work has been completed. The base label is usually located on the passenger-side door, about 12 inches
(30 cm) below the door latch. If a completion sticker is present, no work is needed. If a completion sticker is
not present, proceed to the next step.
2. Shut off the engine, set the parking brake, and chock the tires. Open the hood.
3. Disconnect both shock absorbers. See Fig. 1.
4. Raise the vehicle, and support the frame rails with jack stands behind the rear hanger of the front suspension.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the frame rails are level and an equal distance off the ground.
NOTE: Replace both front suspension springs at the same time.
5. Remove the grease zerk fittings from the spring pins.
6. Using the floor jack, support the axle underneath the center of the spring, then remove the U-bolts and the
axle stop/shock absorber mount.
7. Lower the axle and remove the spring spacer and caster shim. Note the taper direction of the caster shim
so that it will not be reversed during the installation.
8. Raise the axle back up to support the spring and remove some of the load from the spring.
9. Disconnect the front of the spring from the spring drive bracket.
9.1

Remove the 4 retaining bolts from the retainers at the front spring drive bracket.

9.2

Using special tool J-49860, unthread the front spring pin from the spring eye. See Fig. 1.

10. Disconnect the rear of the spring from the shackle bracket.
10.1 Remove the lower retaining bolts from the inboard and outboard shackle links.
10.2 Using special tool J-49860, unthread the lower rear spring pin from the spring eye and shackle links.
11. Lower the spring and the axle, then remove the spring.
12. Using multipurpose chassis grease, lubricate both spring pins, the shackle pin, and the inside surfaces of
the bushings.
13. Loosely position the new spring on top of the axle, with the new alignment pin in the hole in the top of the
axle.

Page 6

Daimler Trucks
North America LLC

Recall Campaign

December 2017
FL745AB
NHTSA #17V-521
Transport Canada #17-407
REVISED NOTICE
22
15

24

16

21

10

17

12

23 8

8
9

6

13

8

18 16

12

19
23

14
8

16 18

11

20
16
15

10
5
7
8
9

4

6

3
2
1
f321143

03/13/2009

1. High Nut, 7/8–14
2. Flatwasher, Hardened 7/8 x
1.48 x 0.16
3. Axle
4. Dowel Pin, 0.75 o.d. x 4.00
5. Spacer
6. Spring Pin
7. Retainer
8. Hardened Washer, 0.53 x 1.06
x 0.177

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Hexnut, ½–20
Split Ring
Spring Drive Bracket
Retaining Bolt,1/2–20
U-Bolt, 7/8–14 x 10.12
Axle Stop/Shock Absorber
Mount
15. Hexbolt, 3/4–16 x 4.25
16. Flatwasher, Hardened, 3/4 x
1.39 x 0.16

17. Shock Absorber Mounting
Bracket
18. Hexnut, 3/4–16 UNF
19. Spring
20. Shock Absorber
21. Shackle Bracket
22. Frame Rail
23. Shackle Link
24. Retaining Bolt, ½–20

Fig. 1, Drop Hanger Front Suspension with Threaded Spring Pins

Page 7

Daimler Trucks
North America LLC

Recall Campaign

December 2017
FL745AB
NHTSA #17V-521
Transport Canada #17-407
REVISED NOTICE

NOTICE
Failure to apply Alumilastic or similar compound will result in electrolytic corrosion of dissimilar metal
components, and will damage the suspension system.
14. Connect the rear of the spring as follows.
14.1 Place the floor jack under the axle, then raise it until the rear spring eye aligns with the holes in the
shackles.
14.2 Using special tool J-49860, thread the rear spring pin through the outboard shackle link, the spring
eye, then the inboard shackle link. Take care not to push the new split ring out of the inboard shackle
link.
14.3 Apply Alumilastic® or similar compound to all areas of the aluminum shackle link that contacts other
metal. This includes all capscrews, washers, and locknuts that contact the aluminum shackle link.
14.4 Insert the lower retaining bolt, with a hardened washer, through the inboard shackle link. Do not install the retaining bolt though the outboard shackle link at this time.
15. Connect the front of the spring as follows.
15.1 Align the forward spring eye in the spring drive bracket.
15.2 Thread the spring pin through the spring eye, then set the split-ring on the inboard end of the spring
pin.
15.3 Install the retaining bolts down through the spring drive bracket and attach the retainers. Tighten the
nuts evenly to maintain equal clearance between the retainers and the spring drive bracket, but do
not fully tighten them at this time. They need to be loose enough to adjust. See Fig. 2.
16. Using the floor jack, lower the axle until the spring hangs freely.
17. Attach the rear of the spring as follows.
17.1 Using the threaded spring pin, center the lower rear spring pin in the shackle bracket. The gap on
each side should be within 0.080 inch (20 mm) of the other side. The minimum gap on each side is
0.020 inch (0.5 mm). See Fig. 3.
17.2 After the spring is correctly positioned, install the lockbolt through the outboard shackle link, then
tighten the bolts in both the inboard and outboard shackle links 45 lbf·ft (61 N·m).
18. Adjust the front of the spring.
18.1 Using the threaded spring pin to adjust the position, center the front spring pin in the drive bracket.
The nominal gap on each side is 0.063 inch (1.60 mm). Maintain a minimum gap of 0.020 inch (0.5
mm) on each side. See Fig. 4.
18.2 Tighten the nuts on the retainer bolts 60 to 76 lbf·ft (81 to 103 N·m).
19. Install the grease zerks into the spring pins.
20. Lower the axle and place the new spacer and caster shim on the front axle in the position referenced during
removal.
21. Using the jack, raise the axle until the spring spacer touches the spring, then place the axle stop/shockabsorber mount on top of the spring.

Page 8

Daimler Trucks
North America LLC

Recall Campaign

December 2017
FL745AB
NHTSA #17V-521
Transport Canada #17-407
REVISED NOTICE

B
A

C

A
A

A

1
11/06/2008

f321144

A. Equal Distances
A

Fig. 2, Spring Drive Bracket and Retainer Installation

A

2

03/13/2009

A

A

f321146

A. Min. 0.020 inch (0.5 mm)
B. Outboard
C. Inboard
1. Split-Ring
Fig. 3, View from Rear of Spring Looking Forward

1
A

A

3

11/06/2008

4

f321145

A. Minimum Spacing 0.020 inch (0.5 mm)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Spring
Outboard Retainer
Inboard Retainer
Split Ring

Fig. 4, View From Underneath the Forward Spring Eye

Page 9

Daimler Trucks
North America LLC

Recall Campaign

December 2017
FL745AB
NHTSA #17V-521
Transport Canada #17-407
REVISED NOTICE

NOTICE
Failure to retighten the U-bolt fasteners as instructed could result in spring breakage or abnormal tire
wear.
22. Install the new U-bolts. Tighten the new U-bolt high nuts in stages and in a diagonal pattern as shown in
Table 3 and Fig. 5.

Stage

U-Bolt Torque Values
Torque: lbf·ft (N·m)

1
2

4

1

2

3

Hand-tighten
60 (81)

3

200 (271)

4

420–500 (571–680)

Table 3, U-Bolt Torque Values

10/05/2016

f320783

Fig. 5, Tightening Pattern for U-Bolt (or Clamp Bolt)
High Nuts

23. Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle to the ground.
24. Wipe all dirt from the grease fittings on the spring pins and the shackle pin. Apply multipurpose chassis
grease with a pressure gun until grease appears at the opposite end of the pin.
25. Remove the jack stands from the chassis, and lower the vehicle.
26. Install both front shock absorbers, and tighten the bolts 200 lbf·ft (271 N·m).
27. Close the hood.
28. Clean a spot on the base label (Form WAR259). Write the campaign number, FL745, on a blank red
completion sticker (Form WAR260) to indicate the work has been completed and attach it to the base label.

Page 10