1977 Mack U: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 1977-11-21 (November 21, 1977)

A DEFICIENCY EXISTS IN THE WELDS SECURING THE REAR SPRING INSULATOR BRACKET TO THE AXLE HOUSING. THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE WELD, IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE BRACKET AND AXLE HOUSING. FAILURE OF THE WELDS WOULD CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE SPRING INSULATOR BRACKET AND THE AXLE HOUSING, RESULTING IN IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE AFFECTED AXLE.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REWELD THE INSULATOR SPRING BRACKET AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Reported: 1978-02-09 (February 9, 1978)

THE TEE BRACKET, WHICH IS MOUNTED ON THE FRONT AXLE OF THE BOGIE, MAY FAIL DUE TO VIBRATION BROUGHT ON BY ROAD SURFACE IRREGULARITIES. BRACKET FAILURE WOULD LEAVE THE TEE BRACKET UNSUPPORTED AND CAUSE BROKEN HOSE CONNECTOR FITTINGS. THIS WOULD RESULT IN AUTOMATIC APPLICATION OF THE SPRING EMERGENCY BRAKES.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BRACKET WITH A REDESIGNED VERSION.

Reported: 1978-10-03 (October 3, 1978)

DELAYS OF UP TO ABOUT 2 SECONDS MAY EXIST IN THE BRAKE APPLICATION TIMES TO THE BRAKES ON THE BOGIE AXLES IN THE PRESENCE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF WHEEL SPEED SENSOR SIGNAL DISCONTINUITIES OR DISTORTIONS THAT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF SENSOR WIRE FAILURE. THIS CONSTITUTES A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS".

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL NEW WHEEL SPEED SENSORS THAT INCORPORATE IMPROVED WIRING AND THE PRESENT BOGIE ANTI-WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM WILL BE CHANGED TO AN AXLE-TO-AXLE SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED RELIABILITY.

Reported: 1979-01-12 (January 12, 1979)

A CASTING DEFICIENCY EXISTS IN THE LOWER SECTION OF THE CAPS RESULTING IN A REDUCTION IN THE THICKNESS OF THE MATERIAL. FAILURE OF A CAP CAN ALLOW THE END OF THE REAR SPRING TO DETACH FROM THE AXLE HOUSING.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ANY OF THE SPRING INSULATOR CAPS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL BE DONE AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Reported: 1979-04-03 (April 3, 1979)

AN IMPROPER PINCH BOLT AND NUT MAY HAVE BEEN USED IN THE CLAMPING OF THE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT. DUE TO CLAMPING FORCE LOADS APPLIED AT THE BOLT, THE NUT COULD YIELD, RESULTING IN LOOSENESS OF THE INPUT SHAFT YOKE. SHOULD THIS CONDITION GO UNNOTICED, SPLINE WEAR COULD CAUSE SHAFT SEPARATION.

Remedy: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, THE CORRECT FASTENERS WILL BE INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1979-05-31 (May 31, 1979)

IN THE EVENT OF TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSOR WHEEL FAILURE, ONE OR MORE OF THE FOUR CAPSCREWS THAT HOLD THE TURBOCHARGER TOGETHER MAY BE STRUCK BY PARTS OF THE COMPRESSOR WHEEL, RESULTING IN THE CAPSCREWS BEING DAMAGED. IF THESE CAPSCREWS ARE DAMAGED TO THE POINT THAT THEY ALLOW THE COMPRESSOR BACK PLATE TO DISLOCATE FROM THE TURBOCHARGER BEARING HOUSING, ENGINE LUBRICATING OIL MAY BE ALLOWED TO ESCAPE UNDER PRESSURE, CONTACTING THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SECTIONS OR TURBOCHARGER TURBINE HOUSING.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A SHIELD FOR THE HEADS OF THE FOUR CAPSCREWS, ALONG WITH STRONGER SAE 8 GRADE 8 CAPSCREWS, IF NECESSARY, AT NO COST TO OWNER.