CAMPAIGN: LOWER CONTROL ARM TO STEERING KNUCKLE TORQUE

THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT, AS AMENDED, PROVIDES THAT EACH VEHICLE WHICH IS SUBJECT TO A RECALL CAMPAIGN OF THIS TYPE MUST BE ADEQUATELY REPAIRED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER THE OWNER HAS TENDERED IT FOR REPAIR. A FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY REPAIR WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER TENDER OF A VEHICLE IS PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF FAILURE TO REPAIR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. IF THE CONDITION IS NOT ADEQUATELY REPAIRED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, THE OWNER MAY BE ENTITLED TO AN IDENTICAL OR REASONABLY EQUIVALENT VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE, OR TO A REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE LESS A REASONABLE ALLOWANCE FOR DEPRECIAITON.

IN ORDER TO AVOID HAVING TO PROVIDE THESE BURDENSOME SOLUTIONS, EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO PROMPTLY SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH EACH OWNER AND TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS YOU WILL SEE IN READING THE ATTACHED COPY OF THE LETTER WHICH IS BEING SENT TO OWNERS, THE OWNER IS BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE NEAREST CHEVROLET ZONE OFFICE IF HIS DEALER DOES NOT REMEDY THE CONDITION WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE. IF THE CONDITION IS NOT REMEDIED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, HE IS INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFICE SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

DEFECT INVOLVED

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN SOME 1980 CAMAROS ASSEMBLED AT THE GMAD VAN NUYS ASSEMBLY PLANT. ON SOME VEHICLES THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHING NUT (TORQUE PREVAILING DESIGN) MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATIONS. ON A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF THESE VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE NUT TO BACK OFF RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE JOINT. IF SUCH JOINT SEPARATION WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT MAY AFFECT VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

INVOLVED IS A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF 1980 CAMAROS ASSEMBLED AT THE GMAD VAN NUYS ASSEMBLY PLANT BETWEEN START OF PRODUCTION AND VIN BREAKPOINT 1S87AAL552249.

INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER COMPUTER LSTINGS. 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 FURNISHED WILL ENABLE DEALERS TO FOLLOW UP WITH OWNERS INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

THESE 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. ANY DEALER NOT RECEIVING A COMPUTER LISTING WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN WAS NOT SHIPPED ANY INVOLVED VEHICLES.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN ON THEIR VEHICLES BY CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION (SEE COPY OF OWNER LETTER INCLUDED WITH THIS BULLETIN).

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN, 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.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. ROTATE THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL TO THE EXTREME RIGHT STOP POSITION.

2. UTILIZING A CLICKER TYPE TORQUE WRENCH, SET AT 95 NM (70 FT. LBS.), AND GAINING ACCESS TO THE ATTACHMENT THROUGH THE FORWARD AREA OF THE WHEEL WELL, TIGHTEN THE RIGHT LOWER BALL STUD NUT UNTIL THE WRENCH CLICKS.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLAMP OR SEAT THE BALL JOINT IN THE STEERING KUCKLE IN ORDER TO TIGHTEN THE NUT.

NOTE: IF THE NUT CANNOT BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFIED TORQUE, DUE TO THE LOWER BALL STUD SPINNING IN THE KNUCKLE, CONTACT YOUR ZONE OFFICE FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

3. ROTATE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT STOP POSITION AND REPEAT STEP 2 THE LEFT LOWER BALL STUD ATTACHMENT. CLAIM INFORMATION

SUBMIT A PRODUCT CAMPAIGN CLAIM WITH THE INFORMATION INDICATED BELOW:

FAILURE FAILED LABOR LABOR OPERATION *OTHER HOURS CODE OPERATION HOURS ALLOWANCE ALLOWANCE

0 V0430 .2 HOURS .1 HOURS

DESCRIPTION: INSPECT AND RETORQUE RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER BALL STUD NUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN.

DEALERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE .1 HOURS DEALER ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOWANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAMPAIGN.

CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

EACH VEHICLE MODIFIED 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 DIGIT DEALER CODE OF THE DEALER PERFORMING THE CAMPAIGN SERVICE. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INSERTED WITH A TYPEWRITER OR BALLPOINT 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.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE

THE APPROPRIATE CAMPAIGN HANDLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDUREMAY BE FOUND IN THE CHEVROLET SERVICE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL, SECTION IV, PAGES 1 AND 2, DATED OCTOBER, 1979 IN YOUR DEALERSHIP.

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.