Altec Industries, Inc.
Midwest Operations
St. Joseph, MO

CSR 502

Chassis/Supplier Recall
August 26, 2020
Units Affected: Freightliner units upfitted with an AxleTech Independent Front Suspension system (Please verify that your unit serial number is affected by reviewing the attached list in this
CSR or by accessing your fleet on connect.altec.com/login)

AxleTech Steering Shaft Replacement/Update
Altec is committed to providing our customers reliable products from initial delivery throughout
the useful life of the unit.
Altec has been notified of a customer satisfaction campaign by AxleTech/Meritor for certain
Freightliner units equipped with an AxleTech Independent Front Suspension (IFS) system. Units
with this suspension system may have a condition in which there is an uneven resistance felt
when turning the steering wheel.
The inspection and repair will be completed by a Meritor servicing Freightliner Dealer.
Customers
• Must complete the Vehicle Information section of the attached Pre-Call Worksheet.
• Must contact a Meritor servicing Freightliner servicing dealer to schedule an appointment,
and provide the dealer with the information in the Vehicle Information section of the Pre-call
Worksheet (call 866-668-7221 for assistance if required).
Meritor Servicing Freightliner Dealer
• Will contact Meritor and order appropriate parts prior to scheduled appointment.
• Will replace the steering shaft of the affected unit and center the steering wheel at no charge.
Altec
• Will notify customers of the campaign – a copy of the notice is attached to this CSR.
• Is communicating the information provided by Meritor Inc. and has no responsibility to provide the repairs or parts for the campaign. This campaign is not covered under the Altec Warranty Policy.

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TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Independent Front Suspension (IFS)

STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT
Hazard Alert Messages
Read and observe all Warning and Caution hazard alert messages
in this publication. They provide information that can help prevent
serious personal injury, damage to components, or both.

WARNING
TO PREVENT SERIOUS EYE INJURY, ALWAYS WEAR SAFE EYE
PROTECTION WHEN YOU PERFORM VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
OR SERVICE.
PARK THE VEHICLE ON A LEVEL SURFACE. BLOCK THE
WHEELS TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. SUPPORT
THE VEHICLE WITH SAFETY STANDS. DO NOT WORK UNDER A
VEHICLE SUPPORTED ONLY BY JACKS. JACKS CAN SLIP AND
FALL OVER. SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGE TO
COMPONENTS CAN RESULT.
TAKE CARE WHEN YOU USE LOCTITE® ADHESIVE TO AVOID
SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY. READ THE MANUFACTURER’S
INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING THIS PRODUCT. FOLLOW THE
INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY TO PREVENT IRRITATION TO THE
EYES AND SKIN. IF LOCTITE ADHESIVE MATERIAL GETS INTO
YOUR EYES, FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER’S EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES. HAVE YOUR EYES CHECKED BY A PHYSICIAN
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ASBESTOS AND NON-ASBESTOS
FIBERS WARNING

How to Obtain Additional Maintenance,
Service and Product Information
Refer to Service Manual SSM-0100 - Commercial Independent
Front Suspension. To obtain this publication, visit axletech.com/en/
support/service-manuals.
HOW TO OBTAIN PARTS
To order parts, email [email protected].

Description

Part Number

STEERING - SHAFT INTERM LWR

887501275E

For Additional Support
If you have questions about the procedures in this bulletin, contact
Meritor at 920-424-5480 (US and Canada) between 8:00 AM and
5:00 PM ET Monday through Friday.

Prepare the Vehicle for Service
Before you begin, perform these steps to prepare the vehicle for
service:
1.

Wear eye protection.

2.

Park the vehicle on a level surface. Block the wheels to
prevent the vehicle from moving.

SOME BRAKE LININGS CONTAIN ASBESTOS FIBERS, A
CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD. SOME BRAKE
LININGS CONTAIN NON-ASBESTOS FIBERS, WHOSE LONGTERM EFFECTS TO HEALTH ARE UNKNOWN. YOU MUST USE
CAUTION WHEN YOU HANDLE BOTH ASBESTOS AND NONASBESTOS MATERIALS.

TP-20102 / Issued June 2020
Page 1

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2020

Printed in USA

STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT

Purpose

Removal Procedure

This bulletin is to provide the procedures when replacing the
IFS steering shaft. This bulletin applies to only 15 units currently
installed on vehicles.

1.

Remove the capscrew (1a) and nut (2a) securing the lower
shaft (7) to the power steering gear assembly.

2.

Mark the steering wheel location (in the cab) relative to the
interior instrument panel (to enable re-alignment of steering
wheel after new shaft installation) using marked tape or similar.

3.

Loosen the set screw attaching the bearing (8) on the lower
shaft.

4.

Remove bearing housing attachment fasteners (4, 5, & 9) to
allow bearing housing to float.

5.

Separate the upper and lower steering shafts by removing the
capscrew (1c) and nut (2c) and pulling apart.

6.

Disengage the lower shaft (7) from the bearing (8).

7.

Discard the removed lower steering shaft (7) PN 887501196E.

1b
2b

3

Installation Procedure
1c

2c

9

1.

Slide the bearing assembly (8) onto the new lower shaft (7)
PN 887501275E.

2.

Install the upper steering shaft (3) onto the lower steering shaft
(7) splines.

3.

Apply Loctite 243 blue threadlocker to the steering shaft
capscrew (1c) with nut (2c) to secure the upper and lower
steering shafts together. Tighten to 45-50 lbs. ft. (61-67 N∙m).

4.

Install the new lower steering shaft (7) into the power steering
gear assembly. Align the splines to ensure the steering wheel
alignment marks previously made in the cab match up. It will
be helpful to loosely re-install and align the support bearing
bracket (8) during the spline and steering wheel alignment
process in order to achieve an accurate final result.

5.

Fully install the support bearing bracket (8) and attachment
capscrews (4, 5, & 9) with Loctite 243 and tighten to 32-36
lbs. ft. (43-49 N∙m).

6.

Apply Loctite 243 blue threadlocker to the capscrew (1a) and
nut (2a) and tighten to 45-50 lbs. ft. (61-67 N∙m).

7.

Tighten the bearing assembly (8) set screw.

8.

Confirm that the wheels and steering wheel are aligned after
reassembly and all face in the same direction.

4
5
5

8
7

1a

6

2a

Item

Description

1

Capscrew

2

Nut

3

Steering Shaft - Upper

4

Nut

5

Washer

6

Column Bracket

7

Steering Shaft - Lower

8

Support Bearing & Bracket

9

Capscrew

Printed in USA

Return the Vehicle to Service
Before returning the vehicle to service, perform these steps:
1.

Ensure the work area is clear of personnel and remove the
vehicle safety stands.

2.

Remove the wheel blocks.

3.

Test drive the vehicle at low speed in an area with no personnel
and ensure the steering and brakes are functioning properly.

Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2020

TP-20102 / Issued June 2020
Page 2