1977 Mack CF: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 1977-06-17 (June 17, 1977)

THE FRONT WHEEL RIM CLAMP STUDS, INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY, CAUSING A BRITTLE CONDITION IN THE THREAD ROOT AREA. THE STUDS COULD EVENTUALLY CRACK AND BREAK WHEN WHEEL NUTS ARE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE ALL SUSPECT FRONT WHEEL STUDS, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1977-10-12 (October 12, 1977)

THE FLEX BLADE FANS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE LAMINATED STIFFENER AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE DURING OPERATION. IF SUCH A CONDITION EXISTS AND THE CRACKS GO UNDETECTED, CONTINUED OPERATION COULD CAUSE PIECES OF THE STIFFENER TO BREAK OFF.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL FAN WITH A STEEL FIXED BLADE FAN, FREE OF CHARGE.

Reported: 1977-10-12 (October 12, 1977)

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES". ALTHOUGH THE SEATBELTS IN QUESTION PERFORMED MARGINALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE 5000 LB. LOAD REQUIREMENT, ADDITIONAL TESTING CONFIRMED THAT THE ANCHOR COULD FAIL, ALLOWING EITHER THE ANCHOR TO SLIP OVER THE HOLD-DOWN NUT OR THE ANCHOR TO SEPARATE INTO TWO PIECES.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1978-08-08 (August 8, 1978)

THE EXISTING CROSS STEERING ARMS MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT FATIGUE LIFE IN THE NECK AREA. THIS IS NEAR THE BOSS FOR THE CROSS STEERING TUBE BALL JOINT CONNECTION. FAILURE OF EITHER OF THE CROSS STEERING LEVERS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL CROSS STEERING ARMS OF IMPROVED DESIGN AND GREATER STRENGTH.

Reported: 1981-12-29 (December 29, 1981)

THE FLOORBOARD OPENING AND THE STEERING COLUMN SEAL BRACKET MAY NOT ALLOW SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FOR THE SHAFT TO TURN FREELY IN THE CENTER OF THE BRACKET/SEAL. THE PINCH BOLT IN THE COLUMN YOKE MAY BIND OR LOCK THE COLUMN AGAINST THE BRACKET, ALLOWING LITTLE OR NO WHEEL RETURN.

Remedy: DEALER WILL ENLARGE THE HOLE IN THE FLOORBOARD TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE FOR THE STEERING COLUMN U-JOINT PINCH BOLT. A NEW BRACKET AND CLAMP WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1983-04-05 (April 5, 1983)

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES THE FLOORBOARD OPENING AND THE STEERING COLUMN SEAL BRACKET DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE TO ALLOW THE SHAFT TO TURN FREELY. THIS CAUSES THE PINCH BOLT TO BIND OR LOCK AGAINST THE SEAL BRACKET.

Remedy: THE HOLE IN THE FLOORBOARD WILL BE ENLARGED TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE OF THE STEERING COLUMN U-JOINT PINCH BOLT, AND A NEW BRACKET AND LAMP WILL BE INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1985-11-26 (November 26, 1985)

THE SPLINED STEERING SHAFT MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY ENGAGED AS DESIGNED DUE TO INACCURATE DRILLING OF THE HOLES IN THE FRAME TO WHICH THE CAB FRONT MOUNT MEMBER IS BOLTED. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE STEERING SHAFT MAY DISENGAGE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JARRING IMPACT MIGHT CAUSE DISENGAMENT OF THE SPLINED SHAFT RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE SHAFTS WHICH MEASURE UNDER THE MINIMUM ENGAGEMENT DIMENSIONS WITH LONGER SHAFT.

Reported: 1991-05-01 (May 1, 1991)

STRESSES IMPOSED ON THE LEVER DURING TURNING MANEUVERS AND/OR IMPACT INCIDENTS, SUCH AS WOULD BE CAUSED BY CURBS OR ROAD SURFACE IRREGULARITY, REDUCE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE PART. THE STEERING LEVER MAY CRACK AND EVENTUALLY THE STRESSES COULD CAUSE THE STEERING LEVER TO BREAK.

Consequence: A BROKEN STEERING LEVER WILL CAUSE LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING ARMS.