Automotive Trucks information on net.

One of the hottest rumors sweeping the auto industry is that the Magna-supplied, hydroformed frames on GM's GMT800 full-size trucks are bending. There have even been confirmed sightings of damaged trucks at dealerships, giving momentum to the report. GM has downplayed the rumor officially, but offered AI exclusive access to Ken Sohocki, chief engineer GM Truck Group, to explain the confusion.

"The rumor exists because we have had 36 trucks damaged in transit," Sohocki says. "The carriers did not comply with GM procedures for vehicle tie-down, and instead of using a manual winch they have been using hydraulics to apply center tension." He adds that GM's follow-up investigation showed that the hydraulic cylinders fitted to car carriers put about 9,000 pounds of pressure per side on the trucks, bending the lipped C-section center mils just behind the cab area. The hydroformed sections of the frame were not involved.

Sohocki says it's not unusual in any new vehicle launch to have shipping damage, since carriers often try to apply shortcuts they used on old products with disastrous results.

"People don't realize it, but we validate new tie-down points even before we validate the truck," he says.

Sohocki adds that there are front, rear and center tiedowns on GMT800. He says the center tie down helps achieve higher shipping density, allowing more units per load. "In the shippers defense, maybe we didn't do a good enough job of communicating our procedure," he offers. "But still they had to come up with real money to pay for those trucks." In either case, procedural bulletins have gone out and the damage has stopped, claims GM.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:42 AM