FRAME REPAIR PROPER PROCEDURE AND MATERIAL FOR REPAIRS

SUBJECT: FRAME REPAIR VEHICLES AFFECTED: ALL MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE REPAIR OF FRAMES, AND SHOULD BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HEAVY DUTY SERVICE MANUAL X-8034. DAMAGE TO FRAME RAILS/REPAIR PROCEDURE FRAME REPAIR CAN BE COMPLICATED AND USUALLY REQUIRES SPECIAL EQUIP- MENT. THE IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFYING THE MATERIAL OF THE RAIL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR A FRAME CANNOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED. THE USE OF TECHNIQUES NOT RECOMMENDED FOR MATERIAL MAY RESULT IN FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE FRAME. THE MATERIAL USED FOR RAILS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY THE SHAPE OF A HOLE IN THE WEB OF THE RAIL, ABOVE THE INTERSECTION OF THE RAIL AND FRONT AXLE. (FIG. 1). CERTAIN FRAME RAILS MAY NOT BE REQUIRED BY EITHER WELDING OR STRAIGHTENING, AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED RAIL. MATERIAL REPAIR PROCEDURE SAE 950 STEEL SEE PROCEDURE SAE 980 STEEL SEE PROCEDURE 2014-T6 ALUMINUM NO REPAIRS ALLOWED 6061-T6 ALUMINUM NO REPAIR ALLOWED SAE 1023 STEEL SEE PROCEDURE SAE 1010 STEEL SEE PROCEDURE SAE 1027 (110) HEAT TREATED NO REPAIRS ALLOWED SAE 1020 STEEL SEE PROCEDURE FRAME RAIL FLANGE CUTOUT DO NOT FLAME CUT, FLAME CUT AND GRIND, SAW CUT OR SAW CUT AND GRIND FLAME RAILS UNLESS SPECIFIED APPROVED METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWED. THIS APPLIES TO ALL REWORK OF FRAME RAILS OR TO TRIM FRAME RAIL FLANGES. (CONTINUED)

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.