SRAM issues road brake recall

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Due to a quality issue with the titanium alloy used in the mounting bolt of a limited
number of the new Force road group's front brakes, SRAM has issued a voluntary recall to
consumers in possession of the brakes. Roughly 10 have failed.

SRAM asks consumers discontinue riding until the front Force brake caliper has been
replaced.

According to SRAM' media manager, Michael Zellmann, the problem was identified through
SRAM's internal quality process. A small number of the titanium mounting bolts failed
during the installation process. There have been no injuries associated with the defect.
Affected brakes can be identified by a manufacturing date code stamped on the back of
the brake, to the left of the mounting bolt.

Date Codes/Range Affected

No date code
Original date code range: 01JUNE06 to 15SEPT06 (date code indicated production day,
month and year)
Current date code range: 35T6XXXXXXX to 39T6XXXXXXX (first two digits indicate week of
production, 2006)

"It's not a design issue, it's a materials issue," said Zellmann, SRAM's PR and media
manager. "We detected it through our quality process and we are being exceptionally
proactive about it - we don't want to take any chances - so we're issuing a voluntary recall
of [brakes with certain] date codes. It only affects a percentage, I don't know what that
percentage is, of front brakes that are out there."
An outside manufacturer supplied the affected titanium alloy and its specifications fell
outside of those set by SRAM. The cause for failure is an incorrect grain structure of the
raw titanium material. SRAM does certify all materials used from outside suppliers and this
particular material did not meet the standards set. SRAM is no longer working with this
supplier.

The recall does not affect the more economical Rival group; its front brake relies on a
steel-mounting bolt, nor does the recall affect all Force brakes. The recall is limited to
only front brakes within the above listed date range.

Consumers are instructed to contact their dealer or place of purchase for replacement.

======================


SRAM expands brake recall
By Matt Pacocha
VeloNews technial writer
This report filed February 13, 2007

Less than a week after SRAM announced a voluntary recall of a limited
number of Force front brake calipers, the company has expanded the
recall to include rear calipers. The expansion is due to incorrect
grain structure in the titanium used to manufacturer the caliper
mounting bolts of both front and rear brakes.

SRAM urges consumers not to ride a bicycle equipped with the affected
brakes. The mounting bolt can fail causing the brake caliper to detach
from the frame of fork.

SRAM assures its partners that the issue has been corrected and that
it has ended its relationship with the suspect supplier. The problem
affects roughly 10,000 Force brake calipers and does not affect the
Rival group. The recall expansion does not include any brake calipers
manufactured outside of the date range previously reported.

Date Codes/Range Affected
� No date code
� Original date code range: 01JUNE06 to 15SEPT06 (date code indicated
production day, month and year)
� Current date code range: 35T6XXXXXXX to 39T6XXXXXXX (first two
digits indicate week of production, 2006)

"The expanded recall is motivated by additional metallurgical analysis
coupled with one failed rear mounting bolt," said Michael Zellmann
SRAM's media and PR manager. "It's essentially a bad batch of titanium."

SRAM will replace any Force caliper that was produced during the
affected manufacturing period. Consumers are instructed to contact
their dealer or place of purchase for replacement.