Axle nuts

An NHTSA Engineering Analysis into Fruehauf vehicles. Closed 5 June 1989.

Investigation
EA88024
Type
Engineering Analysis
Opened
25 February 1988
Closed
5 June 1989

What NHTSA investigated

Analysis:internal fruehauf memorandums show a long term problem hasexisted with the axle nut fastening system on multi-axle vehicles.a heavyduty nut was made available in late 1976 for severe use application AND2 years later was installed routinely during trailer production.problemscontinued, resulting in the availability of a heavy duty double axle nut IN1981, and its routine installation on severe service vehicles in 1983.ADDITIONALLY, fruehauf internal documents indicate that some axles and axlenuts had an out of tolerance problem which increased the likelihood ofthreads stripping and wheel separation.summary of information from manufacturer:a long term problem existed withvarious corrective measures being implemented apparently unsuccessfully,until the availability of the double nut kit in 1983.FRUEHAUF'S positionis that an axle nut problem does not exist (due to a lack of warrantyclaims) and therefore there is no threat to public safety.status:ir beingdrafted.===

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
FruehaufFRUEHAUF1965–1988

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.