Pierce Manufacturing announced it will be conducting a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safety Recall covering Pierce custom chassis with independent front suspension for the model years 2001 through 2007.

In particular, the pitman arms installed on the suspension system manufactured from Dec. 20, 2001, through Dec. 31, 2006, need to be replaced. Pierce began a field replacement on Oct. 8, 2007, and anticipates completing it by August 2008. Customers of affected units are being notified through Pierce and its dealer network.

Pierce has had only three pitman arm breaks without any apparent previous hard strikes against an object, out of a total of more than 2,600 units. The breaks have all occurred during slow speed maneuvering at full cramp.

"Our goal is to complete repairs in all identified units by August 2008. We see no valid reason to take an affected unit out of service," said Wilson Jones, Pierce Manufacturing president.

To ensure that apparatus drivers remain safe, Pierce is asking fire departments to instruct their drivers not to drive over curbs with the front wheels turned full left or right. When the wheels are pointed straight or the unit is driving on roads, the stress level is low, which is the reason why it is safe to operate an apparatus at normal road speeds in normal manner.

Pierce will replace all pitman arms on the vehicles subject to the recall with new arms made of thicker and stronger material. The new pitman arms have already been installed in all independent suspensions on vehicles manufactured since Jan. 1, 2007.

Pierce recommends that Pierce dealers perform the replacement work. "We are providing dealers with the necessary tool and replacement kits and instructions," Jones added. "Otherwise, Pierce Customer Service will work with fire departments to determine who will do the work."

Any questions on affected apparatus should be directed to the local Pierce dealer or to Pierce customer service.