OOSC, Partie II - Article 10. Suspension, d. Biellette de suspension, ensemble de composant de suivi

An ad-hoc committee was established which resulted in multiple motions being made:

The wording of 11.d.(1) was updated to make it clear that components that attach tracking components to the frame of the vehicle are to be OOS, just as the tracking component itself would create an OOS condition. The amended language is below:

d. Suspension Connecting Rod and Tracking Component Assembly (1) Any part of a suspension connecting rod or tracking component assembly (including spring leaves used as a suspension connecting rod) or any part used for attaching them to the vehicle frame or axle (e.g., spring hanger, equalizer), that is cracked, loose, broken or missing.

Also, during the ad hoc committee’s work, it was found that the guidance under question 11.a.(3) in Operational Policy 15 was not completely accurate.

When this was placed into Ops Policy 15, the suspension manufacturer that was consulted only used the cross tube as a brace for alignment of the suspension before installation. It was determined that other manufacturers use this cross tube as support of the suspension, even after installation. In all cases, the manufacturers did not feel a violation should be written as it is additional, not required, support. The committee decided the inaccurate information should be removed from the guidance.

The guidance will now read as follows:

11.a.(3) If the crosstube brace is cracked, loose, corroded or broken, is it a violation or an out-of-service condition?

ANSWER: These conditions are not a violation nor out of service.

It was determined that the term “gussets” is not known by all inspectors and that many of the suspensions seen have them for additional support. Due to the gussets sometimes being placed on suspensions for additional strength, they are not always used. For this reason, the committee determined that a violation should not be written since it would be penalizing carriers that have added the gussets for extra strength. Manufacturers agreed that a violation should not be written since they are just there for extra support and, if there is a problem, will result in a violation that can already be written for suspensions. Operational Policy 15 was updated with the following, along with two pictures for clarification:

11.b.(1) If a gusset or crossbar used as a part of the tracking for that suspension is cracked, is it a violation and/or out of service?

ANSWER: No, these are reinforcement pieces and if defective may eventually cause other issues in the suspension system that could result in violations.

Also, there was an added diagram added to 11.d.(1) in the OOSC to provide a better description and guidance to inspectors as to what component applies to what section of the OOSC.