CAMPAIGN: REAR WHEEL TIE RODS MAY FATIGUE/FRACTURE
Models: 1988-89 Chevrolet Corvette
TO: ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS
General Motors of Canada has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988-89 Chevrolet Corvette model vehicles. The rear wheel tie rod assembly of these vehicles may fatigue and could fracture at the inboard bearing due to high inner-joint rocking torque. A fracture in this assembly could result in a loss of vehicle control and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
To prevent this condition from occurring, involved vehicles will be inspected to determine the amount of rocking torque on each tie rod. Tie rod assemblies above 12 N.m rocking torque on either side will be replaced.
VEHICLES INVOLVED:
Involved are certain 1988-89 Chevrolet Corvette model vehicles built within the following VIN breakpoints:
Model/Year Plant From Through ---------- ----- ---- ------- Y 1988 Bowling Green J5100001 J5122789
Y 1989 Bowling Green K5100001 K5126328
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 perform this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of kilometres traveled, 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, you are to ensure the campaign correction has been made before selling 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. Some owners will receive letters addressing more than one campaign on their vehicle (see copies of owner letters included with this bulletin) as shown in the chart below.
VIN Rane Campaigns Addressed in Owner Letters ---------- ------------------------------------ J5100001 - J5122789 0A05
K5100001 - K5101999 0A05
K5102000 - K5110724 0A05/0R03
K5110725 - K5122003 0A05
K5122004 - K5126328 0A05/0R03
PARTS INFORMATION:
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE WEEK OF APRIL 23, 1990.
Parts required to complete this campaign should be ordered through regular channels, as follows:
Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ----------- ----------- ----------------- 12337997 Cotter Pin 2
10181305 Tie Rod Assembly 1
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 ----------- ----------- --------------- 1A Inspect Tie Rods - No Repair .6 Required
2A Inspect/Replace Tie Rod Assembly 2.3
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:
TO PROPERLY PERFORM THIS PROCEDURE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE WEIGHT REFERENCED IN STEP 1 BE UTILIZED.
Tools Required: J-24319-01 Universal Steering Linkage Puller J-29892-A (R-4) Compressor Tool Kit
1. Fabricate/Assemble weight from materials indicated and as illustrated in Figure 1.
2. Raise vehicle.
3. Remove cotter pins, nuts and washers from both outer rear tie rod ends and disconnect from knuckle assemblies utilizing tool J-24319-01.
NOTE: Do Not loosen locking jam nuts located between the outer tie rod ends and adjusting tubes.
4. Raise and hold outer end of L.H. tie rod linkage in its upper most position, ensuring rod is not rotated while being raised. Attach weight as shown in Figure 2, release linkage and note results. Repeat above procedure on R.H. linkage.
5. Based on observations noted in performing Step 4, select appropriate action from those noted below:
A. Linkage moves downward on both sides - Reconnect tie rod sockets to knuckles, install washers and nuts, torque nuts to 45 N.m (33 lbs. ft.) and install cotter pins, P/N 12337997 (2 required).
B. Linkage on either or both sides does not move downward - Replace tie rod assembly, P/N 10181305, transferring existing tie rod ends to new assembly and following applicable shop manual procedure.
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.
Dear General Motors Customer:
General Motors of Canada has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988-89 Chevrolet Corvette model vehicles. The rear wheel tie rod assembly of these vehicles may fatigue and could fracture. A fracture in this assembly could result in a loss of vehicle control and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
Additionally, parking brakes on certain 1989-90 Chevrolet Corvette model vehicles may become inoperable due to the cable button pulling through and separating from the nylon reel to which it is attached. This coiidition occurs on application only, not under sustained load conditions. The condition will be obvious due to a lack of resistance during parking brake application.
To prevent either of these conditions from occurring, vehicles will be inspected and tie rod assemblies found to be faulty will be replaced. Also, a new parking brake assembly will be installed.
This service will be performed for you at no charge.
Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts will be available on or about the week of April 23, 1990.
This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.
Further assistance, if required, may be obtained from our Customer Assistance Centre, toll free, by calling 1-800-263-3777, or if you live in Quebec, 1-800-263-7854.
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.
Dear General Motors Customer:
General Motors of Canada has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988-89 Chevrolet Corvette model vehicles. The rear wheel tie rod assembly of these vehicles may fatigue and could fracture. A fracture in this assembly could result in a loss of vehicle control and a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
To prevent this condition from occurring, vehicles will be inspected and tie rod assemblies found to be faulty will be replaced.
This service will be performed for you at no charge.
Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer and parts will be available on or about the week of April 23, 1990.
This letter identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.
Further assistance, if required, may be obtained from our Customer Assistance Centre, toll free, by calling 1-800-263-3777, or if you live in Quebec, 1-800-263-7854.
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.
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.
