CAMPAIGN: LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD NUTS

Models: 1988 Buick Regal

TO: ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS

DEFECT INVOLVED:

General Motors of Canada 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.

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.

VEHICLES INVOLVED:

Involved are certain 1988 Buick Regal Model vehicles produced within the following VIN breakpoints:

Plant From Through ----- ---- ------- Oshawa J1400064 J1403487

All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved Dealers with this bulletin. Any Dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.

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 modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

CAMPAIGN PROCEDURE:

Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.

OWNER NOTIFICATION:

All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

PARTS INFORMATION:

If required, parts should be ordered as "E" Items, as follows:

Quantity/ Part Number Description Vehicle ----------- ----------- ---------- 10114741 Lower Control Arm (LH) 1 (As Req.) W/ RPO FE1 (Base Suspension)

10114742 Lower Control Arm (RH) 1 (As Req.) W/ RPO FE1 (Base Suspension)

10114743 Lower Control Arm (LH) 1 (As Req.) W/ RPO FE3

10114744 Lower Control Arm (RH) W/RPO FE3 1 (As Req.)

17988890 Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Kit 1 (As Req.)

10062825 Nut - Lower Control Arm To 4 Cradle Attaching Bolt

11514337 Cotter Pin 4

14088089 Ball Stud Nut 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.

It is possible that when you order the lower control arms listed in this bulletin, you may receive control arms bearing Production Part Nos. These parts are OK to use.

PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:

Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card, RAPID terminal or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:

Repair Code Description Time Allowance ----------- ----------- -------------- 2A Check Tie Rod Ball Stud 1.5 Nut Torques - Replace Both Lower Control Arms

3A Check Tie Rod Ball Stud 1.9 Nut Torques - Replace Both Lower Control Arms And One (1) Ball Joint

4A Check Tie Rod Ball Stud 2.3 Nut Torques - Replace Both Lower Control Arms And Two (2) Ball Joints

Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for Dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on Dealer net plus 30% to cover parts handling.

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 pin (P/N 11514337).

B. If torque is over 50 N.m (37 lbs. ft.):

1. Install new cotter pin (P/N 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 (P/N 17988890), following instructions contained in kit.

11. Determine part 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:

Part Numbers of Removed Part Numbers 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 (P/N 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 (P/N 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.

DO NOT LOOSEN NUTS AT ANY TIME DURING REASSEMBLY.

18. Install new cotter pins (P/N 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 centre of their travel and will stop the bushings from slipping in the frame.

23. Install Campaign Identification Label.

INSTALLATION OF CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.

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.