OOSC, Part II, Item 8. Steering Mechanisms, g. Ball and Socket Joint

393.209(d) / CFR Appendix G to Subpart B, Minimum Periodic Inspection Standards, Section 7, Subsection g. Ball and Socket Joint: Any motion, other than rotational, between any linkage member and its attachment point of more than ¼ inch. The North American Standard Out-of Service (OOSC) Item 8. Steering Mechanisms g. Ball and Socket Joint any motion, other than rotational, between any linkage member and its attachment point of more than 1/8 inch measured with hand pressure only. Due to manufacturers PM/maintenance inspection process and liability issues, shops no longer use a “crow-bar” to check Ball & Socket Joint movement during the Federal Periodic Inspection; Hand pressure is being used to check for movement and shops are inspecting to the Appendix G standard of ¼ movement. This is opposed to the OOSC documentation of an Officer using hand pressure to confirm movement no more than 1/8 inch. If both inspections are being performed by “hand pressure” and Appendix G is 1/4 movement and OOSC is 1/8, then the tractor leaves the shop after the Federal Periodic, the Carrier/Driver/Technician is under the impression it is within the Standards, and then is stopped for a roadside inspection and a violation is possible for this component.

This is an inconsistency between the two standards and can result in a carrier receiving a violation during a roadside inspection. Clarification is needed and an update to Appendix G is required to document the inspection process to confirm the Ball & Socket Joint is within Appendix G standards at the time of the Federal Periodic Inspection.

It is understood that the OOSC is used during the roadside inspection to inspect a vehicle while in transit however, there must be some form of consistency that will direct a Carrier and/or Shop on the standards to pass or fail this component during the Federal Periodic when hand pressure is used to determine the measurement. Amend Appendix G to document ….. of more than 1/8 inch measured with hand pressure only or 1/4 inch when measured with a hand tool or pry bar.