CAMPAIGN:LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT NUT UNDER
SUBJECT: LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT NUT UNDERTORQUED
Models: 1995 T 4WD Chevrolet Blazers and GMC Jimmys Built at Moraine Assembly Plant (VIN Code "2")
TO: ALL GENERAL MOTORS DEALERS
General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in CERTAIN 1995 T 4WD Chevrolet Blazers and GMC Jimmy vehicles. These vehicles could have either or both upper ball joint nuts undertorqued. This can result in improper seating of the tapered ball joint stud in the tapered hole of the steering knuckle. In this condition, the stud can loosen, eventually fatigue, and fracture. This fracture is most likely to occur during a high load event, which could result in loss of vehicle control and crash without prior warning.
To correct this condition, dealers will torque the upper ball joint nut on both sides of the vehicle to the specified torque values.
VEHICLES INVOLVED:
Involved are the following 1995 T 4WD Chevrolet Blazers and GMC Jimmys built at Moraine Assembly Plant.
VIN VIN VIN --- --- --- 1GKDT13WXS2525268 1GKDT13W5S2525291 1GNCT18W1S2167677 1GKDT13WXS2525304 1GKDT13W5S2525324 1GNCT18W2S2167672 1GKDT13W0S2525263 1GKDT13W5S2525386 1GNCT18W3S2167695 1GKDT13W0S2525344 1GKDT13W6S2525302 1GNCT18W4S2167754 1GKDT13W0S2525408 1GKDT13W6S2525347 1GNCT18W4S2167768 1GKDT13W1S2525322 1GKDT13W6S2525350 1GNCT18W6S2167500 1GKDT13W1S2525353 1GKDT13W6S2525414 1GNCT18W8S2167711 1GKDT13W1S2525398 1GKDT13W7S2525308 1GNDT13W3S2167613 1GKDT13W2S2525328 1GKDT13W7S2525373 1GNDT13W5S2167774 1GKDT13W3S2525385 1GKDT13W9S2525293 1GNDT13W6S2167749 1GKDT13W4S2525296 1GKDT13W9S2525388 1GNDT13W7S2167582 1GKDT13W4S2525363 1GKDT13W9S2525391 1GNDT13W9S2167633
NOTE: PLEASE CHECK DCS SCREEN 45 OR YOUR V.I.N. LISTING BEFORE PERFORMING CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE IS AFFECTED. ONLY AFFECTED VIN'S WILL BE PAID.
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:
All unsold new vehicles in dealer's possession and subject to this campaign MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the Service Procedure of this Campaign Bulletin before owners take possession of these vehicles.
Dealers are to perform this campaign on all involved vehicles at no charge to owners, regardless of kilometers traveled, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory with no owner information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such owners a copy of the owner letter accompanying this bulletin. Campaign follow- up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the owner may not as yet have received the notification letter.
In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
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 (see copy of owner letter included with this bulletin). The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.
PARTS INFORMATION:
Parts required to complete this campaign should be ordered through regular channels, as follows:
Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle ----------- ----------- ---------------- 9431604 Cotter Pin 2
PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:
Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:
Repair Code Description Time Allowance
2A Torque Left and Right Upper Ball Joint Nut 1.1 to Upper Control Arm and Install New Cotter Pin
Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus 40% to cover parts handling.
SERVICE PROCEDURE:
1. Raise the vehicle and support it with safety stands.
2. Remove the front left and right tire and wheel assemblies.
3. Disconnect the cotter pin (Figure 1, Item 3) from the nut (Figure 1, Item 2) on the upper control arm ball joint stud (Figure 1, Item 1).
4. Using an 11/16 inch wrench, loosen the nut (Figure 1, Item 2) by backing it off two complete turns.
5. Using a torque wrench with an 11/16 inch socket, tighten the ball joint stud nut (Figure 1, Item 2) to 75-91 N.m (56-67 lbs. ft.). Tighten the nut to align the cotter pin. Do not exceed more than one sixth of a turn beyond torque settings. Do not loosen the nut to obtain aligment for cotter pin.
6. Install a new cotter pin (9431604) equivalent to the original one that was removed in Step 3 above (Figure 1, Item 3), and bend the pin ends against the nut.
7. Repeat Steps 3 through 6 for the other side of the vehicle.
8. Install tire and wheel assemblies.
9. 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.
Dear General Motors Customer:
General Motors of Canada Limited has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in CERTAIN 1995 WD Chevrolet Blazers and GMC Jimmys. These vehicles could have either or both upper ball joint nuts undertorqued. This can result in improper seating of the tapered ball joint stud in the tapered hole of the steering knuckle. In this condition, the stud can loosen, eventually fatigue, and fracture. This fracture is most likely to occur during a high load event, which could result in loss of vehicle control and crash without prior warning.
To correct this condition, your dealer will torque the upper ball joint nut to the specified torque values.
This service will be provided for you at no charge.
Please contact your GM dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date.
If parts are required, ask your dealer for details regarding their availability. If parts are not in stock, they can be ordered before scheduling your service date.
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.
We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.
Customer Support Department General Motors of Canada Limited
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.
