Flank Fatigue
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Ford Pickup, 2010 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2010 Ford F450 Super Duty, and 2010 Ford Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- The term describes extremely fine, localized pittings in the load-bearing flanks, visible as gray spots or as a matte gray staining when found in clusters. Material fatigue resulting from a combination of contact pressure, sliding movement and composite friction leads to the formation of this kind of microscopic surface cracking. Pittings originating from these cracks may create the appearance of local flank wear.