CAMPAIGN:LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT AND TIE NUT. Buick Regal 1988

SUBJECT: LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD NUTS

MODELS AFFECTED: 1988 BUICK REGAL

NOTICE: THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES BULLETIN 88-C-9 DATED APRIL, 1988, FOR CORRECTIONS TO THE PARTS INFORMATION, SERVICE PROCEDURE, AND WARRANTY INFORMATION SECTIONS. PLEASE DISCARD 88-C-9.

DEFECT INVOLVED

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY MAY EXIST IN SOME 1988 BUICK REGAL MODEL VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH A CONDITION THAT COULD ALLOW THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT TO BECOME LOOSE. ADDITIONALLY, A SMALL NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES COULD HAVE TIE ROD BALL STUD NUTS THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN. CONTINUED OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH A LOOSE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT OR A LOOSE TIE ROD BALL STUD NUT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF THAT JOINT. IN EITHER CASE, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD RESULT AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING COULD OCCUR.

DEALER ACTION

TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURRING, BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE REPLACED AND THE TIE ROD BALL STUD NUT TORQUE WILL BE CHECKED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

INVOLVED VEHICLES

INVOLVED ARE CERTAIN 1988 BUICK REGAL MODEL VEHICLES PRODUCED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING VIN BREAKPOINTS:

PLANT FROM THROUGH AND INCLUDING

OSHAWA J1400064 J1403487

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP FROM THIS TIME FORWARD.

WHENEVER A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN IS TAKEN INTO YOUR NEW OR USED VEHICLE INVENTORY, OR IT IS IN YOUR DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE IN THE FUTURE, YOU SHOULD TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO BE SURE THE CAMPAIGN CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE BEFORE RESELLING OR RELEASING THE VEHICLE.

OWNERS OF VEHICLES RECENTLY SOLD FROM YOUR NEW VEHICLE INVENTORY ARE TO BE CONTACTED BY THE DEALER, AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO MAKE THE REQUIRED CORRECTION ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN.

DEALER MATERIAL

IF YOUR DEALERSHIP HAS VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

- LIST OF ALL VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN SHIPPED TO YOUR DEALERSHIP.

- ONE (1) CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL PER VEHICLE INVOLVED.

INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER COMPUTER LISTINGS. COMPUTER LISTINGS CONTAIN THE COMPLETE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, OWNER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA, AND ARE FURNISHED TO THE INVOLVED DEALERS WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. OWNER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA WILL ENABLE DEALERS TO FOLLOW-UP WITH OWNERS INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

THESE COMPUTER LISTINGS MAY CONTAIN OWNER NAMES AND ADDRESSES OBTAINED FROM STATE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION RECORDS. THE USE OF SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION DATA FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE IS A VIOLATION OF LAW IN SEVERAL STATES. ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE URGED TO LIMIT THE USE OF THIS LISTING TO THE FOLLOW-UP NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN ON THEIR VEHICLES BY BUICK MOTOR DIVISION.

CHANGE OF OWNER INFORMATION

DEALERS ARE TO USE THE DEALER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (DCS) TO PROVIDE BUICK MOTOR DIVISION WITH SUBSEQUENT BUICK OWNER INFORMATION. BY REPORTING A CHANGE OF OWNER NAME OR ADDRESS OF A VEHICLE IN CAMPAIGN STATUS OVER THE DCS, THE NEED TO SEND A CVAR FORM FOR THAT VEHICLE IS ELIMINATED. TERMINAL INPUT INSTRUCTIONS ARE COVERED IN THE DCS MANUAL UNDER SECTION 9, PAGE 9-J01A AND B.

PARTS INFORMATION

PARTS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN ARE TO BE OBTAINED FROM GENERAL MOTORS SERVICE PARTS OPERATIONS (GMSPO). TO ENSURE THESE PARTS WILL BE OBTAINED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THEY SHOULD BE ORDERED FROM GMSPO ON A "C.I.O." ORDER WITH NO SPECIAL INSTRUCTION CODE, BUT ON AN ADVISE CODE (2).

PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY/VEHICLE

10114741 LOWER CONTROL ARM (LH) 1 (AS REQUIRED) W/RPO FE1 (BASE SUSPENSION)

10114742 LOWER CONTROL ARM (RH) 1 (AS REQUIRED) W/RPO FE1 (BASE SUSPENSION)

10114743 LOWER CONTROL ARM (LH) 1 (AS REQUIRED) W/RPO FE3

10114744 LOWER CONTROL ARM (RH) 1 (AS REQUIRED) W/RPO FE3

17988890 LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL 1 (AS REQUIRED) JOINT KIT

10062825 NUT - LOWER CONTROL ARM TO 4 CRADLE ATTACHING BOLT

11514337 COTTER PIN 4

14088090 NUT - LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL STUD 2

NOTICE: APPROXIMATELY 88% OF THE VEHICLES PRODUCED HAVE BASE SUSPENSION (RPO FE1) AND 12% HAVE PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION (RPO FE3). IT IS ESTIMATED THAT UP TO 10% OF THE VEHICLES COULD REQUIRE A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT KIT. ORDER PARTS ACCORDINGLY, BASED ON ATTACHED INVOLVED VEHICLE LISTING. VEHICLES DESIGNATED WITH Y56 OPTION HAVE FE3 SUSPENSION.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. LOOSEN WHEEL NUTS.

2. RAISE VEHICLE.

3. REMOVE WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLIES.

4. REMOVE COTTER PINS FROM STEERING TIE ROD BALL STUDS.

5. USING A BEAM TYPE TORQUE WRENCH, AND NOT EXCEEDING 50 N.M (37 LBS. FT.), MEASURE TORQUE REQUIRED TO TIGHTEN BOTH TIE ROD BALL STUD NUTS AT THE INSTANT NUTS BEGIN TO ROTATE.

A. IF TORQUE IS LESS THAN 50 N.M (37 LBS. FT.):

1. TIGHTEN TO 70 N.M (53 LBS. FT.).

2. TURN NUT NO MORE THAN ONE ADDITIONAL FLAT (60 DEGREES) TO ALIGN NUT WITH COTTER PIN HOLE.

3. INSTALL NEW COTTER PINS (PART NUMBER 11514337).

B. IF TORQUE IS OVER 50 N.M (37 LBS. FT.):

1. INSTALL NEW COTTER PINS (PART NUMBER 11514377).

6. REMOVE COTTER PINS AND NUTS FROM LOWER BALL JOINTS.

7. USING KENT-MOORE TOOL J-35917, SEPARATE BALL JOINTS FROM LOWER CONTROL ARMS.

NOTICE: DO NOT USE A PICKLE FORK OR OTHER SUCH TOOL AS THIS WILL PERMANENTLY DAMAGE BALL STUD ASSEMBLIES.

8. REMOVE STABILIZER SHAFT CLAMPS AT LOWER CONTROL ARMS - TWO (2) BOLTS ON EACH SIDE.

9. REMOVE LOWER CONTROL ARMS - TWO (2) NUTS/BOLTS ON EACH SIDE.

10. INSPECT LOWER BALL STUDS FOR WEAR, FLAT SPOTS OR BENDING. IF DAMAGE IS NOTED, REPLACE BALL JOINT USING SERVICE KIT, PART NUMBER 17988890, FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN KIT.

11. DETERMINE PARTS NUMBERS, STAMPED ON UPPER SURFACE IN AREA OF STABILIZER SHAFT ATTACHMENT, OF LOWER CONTROL ARMS REMOVED FROM VEHICLE. SELECT APPLICABLE REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARMS FROM THOSE INDICATED BELOW:

P/N'S OF REMOVED P/N'S OF REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARMS CONTROL ARMS

14087713 (LH) 10114741 (LH) 14087714 (RH) 10114742 (RH) 14088011 (LH 10114743 (LH) 14088012 (RH) 10114744 (RH)

12. POSITION NEW CONTROL ARM AND INSTALL BOLTS THROUGH FRAME FROM INSIDE OF ARM.

13. INSTALL NEW NUTS (PART NUMBER 10062825) ON BOLTS. DO NOT TIGHTEN.

14. INSTALL STABILIZER SHAFT CLAMPS TO CONTROL ARMS AND TIGHTEN BOLTS TO 48 N.M (36 LBS. FT.).

15. INSTALL BALL STUDS INTO TAPERED HOLES OF LOWER CONTROL ARMS.

16. INSTALL NEW BALL STUD NUTS (PART NUMBER 14088089) AND TORQUE TO 80 N.M (59 LBS. FT.).

17. TURN NUTS NO MORE THAN ONE ADDITIONAL FLAT (60 DEGREES) TO LINE UP COTTER PIN HOLES.

NOTICE: DO NOT LOOSEN NUTS AT ANY TIME DURING REASSEMBLY.

18. INSTALL NEW COTTER PINS (PART NUMBER 11514337).

19. INSTALL WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLIES.

20. LOWER VEHICLE.

21. TIGHTEN WHEEL NUTS TO 140 N.M (100 LBS. FT.).

22. WITH WEIGHT OF VEHICLE ON ITS WHEELS, HOLD NUTS AND TIGHTEN LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRAME BOLTS TO 70 N.M (53 LBS. FT.). THIS ASSURES THAT THE BUSHINGS ARE TIGHTENED IN THE CENTER OF THEIR TRAVEL AND WILL STOP THE BUSHINGS FROM SLIPPING IN THE FRAME.

23. INSTALL CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

EACH VEHICLE CORRECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS OUTLINED IN THIS PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN WILL REQUIRE A "CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL". EACH LABEL PROVIDES A SPACE TO INCLUDE THE FIVE (5) DIGIT DEALER CODE OF THE DEALER PERFORMING THE CAMPAIGN SERVICE. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INSERTED WITH A TYPEWRITER OR A BALL POINT PEN. EACH "CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL" IS TO BE LOCATED ON THE RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT IN AN AREA WHICH WILL BE VISIBLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT IN FOR PERIODIC SERVICING BY THE OWNER.

APPLY "CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL" ONLY ON A CLEAN DRY SURFACE.

DISPOSITION OF PARTS

REPLACED PARTS MUST BE HELD FOR DISPOSITION BY BUICK ZONE OR BRANCH CONTACT PERSONNEL. PARTS MUST HAVE A CLAIM TAG ATTACHED SHOWING THE REPAIR ORDER AND THE VIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM WHICH THEY WERE REMOVED.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

LIST THE ONE APPLICABLE LABOR OPERATION. SUBLET PART FAILED PART FAILURE LABOR LABOR OTHER DEALER OPER COUNT PART NO ALLOWANCE CODE OP NO HOURS HOURS MTL TW

O CHECK TIE ROD BALL STUD NUT TORQUES - REPLACE BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS 12 10114741 ** 96 V4660 1.4 *0.1 42, 43 OR 44

O CHECK TIE ROD BALL STUD NUT TORQUES - REPLACE BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND ONE (1) BALL JOINT 13 10114741 ** 96 V4661 1.8 *0.1 42, 43 OR 44

O CHECK TIE ROD BALL STUD NUT TORQUES - REPLACE BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND TWO (2) BALL JOINT 14 10114741 ** 96 V4662 2.2 *0.1 42, 43 OR 44

* DEALER ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOWANCE. ** THE "PARTS ALLOWANCE" SHOULD BE THE SUM TOTAL OF THE CURRENT GMSPO DEALER NET PRICE, PLUS 30% OF ALL PARTS REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR.

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.