Required Reading

Don't want to cry wolf, But this recent article from Busride.com caught my eye. Felt I should share it with the board.:

RoadCheck in Canada points to loose pitman arms in Prevost coaches
Motor Coach Canada reports that during the recent RoadCheck inspection blitz, several Prevost coaches were put out-of-service in Ontario and BC for looseness in the pitman arm where it attaches to the steering gearbox output shaft.
MCC says vehicle inspectors across the country are on the lookout for this condition. The looseness can start with a loose "pinch" bolt, and if caught right away, can be corrected by tightening the bolt. If it is not tightened and stays loose for a period of time, the splines will wear and tightening the bolt will make it appear tight for a few days but it will loosen again.
MCC contacted Prevost Car Inc. and Maurice Gagne, National Service Manager, US & Canada . Maurice advised that Prevost issued a Maintenance Information Bulletin Mi05-09 in June 2005 to address this particular issue. The notice is a reminder of the maintenance required on the pitman arm and the correct torques to be applied to ensure proper steering linkage operation.
The bulletin mentions that TRW recommends checking the tightening torque 4 times a year. The bulletin applies to XL coaches from 1996 - 2000; H3-40 coaches from 1990 - 1994; H3-41 and H3-45 coaches from 2000 - 2001; and VIP-45 coaches from 1997 - 1999. In addition, Gagne noted that if the problem persists, inspection after inspection, the pitman arm should be replaced because the splines could be damaged. Under the CVSA inspection criteria, any looseness of the pitman arm on the steering gear output shaft is an out-of-service defect.