Bendix Recalls 200,000 Parts; Several Trailer Manufacturers Affected
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is recalling approximately 200,000 SR-5 brand spring brake valves manufactured between Jan. 1, 2014, and March 4, 2016, because of a defect that could affect parking the tractor-trailer. The recall affects only brakes on trailers, not on tractors, according to Bendix.
The recall affects more than 30,000 trailers from Brenner, Cheetah, Fontaine, Great Dane, Hackney, Kindron, Transcraft, Utility, Vermeer, Wabash National and Wilson. According to a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covering the recall of 13,509 Great Dane trailers, “it’s possible, although improbable, that the unit could leak, which could slow the application of the spring brakes when parking the trailer.” No accidents have been reported.
There currently is no fix for the problem, but Bendix spokeswoman Barbara Gould told Transport Topics that the company is working on a remedy kit. Truck drivers are urged to verify whether their trailer has an SR-5 valve.
“If an SR-5 valve was used, examine the supplier code [cast into the valve body] and the date code [stamped into the valve] to confirm whether it is a part of the impacted population. Both must be present. Bendix has posted a Valve Identification Guide on its online Product Action Center,” Gould said.
Affected parts will have the supplier code A0114T through C0416T. The first letter on the date code is A through M and the last two numerical digits of 14, 15 or 16.
“The leak is heard or observed at the supply [red] gladhand when uncoupled from the tractor. If coupled to a tractor, a leak may be heard from the exhaust of the park control valve [Bendix MV-3 dash control valve] or from the tractor protection valve,” according to the notice.
Bendix, based in Elyria, Ohio is asking anyone with questions to call 877-345-9526 during normal business hours.
Eaton Corp. is recalling 853 spool valve hydraulic motors made between Dec. 26, 2015, and March 30, 2016, because the shaft on the user’s end could crack under stress or heavy loads, according to a document filed with NHTSA.
Paccar Inc., based in Bellevue, Washington, is one of two companies that purchased these parts from Eaton, although no accidents or injuries have been reported.
“A vehicle crash is not a potential occurrence in known applications. Eaton is only aware of use in hydraulic booms, in which case the defect may cause unintended movement of the boom. This movement may result in a person being struck by the boom and injuries consistent with such striking,” according to the recall notice.
The Cleveland based company says that the issue appears to be a forging defect that created a chevron-shaped void.
Paccar declined to comment.
