CAMPAIGN: UNGREASED KING PIN THRUST BEARING (REPLACE W/NEW)

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT SOME EARLY 1987 MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 12,000# FRONT AXLES (RPO F54, FS7, OR FT7) WERE BUILT WITH UNGREASED KINGPIN THRUST BEARINGS. THESE BEARINGS HAVE ONLY A THIN FILM OF OIL FOR CORROSION RESISTANCE WHICH IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR LONG TERM DURABILITY. TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF PREMATURE KINGPIN THRUST BEARING FAILURE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THESE BEARINGS WITH PERMANENTLY GREASED BEARINGS. VEHICLES INVOLVED INVOLVED ARE CERTAIN 1987 C7, J8, J9, D9, AND N9 MODELS WITH 12,000# FRONT AXLES (RPO F54, FS7, OR FT7) BUILT WITHIN THE FOLLOWING VIN BREAKPOINTS: MODEL YEAR FROM THROUGH 1987 HV500498 HV502801 THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER COMPUTER LISTINGS. THESE LISTINGS ARE FURNISHED TO ALL INVOLVED DEALERS WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. 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. IF NO OWNER'S NAME AND ADDRESS WERE AVAILABLE TO GMC TRUCK AT THE TIME OF CAMPAIGN INITIATION, THE DEALER WILL DETERMINE THE OWNER'S NAME AND ADDRESS FROM THE DEALERSHIP SALES RECORDS. PLEASE PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION DIRECTLY ON THE SECOND COPY OF THE LISTING NEXT TO THE APPLICABLE VIN SO THAT OUR RECORDS MAY BE UPDATED AND THE APPROPRIATE NOTIFICATION MAILED TO THE OWNER. THIS SECOND COPY SHOULD THEN BE SUBMITTED TO THE ADDRESS LISTED BELOW IN THE PREVIOUSLY SUPPLIED YELLOW CAMPAIGN ENVELOPES. GMC TRUCK GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION 101 UNION STREET PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN 48170 OWNER NOTIFICATION OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN ON THEIR VEHICLES BY GMC TRUCK (SEE COPY OF OWNER LETTER INCLUDED WITH THIS BULLETIN). A LISTING OF OWNER NAMES AND ADDRESSES HAS BEEN FURNISHED TO THE INVOLVED DEALERS TO ENABLE DEALERS TO FOLLOW UP WITH OWNERS INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. THIS LISTING 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 THIS CAMPAIGN. SERVICE PROCEDURE REFER TO THE MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK SERVICE MANUAL, X-8733, 3C-11 OR THE HEAVY DUTY TRUCK SERVICE MANUAL, X-8534, 3C-10 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. TWO SEPARATE REPAIR PROCEDURES ARE DESCRIBED FOR THE KINGPIN THRUST BEARING REPLACEMENT. INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE BRAKE TYPE THEN FOLLOW THE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION SET BELOW: FRONT BRAKES - AIR DRUM TYPE O RAISE VEHICLE UNTIL THE FRONT TIRES CLEAR THE FLOOR. PLACE SUITABLE SAFETY STANDS UNDER THE FRAME. O REMOVE WHEEL AND BRAKE DRUM ASSEMBLY STRAIGHT OFF THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE. USE CARE NOT TO DAMAGE BEARING ASSEMBLY WHEN REMOVING THE WHEEL. O REMOVE BRAKE BACKING PLATE ASSEMBLY FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE. SUPPORT ON A SUITABLE STAND. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO DISCONNECT OR REMOVE ANY BRAKE COMPONENTS OR LINES. O REMOVE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING KNUCKLE CAPS, FIGURE NO. 1. O REMOVE THE TAPERED DRAW KEYS. THE KEYS MUST BE DRIVEN OUT FROM THE SIDE WHICH IS NOT STAKED, FIGURE NO. 2. O REMOVE THE KINGPIN, FIGURE NO. 1. DRIVE THE KINGPIN DOWNWARD USING A BRASS DRIFT. USE CARE TO AVOID DAMAGING THE KINGPIN BUSHINGS. O REMOVE THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE, SHIMS AND THRUST BEARING AND SEAL ASSEMBLY FROM AXLE, FIGURE NO. 1. DISCARD THE THRUST BEARING AND SEAL ASSEMBLY. O REINSTALL THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE TO THE AXLE. INSERT SHIMS AND NEW THRUST BEARING AND SEAL ASSEMBLY. NOTE THAT THERE IS A "TOP" AND "BOTTOM" TO THE BEARING AND SEAL ASSEMBLY. THE BEARING COVER IS THE TOP, FIGURE NO 1 AND 3. O REINSTALL KINGPIN. ALIGN THE FLATS ON THE KINGPIN WITH THE DRAW KEY HOLES IN THE AXLE CENTER. DRIVE THE KINGPIN INTO POSITION FROM THE TOP DOWN UNTIL THE DRAW KEY HOLES ARE IN ALIGNMENT. O REINSTALL DRAW KEYS. THE SHORT KEY GOES IN THE UPPER HOLE AND THE LONG KEY IN THE LOWER HOLE. TAP THE KEY LIGHTLY WITH A HAMMER TO SEAT IT. STAKE THE KEYS TO THE BORE OF THE DRAW KEY HOLE, REFER TO FIGURE NO. 2. O REINSTALL CAPS TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE. TIGHTEN BOLTS TO 24 NM (18 LB FT). O REINSTALL BRAKE BACKING PLATE ASSEMBLY TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE. TIGHTEN BOLTS TO 268 NM (200 LB FT). O REINSTALL WHEEL AND DRUM ASSEMBLY. USE NEW WHEEL SEAL (PART NUMBER IS AVAILABLE ON BROADCAST SHEET) UPC 3B, AND APPROPRIATE WHEEL SEAL INSTALLER. ADJUST WHEEL BEARING AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 3C OF THE SERVICE MANUAL. O LUBRICATE THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE WITH CHASSIS LUBRICANT PN 1052497 OR EQUIVALENT. O REFILL OIL LUBRICATED FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. REFER TO SECTION OB OF THE SERVICE MANUAL FOR LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS. O REPEAT ABOVE PROCEDURE ON OPPOSITE WHEEL. O LOWER VEHICLE. FRONT BRAKES - HYDRAULIC DISC TYPE O LOOSEN FRONT WHEEL LUG NUTS, BOTH SIDES OF TRUCK. O RAISE VEHICLE UNTIL THE FRONT TIRES CLEAR THE FLOOR. PLACE SUITABLE SAFETY STANDS UNDER THE FRAME. O REMOVE A FRONT TIRE. O DRAIN APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS CAN BE DONE AT THE BLEEDER SCREW VALVE AT THE CALIPER. O REMOVE THE CALIPER KEY RETAINING SCREW, KEY AND SPRING. O LIFT THE CALIPER ASSEMBLY OFF THE HUB AND ROTOR. SET ASIDE. O REMOVE THE HUB CAP. O REMOVE THE HUB AND DISC ASSEMBLY. DO NOT LET THE WHEEL BEARING DROP ON THE FLOOR. O REMOVE THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING KNUCKLE CAPS, FIGURE NO. 1. O REMOVE THE TAPERED DRAW KEYS. THE KEYS MUST BE DRIVEN OUT FROM THE SIDE WHICH IS NOT STAKED, FIGURE NO 2. O REMOVE THE KINGPIN, FIGURE NO. 1. DRIVE THE KINGPIN DOWNWARD USING A BRASS DRIFT. USE CARE TO AVOID DAMAGING THE KINGPIN BUSHINGS. O REMOVE THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE, SHIMS, AND THRUST BEARING AND SEAL ASSEMBLY FROM AXLE, FIGURE NO. 1. DISCARD THE THRUST BEARING AND SEAL ASSEMBLY. O REINSTALL THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE TO THE AXLE. INSERT SHIMS AND NEW THRUST BEARING AND SEAL ASSEMBLY. NOTE THAT THERE IS A "TOP" AND "BOTTOM" TO THE BEARING AND SEAL ASSEMBLY. THE BEARING COVER IS THE TOP, FIGURE NO. 1 AND 3. O REINSTALL KINGPIN. ALIGN THE FLATS ON THE KINGPIN WITH THE DRAW KEY HOLES IN THE AXLE CENTER. DRIVE THE KINGPIN INTO POSITION FROM THE TOP DOWN UNTIL THE DRAW KEY HOLES ARE IN ALIGNMENT. O REINSTALL DRAW KEYS. THE SHORT KEY GOES IN THE UPPER HOLE AND THE LONG KEY IN THE LOWER HOLE. TAP THE KEY LIGHTLY WITH A HAMMER TO SEAT IT. STAKE THE KEYS TO THE BORE OF THE DRAW KEY HOLE, FIGURE NO. 2. O REINSTALL CAPS TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE. TIGHTEN BOLTS TO 24 NM (18 LB FT). O REINSTALL HUB AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY ON THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE AND INSTALL A NEW WHEEL SEAL. THE SEAL PART NUMBER IS AVAILABLE ON THE BROADCAST SHEET, UPC 3B. USE APPROPRIATE WHEEL SEAL INSTALLER FOR INSTALLATION. O REINSTALL WHEEL BEARING, WASHER, NUT AND COTTER PIN. O REINSTALL BRAKE CALIPER. TORQUE RETAINING BOLTS TO 35 NM (26 LB FT). O REINSTALL WHEEL AND TORQUE LUG NUTS. REFER TO SECTION 3E OF THE SERVICE MANUAL FOR TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. O ADJUST WHEEL BEARING AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 3C OF THE SERVICE MANUAL. REINSTALL HUB CAP. TORQUE FASTENERS TO 32 NM (24 LB FT). O LUBRICATE THE STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE WITH CHASSIS LUBRICANT PN 1052497 OR EQUIVALENT. O REFILL OIL LUBRICATED FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. REFER TO SECTION OB OF THE SERVICE MANUAL FOR LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS. O REPEAT ABOVE PROCEDURE ON THE OPPOSITE WHEEL. O FILL MASTER CYLINDER WITH DELCO SUPREME NO. 11 OR DOT 3, HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID PART NUMBER 1052535. O LOWER VEHICLE. PARTS INFORMATION PARTS ARE TO BE OBTAINED FROM GENERAL MOTORS SERVICE PARTS OPERATION (GMSPO). TO ENSURE THAT THESE PARTS WILL BE OBTAINED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THEY SHOULD BE ORDERED FROM GMSPO ON A C.I.O. ORDER WITH NO SPECIAL INSTRUCTION CODE BUT ORDER UNDER AN ADVISE CODE (2). PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY 15558028 BEARING ASM 2 PER VEHICLE WARRANTY INFORMATION DEALERS SHOULD SUBMIT A WARRANTY CLAIM ON EACH VEHICLE COMPLETED UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN. LABOR OPERATION *TIME NET TROUBLE NUMBER DESCRIPTION ALLOWANCE ITEM CODE V3890 REPLACE KINGPIN 2.2 HRS. $28.00** 96 THRUST BEARING, BOTH SIDES *ADD 0.1 HOURS FOR ADMINISTRATION TIME ALLOWANCE. **THIS AMOUNT INCLUDES COST OF FRONT WHEEL SEALS, LUBRICANT, GREASE, AND BRAKE FLUID. IT IS TO BE ENTERED IN THE NET ITEM COLUMN ON THE WARRANTY CLAIM. IN ADDITION, THIS AMOUNT REPRESENTS 30% OF DEALER NET. 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 (5) 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 PROCEDURES COVERING THIS CAMPAIGN ARE OUTLINED IN SECTION V OF YOUR DEALERSHIP'S "GMC TRUCK CLAIMS PROCESSING MANUAL" #SD8519.

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.