Gunite Automatic Slack Adjuster Recalls

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 11E008000
Manufacturer: ACCURIDE CORPORATION
Date of Owner Notification: April 5th, 2011

Defect Summary:
ACCURIDE IS RECALLING CERTAIN GUNITE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2010, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2011, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT AND SOLD AND INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IN VARIOUS HEAVY TRUCKS. 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:
ACCURIDE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD FOR THE AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED SLACK ADJUSTERS FREE OF CHARGE. ACCURIDE IS WORKING WITH THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY VEHICLE OWNERS OF THE RECALL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 5, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THEIR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER OR ACCURIDE AT 1-812-962-5000.

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 .