Recall 85E031000: Parking Brake, Driveline, Air

NHTSA recall 85E031000 · announced October 16, 1985 · Midland Brake · 39,000 units affected

The problem

DIAPHRAGM MATERIAL WHICH HAS RUBBER BONDED TO BOTH SIDES OF A NYLON FABRIC REINFORCEMENT MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT BOND BETWEEN THE FABRIC AND THE RUBBER ON ONE SIDE OF THE DIAPHRAGM. IF THE DIAPHRAGM IS INSTALLED WITH THE INSUFFICIENT BONDED SIDE DOWN, IT PERMITS PRESSURIZED AIR TO ENTER BETWEEN THE FABRIC AND RUBBER CAUSING DELAMINATION. THIS RESULTS IN BALLOONING OF THE RUBBER MATERIAL WHICH RESTRICTS THE FLOW OF AIR FROM THE SPRING BRAKE AND HOLDS THE SPRING BRAKE IN THE RELEASE POSITION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE SPRING BRAKES ARE USED AS A PARKING BRAKE AND THE DIAPHRAGM DEFECT PROHIBITS THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR IN A ROLL AWAY SITUATION. WHERE THE SPRING BRAKES ARE EMPLOYED AS A SECONDARY EMERGENCY BRAKE, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR IF THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES THE SPRING BRAKES, DEVELOPS A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE THROUGH LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE AND THE DIAPHRAGM DEFECT PROHIBITS THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES.

What to do

REPLACE VALVE AND KITS IN STOCK AND PROVIDE PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO REPAIR VALVE IN SERVICE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. NOTE: VALVE DATE CODES 10323 THROUGH 13653 AND 10014 THROUGH 11214. KITS DATE CODE FEB 83 THROUGH APR 84 OR B83 THROUGH M83 OR A84 THROUGH D84.

Official NHTSA recall notice →

Notes

VEHICLE CATEGORY: TRUCKS, TRACTORS, AND HEAVY TRUCKS. SYSTEM: BRAKE, EMERGENCY/PARKING.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public recall data. This page reports official records and is not legal, medical, or repair advice.