Recall - Supplement II Drag Link Assembly Replacement
87ford13Number: 86S11
May, 1987
To: Selected North American Ford Product Dealers and Affiliated Ford Motor Companies
Subject: Safety Recall 86S11 Supplement II (Steering Drag Link Assembly Replacement) - Expansion of Recall to Include Two Additional Days of E250/350 Production
Reference: Safety Recall Bulletin 86S11, Dated August, 1986 and Supplemental Bulletin Dated, January, 1987
VEHICLES INVOLVED:
1985 and 1986 E-250/350 Club Wagon and Econoline Vans, Cutaways and Basic Chassis vehicles produced at the Lorain Assembly Plant from March 6, 1985 through May 23, 1986.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLEMENT:
The purpose of this supplemental bulletin is to advise you that Recall 86S11 has been expanded to include two additional days of production (May 22, 1986 and May 23, 1986). According to our records, the expanded production dates will affect the vehicles on the enclosed list which have been delivered to your dealership. If no vehicle listing in enclosed, you are not involved at this time, and this Service Recall Bulletin is for information only.
NOTIFICATION OF OWNERS/DEALER ACTIONS:
The enclosed list identifies vehicles delivered to your dealership which are involved in this recall supplement. Other eligible vehicles may be brought to your dealership by their owners for this recall service. Those units also are to be corrected an promptly as possible. If the owner of any eligible vehicle does not have a Customer Notification and Dealer Claim Form (FED-1864 or FCS-1864), a blank Form 1864 should be completed by you and submitted for reimbursement. For Dealers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands - To determine vehicle eligibility, please use "CARES".
Vehicle owners whose names and addresses are shown on the enclosed recall listing are being notified by First Class Mail. If you have knowledge that a suspect vehicle has been sold, but the owner's name and address does not appear
on the listing, please contact the owner immediately and provide him a copy of the owner letter. If the owner of any vehicle cannot be contacted or does not make an appointment to have his vehicle corrected, advise your supervising Ford location of the owner's name and address so that we can handle further notification.
Owners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are being encouraged in the owner letter to ask about any other outstanding recalls on their vehicles when they contact you to arrange an appointment for this recall service. Dealers in those locations can advise them through use of CARES of other recalls, if any, that may be uncompleted. You should attempt to complete all open recalls on these vehicles on a single visit by the owner.
DEALER OBLIGATIONS:
Dealers are obligated to perform this recall service promptly following presentation of the vehicle by the owners. United States law requires that we advise owners in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and certain territories of the procedure to be followed by them in informing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if the defect is not corrected without charge within a reasonable time after the vehicle is brought in. This notice is included in the owner letter (copy attached) to be sent to owners In Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Canal Zone, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. It is also important, however, that you promptly report (to your supervising location or Wixom) any instances in which an owner will not allow you to complete this recall because of objections to delays in scheduling, or for any other reason.
For any suspect vehicle received and already delivered to an owner, it is imperative that you contact the owner immediately, and advise the owner to return the vehicle to your dealership without delay for the inspection/correction.
ECONOLINE - DRAG LINK ASSEMBLY:
ECONLINE - DRAG LINK ASSEMBLY:
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Refer to Attachment 1.
1. Raise the vehicle on a hoist with the wheels in the straight ahead position. Refer to Section 50-04-1 Hoisting, Jacking and Towing in the 1986 Truck Pre-Delivery, Lubrication, Maintenance Manual Volume C.
2. Remove the cotter pins and nuts from locations A, B, and C in Attachment I. Remove the ball studs from locations A, B, and C on the drag link assembly using Tool 3290-C, Tie Rod End Remover or an Equivalent as shown in Attachment II.
3. Install the drag link ball stud in the pitman arm. Install the steering connecting arm ball stud in the drag link. Install the drag link ball stud in the spindle. Keep the front wheels and steering wheel in the straight ahead position. Make sure the ball studs are seated in the taper to prevent rotation while tightening. Install nuts and tighten to 68-101 N-m (50-75 ft.lbs).
4. Install new cotter pins.
5. Check toe-in and, if necessary, adjust toe-in as described in Section 14-01-15 General Suspension Service, under adjustments. (See 1986 Truck Shop Manual).
PARTS REQUIREMENTS:
Do not order recall parts from Windsor Export Supply. Order all requirements directly from Wixom using the mailing address on page No. 1 of this Bulletin. For more urgent handling, use cable address "RECALLS - FORDEX, WIXOM, MICHIGAN". For locations having telex facilities, our telex Ford private line code is FED and commercial telex code is 71 669777 answerback Ford DMO WIX. Our telephone number in Wixom, Michigan, is area code (313) 344-5641. Please give the part number, description, quantity and recall number when ordering.
Part Number Description Class Customs Value
E6UZ-3304-A Drag Link Assembly RG $56.96
LABOR ALLOWANCES:
Installation of the Drag Link Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 Hrs. Insert in Box "B" on Claim Form 1864
(Includes Inspecting, Adjusting Toe and Clear Vision)
Administrative Allowance . . . . . . . 0.1 Hrs.
The 0.1 Hour Administrative Allowance must be added to the repair time before inserting the total labor time in the correct box.
PARTS RETURN:
Dealers are requested to purge their current stock of all drag link assemblies as follows: Purge the part number listed below:
Service P/N Description
D5UZ-3304-B Drag Link Assembly
Tag the parts and notify us of the quantity to be purged. We will respond to you with disposition instructions.
REPORTING OF COMPLETIONS:
Upon completion of the required service, return the second copy of the Form 1864 completely filled out and signed by authorized dealer personnel. Only the Form 1864 will be accepted for reimbursement on this program. It is important that all claims be filed for all completed units so that you will be reimbursed and our records will show completion. Any problem encountered with this recall should be discussed with your supervising Ford location or reported to this office.
Dear Owner:
This notice is seat to you in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Ford Motor Company has determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1985 and 1986 E-250/350 Econolines and Club Wagons and in specialty vehicles derived from those units. Our records show that you own one or more of these vehicles.
REASONS FOR THIS RECALL:
The rubber material in a flexible joint that connects the drag link assembly to the pitman arm in the steering linkage of your vehicle may wear out. This could potentially cause the linkage to separate from the steering gear. If this happens, steering control would be lost and a vehicle crash could result. Such a separation would be most likely to occur during a low speed sharp turn, as when parking. If the joint is significantly worn, the driver will be forewarned by:
^ loose or "sloppy" steering feel, as compared to other cars or vans.
^ unusually large amounts of steering wheel free-play, or the need to make unusually large steering wheel movements to accomplish minor steering changes when traveling on a straight road.
SERVICE TO BE PERFORMED:
At no cost to you, your dealer will replace the steering drag link assembly of your vehicle. The time to perform this operation is about two hours.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
Take your vehicle to a Ford dealer without delay. Dealers have instructions for servicing your vehicle. When you bring your vehicle in, please give the attached form to the dealer. If you misplace the form, your dealer will still do the work, free of charge.
TO CHECK FOR OTHER RECALLS (Owners residing in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands):
When you call your dealer about this recall, ask for a computer check of the "CARES" system to see if your vehicle needs other recall work. If it does, the dealer can tell you about the required service.
If you are no longer the owner, please fill out Section 1 of the enclosed prepaid postcard and mail it to us.
IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING THE SERVICE DONE:
Complete Section 3 of the prepaid postcard and mail it to us. You also may send a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St. S. W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the toll free Auto Safety Hotline 800-424-9393.
We regret the inconvenience this service may cause you; but, we want you to have the work done for your safety and satisfaction with your Ford-built vehicle.