Bendix Automatic Slack Adjuster Recalls

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 11E011000
Manufacturer: BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS LLC
Manufactured Begin Date: October 15th, 2010
Manufactured End Date: January 31st, 2011
Date of Owner Notification: April 4th, 2011

Defect Summary:
BENDIX IS RECALLING CERTAIN GUNITE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2011, REPACKAGED AS BENDIX BRAND, PART NUMBERS 974294, 974296, 977142, AND 977143, AND SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT TO PACCAR PARTS DISTRIBUTORS. ONE SLACK ADJUSTER WAS SOLD TO A MACK DISTRIBUTOR. DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE "KNITTING" OF THE IRON AT THE TIME OF CASTING, INADEQUATE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SLACK ADJUSTER HOUSING CAN OCCUR, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE HOUSING TO BREAK AT THE HANDLE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING LOADS.

Consequence Summary:
IF THE SLACK ADJUSTER HOUSING WERE TO BREAK, THE WHEEL BRAKE TO WHICH THE SLACK ADJUSTER IS ATTACHED WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE REDUCED BRAKING CAPACITY AND, IF MOUNTED ON THE STEER AXLE, THE VEHICLE COULD PULL TO ONE SIDE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Corrective Summary:
BENDIX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND GUNITE WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED SLACK ADJUSTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 4, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GUNITE AT 1-812-962-5000 OR BENDIX AT 1-440-329-9000.

Recall Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO 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 .