Freightliner Broke my Wheel Stud

luvrbus · March 22, 2018, 06:25:07 PM

Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on March 22, 2018, 05:44:17 PM
It has been a real hassle on my part with all of the extra work involved in calling two local Freightliner dealers in the area that turned me down because my bus is over 20 years old. Then packing everything up and moving my bus to a yard to have the wheel pulled and photos sent in for proof. I guess they could not believe their mechanics are so stupid. And now I have lived two nights so far in the shops parking lot next to the train tracks and listening to their horn as they go thru town. But as long as they reimbursed me for the work after I pay for it, I guess I will leave it at that as I don't want to be blackballed at all Freightliner shops as I may need more work done in the future when traveling and hopefully most of them have better trained mechanics.

LOL so the young man was a rookie I have seen so called season veterans screw up big time too.Gary was lucky he had work done at a shop or dealer that could adsorb the cost, you have people and shops working on buses that don't carry insurance,no connections to other shops on the road for repairs if he had it done at 1 of those places he would be crying real tears

eagle19952 · March 22, 2018, 07:16:44 PM

I guess I will leave it at that as I don't want to be blackballed at all Freightliner shops as I may need more work done in the future when traveling and hopefully most of them have better trained mechanics....

maybe a courtesy card and a welcome mat at every Freightliner shop nationwide in lieu of a lawsuit...

Jim Eh. · March 22, 2018, 07:51:10 PM

Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on February 13, 2018, 04:15:59 PM
I had the wheel seals, bearings and races on the rear drivers side of the bus changed out in my 1967 Eagle at the El Paso Frieghtliner dealer last November.

So nobody has asked the question so far ... why were the wheel nuts even touched in the first place? Assuming a Frieghtliner dealer location would be a sizable business they definately should have a wheel dollie. There is no need to breakdown the wheels off the hub in the first place.
Gary, I hope the shop that does the remedial work removes the hub and checks the bearings. I would highly suggest you instruct them to do so even at your own cost if necessary as I would be extremely suspicious of anything that first "tech" may have touched.

chessie4905 · March 23, 2018, 04:44:12 AM

I hate those dual dollys. Sold mine. Sure, its easier to get them on and off at the chance of nicking up oil seal when reinstalling assembly if you're off a little. Imagine if that kid used one..... I know "used it hundreds of times and never nicked a seal". Just not my choice.Yrmv. Gary, I think you need to search for better places to have your work done. A lot of the big commercial places dont want to mess with the odd 40 year old vehicles. Many times they are a pita due to age. After all it's just an old bus to them. I doubt the parts dept. appreciates chasing parts for it. Too bad you don't live near Luke.

luvrbus · March 23, 2018, 06:40:43 AM

Quote from: chessie4905 on March 23, 2018, 04:44:12 AM
I hate those dual dollys. Sold mine. Sure, its easier to get them on and off at the chance of nicking up oil seal when reinstalling assembly if you're off a little. Imagine if that kid used one..... I know "used it hundreds of times and never nicked a seal". Just not my choice.Yrmv. Gary, I think you need to search for better places to have your work done. A lot of the big commercial places dont want to mess with the odd 40 year old vehicles. Many times they are a pita due to age. After all it's just an old bus to them. I doubt the parts dept. appreciates chasing parts for it. Too bad you don't live near Luke.

Shops are getting tough to find that will work on old buses period lol they are a restoration project for sure a 1 day job can run into a couple of weeks even with Luke on the prowl

chessie4905 · March 23, 2018, 06:46:17 AM

Exactly, especially with Eagles. Not so much with GMC's. They recognize the GMC brand. Eagle??? wasn't that something AMC built? Ok, I' ll run for cover now.lol

windtrader · March 23, 2018, 08:58:35 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on March 23, 2018, 06:40:43 AM

Shops are getting tough to find that will work on old buses period lol they are a restoration project for sure a 1 day job can run into a couple of weeks even with Luke on the prowl

I was told the same thing by a shop who worked on a bus I was considering. You don't repair but restore old busses. When you can't even order up parts and have to spend time and energy just finding parts, it's a money loser. Then you open it up and find a bunch of other stuff needs work, the owner is just filled with joy hearing it's going to cost more and take a lot longer. Just the kind of customers that you love to have, right?

Ya gotta be nuts to own a bus, ah, right - busnuts! lol

DoubleEagle · March 23, 2018, 09:15:12 AM

Quote from: chessie4905 on March 23, 2018, 06:46:17 AM
Exactly, especially with Eagles. Not so much with GMC's. They recognize the GMC brand. Eagle??? wasn't that something AMC built? Ok, I' ll run for cover now.lol

Equally as insulting as being thought of as an American Motors product, is being confused with American Eagle RV's. Then there are the looks you get from garages and insurance agents when you tell them your VIN is a four digit number. I am surprised that twenty yours old is too old to be serviced, seems like they would prefer ten years as a cut-off so that there is less chance that we come in with old tires with three digit DOT codes that might blow up in their faces. I think Gary's experience points out the fact that we need to be more fully prepared to service our own coaches when at all possible.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · March 23, 2018, 12:52:00 PM

Quote from: Jim Eh. on March 22, 2018, 07:51:10 PM
So nobody has asked the question so far ... why were the wheel nuts even touched in the first place? Assuming a Frieghtliner dealer location would be a sizable business they definately should have a wheel dollie. There is no need to breakdown the wheels off the hub in the first place.
Gary, I hope the shop that does the remedial work removes the hub and checks the bearings. I would highly suggest you instruct them to do so even at your own cost if necessary as I would be extremely suspicious of anything that first "tech" may have touched.

I had a leaking rear wheel seal. Once they got in there they also found pitted bearings. So they replaced bearings, races, and the seal. Pretty simple job but it took them all day because it was a bit difficult to find the bearings in stock in El Paso. The current shop does not recommending checking the bearings as the seal may be damaged. Besides he said it has already traveled from El Paso to Anaheim to Quartzsite and back to Anaheim. If something was wrong with the bearings or seals, it would have shown up by now.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · March 23, 2018, 07:50:32 PM

I sent the estimate to Freightliner three days ago and they still have not approved the repairs. My shop need something in writing saying they will pay for the repairs before beginning. I copied the shop manager and three other people on the email but no word from them. So hopefully they will pay for the repairs otherwise it will be another $1500 out of my pocket for the repairs on top of the original $1,500 repair bill.

I think I will start a list on my website for people to list reputable bus repair companies in the U.S. and let anyone add in a shop name along with optional comments. How many people would find this helpful? This may prevent other bus nuts from going thru the agony that I am going thru right now.

windtrader · March 23, 2018, 09:50:34 PM

Title it, "How not go broke being a busnut".

GnarlyBus · March 23, 2018, 10:45:32 PM

I'd find it helpful. I hesitate to take my car or bus into any mechanic but it would be especially helpful when on the road.

luvrbus · March 24, 2018, 06:42:54 AM

I don't care much for bashing a shop sometimes you only get 1/2 the story,Freigtliner will probably cover the cost it may take a few months it took me 8 months to get $ 14,281.00 from one of their screw up but I did get it

PP · March 24, 2018, 08:34:34 AM

Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on March 23, 2018, 07:50:32 PM
I think I will start a list on my website for people to list reputable bus repair companies in the U.S. and let anyone add in a shop name along with optional comments. How many people would find this helpful? This may prevent other bus nuts from going thru the agony that I am going thru right now.

Hey Gary, I'm into mountain biking (for the exercise) and I visit bike sites all the time. There is one that keeps a sticky with a list of bike shops that people have recommended. Unless recommended, you can't be on the list. Maybe something along those lines for bus repair shops. Only those recommended by a busnut that has used them qualifies for the list. Just a thought,
Will
PS-hopefully you get your situation resolved soon.

bobofthenorth · March 24, 2018, 09:09:10 AM

What Clifford said.

Lists on websites are a feel good exercise but in the real world they don't accomplish much. There's genuine screw ups and there's personality conflicts. The best way to ensure good work is to understand what needs to be done and monitor it. You don't need to actually do all the work but if you don't understand how to do it then you're open for abuse at the hands of an unscrupulous shop.