NHTSA Complaint #10154362 — 2003 MONACO COACH DYNASTY

BRAKE CALIPER BOLT CAUSES TIRE DEFLATION THE BOLT (CAP SCREW) ON TOP OF THE FRONT LEFT CALIPER ON MY 2003 MONACO DYNASTY SLOWLY CAME LOOSE. AFTER BACKING OUT APPROX 1/4" - 3/8" IT STARTED TO SHAVE A NOTCH INTO THE TIRE VALVE. AT FIRST THERE WAS A SLOW LEAK (LESS THAN 1 PSI IN A DAY); AFTER A FEW WEEKS THIS INCREASED TO A 10 PSI LOSS IN ONE DAY; THERE WERE NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. PROBLEM WAS FOUND BY A LOCAL TIRE SHOP AND VALVE REPLACED. CAP SCREW EVIDENTLY IS THERE TO HOLD THE BRAKE PAD KEEPER SPRINGS IN PLACE. THIS DESIGN AFFORDS MINIMAL CLEARANCE TO TIRE VALVE STEM AND MAY EXIST ON OTHER MODELS WITH THE DANA (SPICER) FRONT AXLE/DISK BRAKE ASSEMBLY. IF PROBLEM HAD GONE FURTHER IT MIGHT HAVE LED TO RAPID TIRE DEFLATION AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. MONACO WAS INFORMED AND SENT PICTURES OF CALIPER AND VALVE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE THEY HEARD OF, THAT IT WAS DUE TO IMPROPER TORQUE THE BOLT WHEN IT WAS ASSEMBLED. (VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2002). MONACO AND DANA SAID PROBLEM SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAD FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH MONACO AND DANA ENGINEERING PERSONNEL AND OFFERED THEM OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT VEHICLE. THEY DECLINED. *JB