CAMPAIGN:REAR SUSPENSION NOISE WITH FE1 OR FE2 SUSPENSION
SUBJECT: REAR SUSPENSION NOISE
MODELS: Certain 1988 Cutlass Supreme Models with FE1 or FE2 Suspension
CONDITION:
----------- General Motors of Canada has determined that certain 1988 Cutlass Supreme Models with FE1 (standard) level suspension or FE2 Level II suspension were produced with rear strut upper mounts that could, in cold weather, allow an increase in noise from rough roads to pass into the passenger compartment.
VEHICLES INVOLVED:
Certain 1988 Cutlass Supreme Models produced with FE1 suspension or FE2 Level II suspension within the following vehicle breakpoints:
Plant Beginning Through and Including --------- -------------- ---------------- Doraville Start of Production JD304100
Dealers are to replace both left and right rear Strut Upper Mounts.
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 should be obtained through your Zone Office.
Description Quantity
Strut Mount 2/Car Cover 2/Car Nut 2/Car
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 ------------ ------------------ ---------------- 2A Replace Left and Right .9 Hrs. Rear Top Mounts
Time allowance includes 0.1 hour for Dealer administrative detail associated with this campaign. Parts credit will be $3.80.
SERVICE PROCEDURE:
This Procedure is to be performed on both the left and right rear struts of the vehicle.
1. Place vehicle on hoist so that rear suspension hangs in rebound position, with parking brake on.
2. Place protective shield/tape around wheelhouse edge to prevent damage.
3. Leave tire/wheel on vehicle. Place a transmission jack or equivalent jack under the rear tire and adjust as required to relieve side-ways pressure on the screws, Strut Upper Mount to body, (3) as shown in Illustration. Also, place a positive locking jack stand under the strut bottom/lateral links to catch the suspension in case the transmission jack unexpectedly moves.
CAUTION:
FAILURE TO PROPERLY SUPPORT THE REAR TIRE AND STRUT AGAINST THE FORCE OF THE TRANSVERSE SPRING MAY RESULT IN INJURY. PARKING BRAKE MUST BE SET TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE JACK. THE USE OF JACK STANDS IN ADDITION TO A TRANSMISSION JACK AS REQUIRED.
IF SPRING COMPRESSION TOOL J-35778 IS AVAILABLE, IT IS TO BE USED (IN PLACE OF JACK STAND) AS SHOWN ON PAGES 3D-4 AND 3D-5 OF CUTLASS SUPREME 1988 OLDSMOBILE NEW PRODUCT SERVICE MANUAL.
4. Remove brake line hold-down plate and set aside for later reinstallation.
5. Remove two screws, Strut Upper Mount to Body, (3) as shown in Illustration and set aside for later reinstallation.
6. Compress strut by hand and pull outboard past the wheelhouse opening to provide access to top of strut, and place a one (1) inch block of wood between the bottom of the strut and the lower control arms (Lateral Links). Adjust jack as required.
7. Remove rubber Upper Strut Mount Cover, (1) shown in Illustration. Screw off by hand like a nut.
8. Using a T50 Torx head wrench to prevent rotation of the Strut Rod (7), remove Strut Rod Nut (2). Discard nut.
9. Remove Strut Upper Mount (4), Jounce Bumper (5), and Dust Tube (6) as an assembly from the Strut Rod.
10. Separate Dust Tube (6) from the Jounce Bumper (5). Save the Dust Tube for reinstallation. Discard the old Jounce Bumper (5) and Top Mount (4).
11. New Strut Upper Mount (4), Part Number 22091331, and new Jounce Bumper (5), Part Number 22075622, should arrive preassembled as a service assembly (Strut Upper Mount and Jounce Bumper Assembly, Part Number 22091330). If not, the top lip of the Jounce Bumper can be installed into the bottom cavity of the Strut Upper Mount by squeezing one side of the lip up into the cavity and working on around until the last part of the lip pops into place. This can be done by hand; to avoid tearing the Jounce Bumper, do NOT use a tool.
12. Install new Strut Upper Mount and Jounce Bumper Assembly, (4) and (5), to the old Dust Tube (6).
13. Install Mount/Bumper/Tube assembly onto the Strut Rod. Install new Nut (2), Part Number 22068284, onto Strut Rod, and torque to 75 N.m (55 lbs. ft.) while holding Strut Rod from rotating with a T50 Torx head wrench. Yellow paint mark on mount should face outboard for ease of later inspection (if required).
14. Reinstall rubber Upper Strut Mount Cover (1) on end of Strut Rod by pressing on. If cover was torn during earlier removal, replace with new Cover, Part Number 22075497.
15. Remove wood block from between strut bottom and lateral links. Compress Strut Assembly by hand to get under the flange of the wheelhouse and swing back into place in wheelhouse, adjusting jack as required.
16. Install Strut Upper Mount to body by reinstalling two screws (3) at 41 N.m (30 lbs. ft.).
17. Replace brake line hold-down. Relieve pressure on transmission jack and move it aside. Move jack stand aside and/or remove Tool J-35778.
18. Remove protective shield/tape from flange of rear wheelhouses.
19. Install Campaign Identification Label.
20. Release parking brake before moving vehicle.
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:
This notice is to inform you that General Motors of Canada is initiating a rear suspension modification that includes your vehicle.
It has been determined that certain 1988 Cutlass Supreme Models with base (standard) level suspension or FE2 Level II suspension were produced with rear strut upper mounts that could, in cold weather, allow an increase in noise from rough roads to pass into the passenger compartment.
To prevent this from occurring on your vehicle, the rear strut upper mounts will be replaced. This service will be completed for you at no charge.
Contact your GM Dealer to arrange a service date. Instructions have been sent to your Dealer. The labour time to replace the rear strut top mounts is about one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes. Please allow additional 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.
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.
