NHTSA Complaint #760728 — 1993 FORD ESCORT

WALMART AUTO SERVICE CENTER, MCMINNVILLE, TN IS CROSS-THREADING LUGS: NUTS AND BOLTS DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF HIGH-SPEED IMPACT WRENCHES. WHEN IT DOES SO, IT "OUTSOURCES" REPLACEMENT OF BOLTS TO SMALL REPAIR SHOPS, WHO USUSALLY LACK THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT, I.E., A PRESS, WHICH IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE BRAKE SPLASHGUARD. SO IN ORDER TO INSTALL NEW BOLTS, THEY SIMPLY REMOVE THE SPLASHGUARD, WHICH WILL PERMIT BLOWUP TO HYDRATE THE DISC BRAKES, AND THIS IS GOING TO RESULT IN FAILURE. WALMART NEEDS TO REVISE ITS "OUTSOURCING" OF THIS JOB ONLY TO QUALIFIED SUBCONTRACTORS WHO WILL LEAVE THE MANUFACTURER'S SPEC SPLASHGUARD INTACT, TO AVOID FAILURES AND THE RESULTING SAFETY ISSUES AND LIABILITY.*AK *YH