CERTAIN LINK ULTERIOR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS, P/N 8M00043, INSTALLED ON FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY CHASSIS CABS (1999 AND NEWER MODELS). THE TORQUE SPECIFICATION ON THE U-BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE AXLE TO THE SUSPENSION ARM WAS INCORRECT. OVER-TORQUE MAY CAUSE THE REAR SPRING UPPER PLATE TO BECOME DEFORMED OR CRACKED DURING THE INSTALLATION PROCESS.
IF THIS OCCURS, THE CLAMP LOAD ON THE AXLE WILL BE INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN AXLE ALIGNMENT AND MAY DAMAGE THE SUSPENSION ARM. SEVERE MISALIGNMENT MAY CAUSE THE TIRE TO CONTACT THE AIR SPRING, WEARING A HOLE IN THE AIR SPRING, WHICH WOULD PREVENT THE SUSPENSION FROM FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RIDE ROUGHLY. WHILE IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT BOTH REAR SPRING UPPER PLATES WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY SUFFER A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, THE RESULT COULD BE PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
NOTIFICATION OF THIS DEFECT WAS ISSUED TO CUSTOMERS AS A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PLAN ON JUNE 10, 2005. LINK WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS UNDER THE REGULATIONS OF CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL AND REPLACE REAR SPRING UPPER PLATE, U-BOLTS, NUTS, AND HARDENED WASHERS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LINK MANUFACTURING AT 1-800-222-6283.
CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY:1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.