2019-2021 GMC Sierra & Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Tuscany Ball Joint

September 10, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V718000

Ball Joint May Fail and Cause Wheel Separation

Separation of a front wheel while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V718

Manufacturer Fox Factory, Inc.

Components SUSPENSION

Potential Number of Units Affected 1,413

 

Summary

Fox Factory, Inc. (Fox Factory) is recalling certain 2019-2021 GMC Sierra 1500 and ChevroleteBay logo Silverado 1500 vehicles that are equipped with Tuscany Kits, model number 501T-02-00064. Excessive wear to the front-upper control arm ball joints could result in ball joint failure and wheel separation.

 

Remedy

Dealers will replace the original equipment front-upper control arms with new upgraded front-upper control arms, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2021. Owners may contact Fox Factory at 1-831-274-6500.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

 


2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

 


REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL:

On September 2, Fox Factory filed a Defect Information Report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) informing the agency that in the subject vehicles (equipped with Tuscany, SCA Performance, Rocky Ridge Conversions, and Rocky Mountain Truck lift kits), accelerated wear on the GM-installed ball joint in the front upper control arm can result in premature failure and the affected front wheel separating while the vehicle is in motion.  Partial or total separation of a front wheel while the vehicle is in motion can increase the risk of a crash.

 

REMEDY:

Remedy parts are provided in this box.  Dealers will install new Fox Factory front upper control arms in place of the GM front upper control arms.  This service must be performed on all affected vehicles at no charge to the vehicle owner.

 

REIMBURSEMENT:

For reimbursement for SCA Performance, Rocky Ridge Conversions, and Rocky Mountain Truck vehicles please contact Tim Hatcher at [email protected].  For reimbursement for Tuscany vehicles please contact Jenee Pritt at [email protected].

 

NOTE TO INSTALLER:

1. Enclosed you will find components and installation instructions for replacing OEM upper control arm assemblies with upper control arms manufactured for the use with Tuscany, SCA Performance, Rocky Ridge Conversions, and Rocky Mountain Truck applications. If at any point, there are questions in regards to the application or installation of these components, please contact customer service Corey Rider at [email protected].

2. The installation procedures must be followed as outlined below. These new components have design characteristics that require specific steps that may vary slightly from OEM service manual steps of OEM part replacement.

3. The provided owner information sheet at the end of these instructions must be supplied to the owner of the vehicle once service is complete. It contains important information regarding servicing the newly installed components as well as replacement part information and customer service contact information.

 

IMPORTANT INSTALLATION INFORMATION:

1. Provided control arm pivot hardware must be used and torqued to the specification provided when installing these upgraded upper control arms. Do not reuse factory control arm pivot hardware.

2. Control arms typically add 1-2 degrees caster above stock alignment specifications.

3. Ball joint used is 500-1105, use this for replacement purposes if a new ball joint is ever needed. Ball joint is directional and must be installed with the โ€˜dotโ€™ facing either inward or outward on the vehicle, otherwise damage may occur.

4. Tools Required: Basic Hand Tools / Socket & Wrench Set up to 22mm, Jack Stands, Tape Measure, Cut Off Wheel

OE Control arms as pictured on the left below will be replaced with the upgraded upper control arm on the right.

 

FULLY READ AND FOLLOW THE PROVIDED INSTRUCTIONS

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Park the vehicle on a clean, flat surface and block the rear wheels for safety.

2. Raise the front of the vehicle and support the frame rails with jack stands.

3. Remove the front wheels.

4. Disconnect the front driverโ€™s and passengerโ€™s side sway bar links from the lower control arm.

 

PERFORM THE FOLLOWING INSTALLATION STEPS ON ONE SIDE AT A TIME:

5. If attached, remove the wire retaining clips from the strut studs and loosen but do not remove the three upper strut mount nuts at the frame. Do not loosen- the center strut rod nut. Support the lower control arm with a jack.

6. Remove the nut from the steering tie rod end. Dislodge the tie rod end taper from the knuckle. Remove the tie rod end from the knuckle. Save nut.

7. Disconnect the ABS wire from the knuckle for additional slack.

8. With the lower control arm supported with a hydraulic jack, remove the nut from the upper ball joint. Dislodge the upper ball joint taper from the knuckle. Remove the nut and allow the knuckle to swing rearward out of the way.

9. Remove the two lower strut bar pin bolts. Lower the control arm with the jack so there is enough room to remove the OE strut assembly with the strut spacer still attached.

10. Remove the three nuts attaching the strut to the frame. Remove the strut from the vehicle. DO NOT remove the center strut rod nut.

11. Remove the ABS wire / brake sensor wire from the OE upper control arm. Discard the bracket and hardware.

12. Remove the upper control arm from the vehicle by removing the two bolts attaching the upper control arm to the strut bucket / frame. If replacing the upper arm on a Denali truck, remove the sensor arm from the ball stud on the upper control arm.

13. The new replacement control arm assemblies have a larger profile than the OEM assemblies. They are also designed with a wider range of available travel.  Due to these unique differences, the tab on the side of the strut bucket must be removed to avoid interfering with the proper function of the new control arm assembly. Cut the tab from the side of the strut bucket as shown below.

14. Install the new upper control arm to the vehicle using the new provided 14mm bolts, washers, and nuts and using the provided thread locker. Run the bolt with a washer from the inside out of the strut bucket outwards. Apply thread locker and fasten with a washer and nut on the outer bushing washer surface. Do this for the front and rear control arm mounts. Snug up hardware.

15. Attach the ball joint on the new upper control arm to the knuckle. Snug up ball joint using the OE nylock nut, but do not torque down. The upper ball joint will be removed from the knuckle later so that the strut can be installed.

Note: The OE nylock nut will only be temporarily used to set the control arm at the correct ride height so that the rubber bushing preload is correct. DO NOT USE THE OE NYLOCK NUT FOR THE FINAL INSTALL.

16. Important: Set the ride height from the fender lip to the center of the hub at 28โ€. Using a torque wrench on the inside of the strut bucket and a wrench on the outside bushing to prevent the nut / bushing from moving, tighten the control arm hardware to 148 ft-lbs. This will ensure the rubber bushings are tightened to the right position and not put preload in the rubber bushings. DO NOT spin the โ€œbushing sideโ€ hardware when tightening, only tighten from the inside โ€œframe sideโ€.

17. Dislodge the upper ball joint from the knuckle. Discard the OE nylock nut at this time. Make sure the knuckle is supported so it does not pull out the CV.

18. Reinstall the strut into the strut mount on the frame of the vehicle. Leave the hardware loose.

19. Install the lower strut mount bolts. Torque the lower mount hardware to 37 ft-lbs.

20. With the lower hardware tight, torque the upper strut mount nuts to 40 ft-lbs.

21. Reattach the upper ball joint to the knuckle . Use the provided nylock nut in bolt pack 874. DO NOT USE THE OE NUT. Torque the upper ball joint nut to 26 ft-lbs with the first pass and 60-75 degrees on the final pass.

22. Reattach the tie rod to the knuckle. Torque the tie rod end nut to 44 ft-lbs.

23. Repeat installation on the opposite side of the vehicle. When both sides are complete, reattach the sway bar links and tighten hardware to 60 ft-lbs.

24. Reattach the brake wire / ABS wires to the OE position on the knuckle. Use the provided wire clamps and 1/4โ€ bolt to attach the brake wire / ABS wire to the upper control arm. Check for enough slack in the wires by cycling the steering back and forth and adjust as necessary.

25. Grease the upper ball joint until the dust boot begins to bulge. This should take a relatively small amount of grease as the joints are pre-greased from the factory. Install the dust cap on top of the ball joint housing by installing the O-ring into the groove on the cap. Lubricate the o-ring with grease and press firmly to install onto the upper control arm.

26. Reinstall the front wheels and lower the vehicle to the ground. Torque lug nuts to OE specification.

27. Check all hardware for proper torque.

28. The vehicle will need a complete front end alignment.

29. Leave the next two pages in the ownerโ€™s vehicle.

Caster *Cross Caster +/-1.0ยฐCamber +/-0.8ยฐCross Camber +/-0.8ยฐTotal Toe +/-0.2ยฐSteering Wheel Angle +/-3.5ยฐ
LeftRight(Left – Right)LeftRight(Left – Right)(Left + Right)
3.6ยฐ-6ยฐ3.6ยฐ-6ยฐ0.0ยฐ-0.4ยฐ-0.4ยฐ0.0ยฐ0.1ยฐ0.0ยฐ

*Trucks with 22โ€ wheels only: Maximize caster measurement while keeping camber within specification in order to prevent tires from rubbing the fenders.

 

VEHICLE OWNERโ€™S INFORMATION SHEET

Your vehicle has been equipped with an upgraded upper control arm. Expect long life from these control arms, but unlike the OE ball joints, these ball joints are greaseable. Follow these steps for greasing the ball joint at regular service intervals.

 

SERVICE / CARE FOR UPGRADED UPPER CONTROL ARM:

1. Remove ball joint cap by finding the flat head screw driver slot on the cap.

2. Using a standard grease gun and a standard multi-purpose NLGI Grade 2 grease, apply 1-2 pumps into the grease fitting until the dust boot begins to bulge. Grease may expel near the steering knuckle surface, this is common. Clean up any excess grease using a rag. Check for any cracking or holes in the ball joint boot at this time. If the ball joint boot is compromised, replacement is necessary.

3. Lightly grease the O-ring and reinstall the ball joint cap by pressing firmly on the cap to seat it into the upper control arm.

 

BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT INFORMATION:

With regular greasing and service, expect a long life from these upgraded upper control arms. If the ball joints do become worn they can be replaced with a new ball joint (Part # 500-1105). Contact the following service e-mail at [email protected] including the last 8 digits of your VIN to identify your vehicle.

Note for new ball joint installation the provided replacement ball joint is directional and must be installed with the โ€˜dotโ€™ facing either inward or outward 90 degrees from the pivot location as shown below, otherwise damage may occur. Follow instructions provided with the new 500-1105 ball joint for proper installation.

 


IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

 

NHTSA Recall 21V718

 

This notice applies to your General MotorseBay logo vehicle, VIN:

 

November 8, 2021

REMEDY AVAILABLE

 

Dear

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Tuscany has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain MY 2019 โ€“ 2021 General MotorseBay logo Sierra 1500 and ChevroleteBay logo Silverado 1500 vehicles upfitted with Tuscany Kit Model No. 501T-02-00064.  As a result, Tuscany is conducting this safety recall.

We apologize for this inconvenience.  We are committed to the safety of our customers and your continued satisfaction with our products, and we request that you remedy these vehicles promptly.

 

Why this vehicle is being recalled: 

Accelerated corrosion and wear on the General MotorseBay logo ball joint in the front upper control arm can result in premature ball joint failure and the affected front wheel separating while the vehicle is in motion.

The following warnings may precede the failure of a ball joint in an upper control arm:  noise and/or a feeling of clicking in the steering; abnormal front tire wear; and abnormal steering.  If these warnings are not heeded, partial or total separation of a front wheel could result.  Wheel separation while the vehicle is in motion can increase the risk of a crash.

 

Tuscanyโ€™s free remedy to resolve this issue: 

A Tuscany-affiliated General MotorseBay logo dealer will install upgraded front upper control arms manufactured by Fox Factory, which include stronger and less corrosion-susceptible ball joints than originally installed by GM, free of charge.   This remedy is available now.

 

Please contact Kate Wagner, Tuscany Customer Service Representative at (574) 970-0686 or [email protected] to schedule your repair at the Tuscany-affiliated dealer nearest you.  You may also log on to Tuscany.supportsync.com to register your vehicle and a Tuscany customer service rep will contact you to schedule your repair.  We estimate the time necessary to perform the repair will be approximately 5 hours.  Because of service scheduling requirements, it is likely that the dealer will need your vehicle for a time period longer than this actual repair performance time.

 

If you have already repaired this noncompliance:

If you have previously paid for a repair that addresses the safety defect described in this letter you may be eligible for a reimbursement of your costs for the previous repair.  Please contact Kate Wagner, Tuscany Customer Service Representative at (574) 970-0686 or [email protected] to pursue your reimbursement.

 

For questions, please contact:

Please contact Kate Wagner, Tuscany Customer Service Representative at (574) 970-0686 or [email protected] with any questions or concerns about this recall campaign.

 

If, after contacting Tuscany, you are still not satisfied we have done our best to remedy this noncompliance without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the

Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1.888.327.4236 (TTY 1.800.424.9153), or go to https://www.safercar.gov.  The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 21V718 .

 

NHTSA regulations require that any vehicle lessor receiving a notice of a noncompliance pertaining to any leased motor vehicle must forward the notice to the lessee within 10 days.  

 

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

 

Jenee Pritt, Warranty Manager

Tuscany Motor Co.

 


6 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKEMODELYEAR
TUSCANY MOTOR COCHEVROLETeBay logo SILVERADO 15002019-2021
TUSCANY MOTOR COGMC SIERRA 15002019-2021

 


9 Associated Documents

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Dealer Notification re Notification of Safety Recall 21V-718, New Vehicle Hold Certain Tuscany-upfitted MY 2019 2021 General MotorseBay logo Vehicles and Certain SCA-upfitted MY 202-2021 General MotorseBay logo Vehicles Front Upper Control Arm

RCMN-21V718-3386.pdf 160.773KB

 


Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-21V718-1458.pdf 4440.913KB

 


Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-21V718-1561.PDF 214.877KB

 


Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-21V718-5616.pdf 3234.191KB

 


ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-21V718-9781.pdf 110.977KB

 


Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-21V718-5630.pdf 645.521KB

 


Recall 573 Report

RCLRPT-21V718-1895.PDF 215.795KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2021-4

RCLQRT-21V718-7310.PDF 211.143KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2022-1

RCLQRT-21V718-5302.PDF 211.245KB

 


Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=21V718&docType=RCL

 


 

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