§393.207 sets the condition standards for the suspension system. Springs (including main leaves, auxiliary leaves, and torque/track rods), U-bolts, axle-positioning parts, and air-suspension components must be in proper condition. The rule includes specific OOS-triggering defects in §393.207(b)–(e).
OOS
The North American OOS Criteria call a vehicle OOS when: any leaf in any leaf-spring assembly is missing, broken, or displaced; a coil spring is broken; a torsion bar / torque rod / track bar is cracked or broken; a U-bolt, spring hanger, or other axle-positioning part is cracked, broken, loose, or missing such that axle alignment is affected; or an air-spring is leaking, mis-positioned, or deflated when it should be inflated.
Severity weight
Severity weight 3 in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC. Suspension findings cluster — a single broken leaf usually accompanies worn shocks, fatigued U-bolts, and skewed axle alignment.
How to prevent it
- Mark U-bolts after every torque check so loosening is visible at next inspection.
- Replace leaf-spring sets in matched pairs; mixed-age leaves fatigue at different rates.
- Air-suspension leak checks at every pre-trip — a slow leveling-valve leak is the most common precursor to a §393.207(e) finding.
How Roadworthy HQ helps
§393.207 findings logged in Roadworthy HQ link to the vehicle alongside §396 maintenance records, block dispatch under §396.11(c) until §396.9(d)(3) repair certification is on file, and surface against the §385.337 corrective-action documentation.