Service brakes, air: slack adjusters
- Component
- Service brakes, air: slack adjusters
- Manufacturer
- DORSEY TRAILERS, INC.
- Vehicles affected
- 50
- Reported to NHTSA
- 1993-08-11
- Owners notified
- 1993-08-03
Defect description
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF EATON AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER ON EATON AXLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR OPERATED S-CAM BRAKES. THE SLACK ADJUSTER "FIXED ANCHOR BRACKET", WHICH TRIGGERS THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE ADJUSTMENT, WAS IMPROPERLY LOCATED. THE IMPROPERLY LOCATED ANCHOR BRACKET CAN DAMAGE THE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER CONTROL ARM AND CAUSE THE SLACK ADJUSTER TO FAIL TO PERFORM THE MECHANICAL ADJUSTMENT FUNCTION FOR WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED.
Safety risk
FAILURE TO CORRECTLY ADJUST THE SLACK CAUSES THE BRAKESTO BECOME OUT-OF-ADJUSTMENT AND RESULTS IN REDUCED BRAKING POWER, INCREASEDSTOPPING DISTANCES, AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
REMOVE THE ANCHOR BRACKET, INSPECT THE SLACK ADJUSTER, AND REPLACE IT IF DAMAGED, INSTALL THE ANCHOR BRACKET IN THE PROPER LOCATION, AND ADJUST THE BRAKES.