CAMPAIGN: FRONT DRIVE AXLE NUT REPLACEMENT. Buick Reatta 1989

For 1990-2009 cars

# CAMPAIGN: FRONT DRIVE AXLE NUT REPLACEMENT

#### Models: 1989 Toronado, Riviera, Reatta, Eldorado and Seville

#### TO: ALL AFFECTED DEALERS:

General Motors of Canada has determined that some 1989 Oldsmobile Toronado, Buick Riviera/Reatta and Cadillac Eldorado and Seville model vehicles may have been assembled with front drive axle nuts that may loosen slightly. If this occurs, the clamp load for the wheel bearing may decrease. Although wheel retention and steering control will not be affected, this condition could result in noisy front wheel bearings and lead to reduced bearing life.

To prevent this condition from occurring, dealers will be required to replace both front drive axle nuts on all affected vehicles. In addition, on some vehicles dealers are tb inspect and replace, if necessary, affected wheel bearing assemblies. Specifics are detailed in the Vehicles Involved and Service Procedure sections of this bulletin.

#### VEHICLES INVOLVED:

Certain 1989 Toronado, Riviera/Reatta, Eldorado and Seville model vehicles within the following V.I.N. breakpoints:

Plant Group 1 Group 2 ----- ------- ------- OLDS Toronado Hamtramck SOP-KU300995 KU300996-KU301851

BUICK Riviera Hamtramck SOP-KU401763 KU401764-KU403487 Reatta Lansing SOP-KB901034 KB901035-KB901911

CADILLAC Eldorado Hamtramck SOP-KU602287 KU602288-KU604323 Seville Hamtramck SOP-KU801689 KU801690-KU803239

#### EACH GROUP HAS A SEPARATE SERVICE PROCEDURE.

All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.

#### DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY:

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

#### CAMPAIGN PROCEDURE:

Refer to Section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.

#### OWNER NOTIFICATION:

All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

#### PARTS INFORMATION:

Parts required to complete this campaign should be ordered through regular channels as follows:

#### NOTICE: Parts must be ordered according to V.I.N. range. Be certain to check the V.I.N. of the vehicle being serviced to obtain the correct parts. Refer to the Vehicles Involved section of this bulletin.

VIN Range Part Number Description Quantity ---------- ----------- ----------- -------- Group 1 3634775 Service Kit* 1

7466961 Hub and Bearing Assembly As Required**

14084119 Bearing Seal As Required**

22529144 Front Brake Caliper As Required** To Knuckle Bolt

Group 2 14035592 Torque Prevailing Nut 2

10049691 Large Washer 2

*NOTICE: Each Service Kit contains 2 Splined Washer Adaptors, 2 Washers, 2 Torque Prevailing Nuts and 2 Nut Retainers for servicing both the left and right front drive axles.

**NOTICE: It is anticipated that less than 10% of the wheel bearing assemblies within the Group 1 V.I.N. ranges will require replacement. Bearing assemblies are not included in the Service Kit and must be ordered separately. Please adjust your parts orders accordingly. In addition, brake caliper mounting bracket to knuckle bolts (P/N 22529144) must be replaced when wheel bearing assembly replacement is required (2 per side).

#### PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:

Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card, RAPID terminal or DCS transmission in accordance with the following:

Repair Code Description Time Allowance ----------- ----------- -------------- Group 1

2A Install Service Kit Only .7

3A Install Service Kit and 1.1 One Hub and Bearing Assembly

4A Install Service Kit and 1.6 Two Hub and Bearing Assembly

Group 2

5A Install Washers and Nuts .5

Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be based on dealer net plus 30% to cover parts handling.

SERVICE PROCEDURE: (Applies to both left and right front drive axles)

Group 1

1. Support front of vehicle. Lift vehicle enough to remove most of the weight of the vehicle from the ground, but keep the tires on the ground to prevent rotation during torque readings.

On the Oldsmobile Toronado support front of vehicle with floor jack. Lift vehicle just enough to permit the removal of the front wheels.

2. Remove front wheel covers or wheel inserts. On the Oldsmobile Toronado remove front tire and wheel assembly.

3. Loosen drive axle nut one-sixth turn (one flat).

4. Tighten nut to original position.

5. Check and record torque to re-loosen drive axle nut.

6. If torque in Step 5 is below 80 N.m (60 ft. lbs.) replace hub and bearing assembly and seal per 1989 Service Manual procedure.

#### NOTICE: If a hub and bearing assembly is replaced, the two brake caliper bolts (Part Number 22529144) MUST also be replaced.

7. Remove original drive axle nut and washer and discard.

#### NOTICE: For Steps 8 through 11 refer to Figure #1 and use Service Kit Part Number 3634775.

8. Install splined washer adapter.

9. Install new washer.

10. Install new torque prevailing nut and torque to 245 N.m (180 ft. lbs.).

#### IMPORTANT:Use torque wrench to tighten drive axle nut to specification.

11. Install nut retainer over nut and be certain that the three tabs latch into the three notches in the splined washer adapter. If tabs and notches do not align, tighten nut further to align. Do not exceed 275 N.m (200 ft. lbs.).

12. Install front wheel cover or wheel insert. On the Oldsmobile Toronado install front tire and wheel assembly.

13. Remove support from front of vehicle.

14. Install Campaign Identification Label.

Group 2

1. Support front of vehicle. Lift vehicle enough to remove most of the weight of the vehicle from the ground, but keep the tires on the ground to prevent rotation during torque readings.

On the Oldsmobile Toronado support front of vehicle with floor jack. Lift vehicle just enough to permit the removal of the front wheels.

2. Remove front wheel covers or wheel inserts. On the Oldsmobile Toronado remove front tire and wheel assembly.

3. Remove drive axle nut and washer and discard.

#### NOTICE: For Steps 4 and 5, refer to Figure #2

4. Install new washer. (Part Number 10049691)

5. Install new torque prevailing nut (Part Number 14035592) and torque to 245 N.m (180 ft. lbs.).

#### IMPORTANT: Use torque wrench to tighten drive axle nut to specification.

6. Install front wheel cover or wheel insert. On the Oldsmobile Toronado install front tire and wheel assembly.

7. Remove support from front of vehicle.

8. Install Campaign Identification Label.

#### INSTALLATION OF CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.

Dear General Motors Customer:

General Motors of Canada has determined that certain 1989 Oldsmobile Toronado, Buick Riviera/Reatta, Cadillac Eldorado and Seville model vehicles may have been assembled with front drive axle nuts that may loosen slightly. If this occurs, the clamp load for the wheel bearing may decrease. Although wheel retention and steering control will not be affected, this condition could result in noisy front wheel bearings and lead to reduced bearing life.

To prevent this from occurring on your vehicle, please contact your GM dealer to arrange for a service date to have this condition corrected. Your dealer will replace both drive axle nuts and, if necessary, replace affected wheel bearing assemblies. This service will be performed at no charge to you.

Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your GM dealer. The labour time to replace both drive axle nuts is approximately 24 minutes. However, if one or both wheel bearing assemblies require replacement, an additional one hour may be necessary. Also, please allow added time for your dealer to process your vehicle.

This letter, identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this letter to your dealer will assist their Service personnel in completing the necessary correction to your vehicle in the shortest possible time.

Further assistance, if required, may be obtained from the General Motors Zone Office nea.rest you. Your vehicle Owner's Manual provides the location and phone number of each respective Zone Office.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products.

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.