Schedule : W&C has already informally notified its applicable customers regarding
this matter and has starting assisting them with (1) locating affected SL2065 lift axle suspension assemblies, (2) shipping replacement axle subassemblies to appropriate locations as designated by Peterbilt Motors Company and Kenworth Truck Company, and (3) assisting, as-needed, Peterbilt, Kenworth, and their respective dealers, body builder installers, and/or end user trucking fleets with installation, per W&C instructions, of replacement axle subassemblies on affected W&C SL2065 lift axle suspension assemblies. 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: The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24E-031
Page 4
The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573
Name : Peterbilt Motors Company 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
* NR – Not Reported

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