Recall of 2004 airstream trailers

[silver suz]

Since the last message didnt get through, perhaps I am wrong in putting in this info. Go to the airstream site, product line, recall information. It's serious enough that they want single axle trailers to park and call customer service. check it out. silver suz

[gklott]

We took our trailer into North Dallas RV on Sep 28 for the recall. We had them accomplish that and several other items.

Today, we had the scare of our life. We have had two failures. See the other post in the Community.

We're having it towed to the Airstream dealer in El Paso on Monday.

This evening we're grateful we made it safely today. Never again!

Will post pictures later.

73/gus

[Paul Mayeux]

I wonder if this would apply to those of us that ordered a new axle from Henshen through Inland RV?

[overlander64]

Greetings Paul & Ann Mayeux!

Originally Posted by 62 Overlander

I wonder if this would apply to those of us that ordered a new axle from Henshen through Inland RV?

I had the same question regarding this issue when I took my Minuet in for its Fall service as its Henschen DuraTorque axle was replaced during the same time period as the Airstreams subject to the recall. My dealer wasn't certain, and the end recommendation was to perform the inspection (I think that the service manager contacted both Airstream and Henschen and received mixed messages as to whether replacement axles might be impacted). As it turned out, the axle on my coach had the proper grease in correct quantity. Since my coach is a single axle, I wanted to be certain that its axle was performing safely.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

[Paul Mayeux]

Thanks Kevin - the easiest way to find out, I suppose is to pull the hub and check the grease myself. When I installed the axle it looked like there was sufficient grease. The grease used was a very light colored red. I'll check to be on the safe side.

[Mike Lewis]

We bought an 16'CCD Bambi in nov 04 and towed it about 8000 miles before the recall came out. Being a retired mechanic of 40 years I never trusted anyone else's work so a short time after we got ours I inspected the bearing. The problem I found that scared me wasn't lack of grease but incorrect bearing adjustment. Neither wheel had any bearing clearance. I can tell you from experience that was is a sure disaster looking for a place to happen. Fortunately it was cooler weather and we only took short trips before I checked it. I have little doubt but what we would have burned a wheel bearing and hub up if I hadn't checked it. Just reciently traded the 16 for a 25' classic. From past experance I'm going to pull the wheels on this one before we go on anything besides short trips. ---Pieman

[frozen chosen]

What adjustments can you make on the bearings? Our 16 blew out the outer bearings on one side, breaking the hub as well. Luckily we were only pulling out on to a main road and not up to speed. The serviceman who finally came out said he was suprised that the nut was reefed so tightly that the failure was actually a certainty. The dust cap was also left off, so this may also have contributed. I have since re-packed the opposite side, but I didn't see anything to adjust, is why I'm asking....

[Mike Lewis]

Frozen---The adjustment procedure is in you AS owners packet but in case you don't have one here's how to do it. Tapered wheel bearing MUST have clearence as follows. When the spendle nut is being installed --turn the nut down and slightly snug it, a pare of channel locks or large plyers will work--while snugging it spin the brake drum a time or two while loosening and snugging the nut as you spin the drum. From the snugged point loosen the nut just enough that the cotter pin will slide though the nut and spendle. Don't bend the pin yet. Install the wheel and tire assembly and with it off the ground grasp it top to bottom and see if you can detect any movement. There should be ever so slight movement felt as you try rocking the wheel in and out. If you can't feel this the bearing is TO TIGHT. Loosen the nut one castlelation, [slot] reinstall cotter pin and check for movement again. From there bend cotter pin and in stall cap. There is a more technical way of doing it but the end result is the same. Tapered bearing that are used today must have this clearence because as they increase in temperature and expand they must have room for this expansion. With no room they get tighter and hotter and tiighter and hotter until they burn up. I have seen this happen in 50 miles.
Before tapered bearing came into being we used ball bearing. They required torqueing or tightening beyond the snugging I described. Can't remember how much it's been so long. hope this helps-----Pieman

[James Witt]

Mike,
That was a very good explanation on how to adjust the wheel bearings. I also received the recall notice on my 2004 Safari. I pulled the wheels myself and checked the bearings and this is what I found. On the curb side the castle nuts (on both axles) were drawn up so tight that I had to use a lot of torque with channel locks to even loosen them.Now get this, both axles on the left side the castle nuts were also drawn up tight and the spacer washer between the nut and bearing had been left off. I inspected and repacked the bearings and reassembled with the correct adjustment.I towed it to TOG (Helen, GA), which is 300 miles round trip, and when I got back home I raised the wheels and rechecked the play and checked for roughness. Everything seems OK. I will be towing it to St. Augustine, FL next month to the Easter Rally and that will give it a good test.After bearings being drawn up that tight it makes me wonder if failure isn't far down the road.Time will tell.

[flyfisher]

A freind of mine who was a service manager at an RV dealership told me they always checked wheel bearings as part of their pre-delivery inspection because they periodically found problems with bearing assy's or grease.

I wonder if this shouldn't be a required part of every Airstream dealers PDI.

When I was at the Airstream factory last year I was told they didn't check this on any units before they were shipped. That was prior to this recall. Maybe they have since changed their procedure. I'd want to at least do random checks. Further, I was told my several Airstream managers at the time (June 2004) that they did no quality checking of any purchased components.

John