LOWER CONTROL ARM FRONT BUSHING SQUEAK/CREAK

SUBJECT: LOWER CONTROL ARM FRONT BUSHING SQUEAKS/CREAKS OVER ROUGH ROADS (REPLACE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT SHAFT BUSHING, RUBBER BUMPER, AND END CAP WASHER)

MODELS: 1990-94 CHEVROLET AND GMC TRUCK G1, G2 VANS BUILT BEFORE THE FOLLOWING BREAKPOINTS:

PLANT DIVISION VIN

LORDSTOWN GMC EOP* LORDSTOWN CHEVROLET EOP* SCARBOROUGH GMC EOP* SCARBOROUGH CHEVROLET EOP* FLINT GMC RF524675 FLINT CHEVROLET RF160532

* EOP REPRESENTS END OF PRODUCTION.

CONDITION:

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THE FRONT SUSPENSIONS SQUEAK/CREAK OVER ROUGH ROADS. THIS CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM RUBBER THRUST BUMPER SLIPPING/STICKING WITH THE END CAP WASHER.

CAUSE:

THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING SLEEVE ROTATES ON THE PIVOT SHAFT DUE TO LOW TORQUE ON THE SHAFT NUTS.

THERE IS A SLIP/STICK CONDITION BETWEEN THE RUBBER THRUST BUMPER AND THE END CAP WASHER LOCATED ON THE FRONT PART OF THE PIVOT SHAFT. FURTHERMORE, THERE MAY BE A SOURCE FOR THE NOISE THROUGH THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BUSHING OUTER SLEEVE AND THE TOOTHED WASHER.

CORRECTION:

TO ELIMINATE THE ABOVE CONDITION, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO INSTALL A NEW LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT SHAFT BUSHING (FRONT), (1), RUBBER BUMPER (2), AND A TEFLON COATED END CAP WASHER (3) TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT SHAFT (REFERENCE FIGURE 1). THE TORQUE SPECIFICATION FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS IS 170 N.M (125 LBS. FT.).

INSPECT THE TOOTHED WASHER WHICH COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE FRONT PIVOT SHAFT BUSHING. IF THE TEETH ON THIS WASHER ARE DAMAGED, THIS WASHER SHOULD ALSO BE REPLACED. THE TOOTHED WASHER PART NUMBER IS 7828962.

SERVICE PROCEDURE:

REMOVE THE LEFT HAND AND RIGHT HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO DO ONE SIDE AT A TIME. INSTALL THE NEW FRONT PIVOT SHAFT BUSHING, RUBBER BUMPER, AND END CAP WASHER. INSTALL THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY, FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS IN THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL, SECTION 3C.

SERVICE PARTS INFORMATION:

P/N DESCRIPTION QTY 15988037 FRONT PIVOT SHAFT BUSHING 1 PER SIDE 15988036 RUBBER BUMPER 1 PER SIDE 15988035 END CAP WASHER 1 PER SIDE

PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO ON 8/22/94.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OP DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME E3557 BUSHING AND/OR SHAFT, USE PUBLISHED FRONT CONTROL ARM - REPLACE, BOTH LABOR OPERATION TIME

NOTICE: FOR ALIGNMENT TIMES, REFER TO OPERATION E2020 AND ADD THE APPLICABLE TIMES TO THE REGULAR HOURS COLUMN.

FIGURES: 1

CAPTIONS: FIGURE 1 - LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT SHAFT

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

COPYRIGHT 1994 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.