Freightliner Broke my Wheel Stud

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · March 24, 2018, 09:32:17 AM

Well I heard back from Roger Gomez, the Service Manager of Doggett Freightliner in El Paso, Texas this morning.

This was his response to me asking for him to reply back to my email for my shop that they would pay for the repairs as they would not accept a verbal response.

I have already told you what you needed to do. What is the issue now?

Do all Freightliner shops have this attitude or is it just Doggett Freightliner in El Paso, TX?

Gary

Boomer · March 24, 2018, 09:42:32 AM

I would notify the offending party that if not resolved in 7 days you will file a small claims court case. It is a massive pain in the @$# for their rep to show up in court especially if they are many miles away. Filing fees are small, and you should easily get a judgement in your favor with the documentation you have. I have gone this route two or three times and won each time. Sometimes a judgement in your favor is hard to collect from a small fly by night, but a Freightliner dealership shouldn't be too tough.

Jim Eh. · March 24, 2018, 10:10:11 AM

Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on March 24, 2018, 09:32:17 AM
Well I heard back from Roger Gomez, the Service Manager of Doggett Freightliner in El Paso, Texas this morning.

This was his response to me asking for him to reply back to my email for my shop that they would pay for the repairs as they would not accept a verbal response.

I have already told you what you needed to do. What is the issue now?

Do all Freightliner shops have this attitude or is it just Doggett Freightliner in El Paso, TX?

Gary

Hmmm, set up a guest account for him and Frieghtliner (corporate) here to view the increasingly negative reviews and bad PR THEY are getting?

eagle19952 · March 24, 2018, 12:16:21 PM

bet a nickle it's a very short list...

bigred · March 24, 2018, 02:32:30 PM

Two outfits that will never touch my bus again , Freightliner of Asheville ,and Snider Tire!!

eagle19952 · March 24, 2018, 03:23:53 PM

Quote from: bigred on March 24, 2018, 02:32:30 PM
Two outfits that will never touch my bus again , Freightliner of Asheville ,and Snider Tire!!

maybe we need two lists...

Utahclaimjumper · March 25, 2018, 09:01:16 AM

New name for Gary,,, STUDLESS.

he he he.>>>D

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · March 25, 2018, 07:28:33 PM

Quote from: Utahclaimjumper on March 25, 2018, 09:01:16 AM
New name for Gary,,, STUDLESS. he he he.>>>D

easystreet · March 25, 2018, 09:38:00 PM

In looking at the first picture you posted showing the broken stud with the wheel still on the bus - I may be wrong but it appears to me that the end of the inner lug nut that the outer nut is threaded onto is what actually broke off, not the stud itself. I don't see a later photo after the wheel was removed. In the first photo you can see the actual wheel stud inside of the broken off inner lug nut. I have dealt with this before. they make a socket with splines on the inside to drive onto the broken inner nut in order to remove it. Any heavy tire shop or truck shop should have one. Yes the DA put the nuts on inside out and ruined the wheel, but the stud itself may be undamaged.

easystreet · March 25, 2018, 09:49:23 PM

I just took another look at the photo after blowing it up. I am sure that it is just the inner lug nut that has the end broken off exposing the end of the wheel stud itself. When using aluminum wheels the inner lug nut is longer / taller to accommodate extending thru the thicker outer aluminum wheel. Consequently the actual wheel stud height is about flush with the surface of the outer wheel - this is what you are seeing in the picture - the broken off inner lug nut and the normal end of the stud itself. You can still see the normal end of the stud itself. A new wheel and new lug nuts and you should be good to go.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · March 26, 2018, 09:46:13 AM

The new wheel is in and a truck tire place is coming over to day to replace the stud and reassemble everything. The hub cover should arrive today and I should be back home later today or tomorrow. Thankfully this occurred when I was close to home and the shop let me live in my bus (I am a full-timer) on their property.

This could have been much worse of course, like if the wheel broke lose and tore up my fender wells or if it caused an accident. Or I could have had to do this while on the road which would be more inconvenient, or I may have had to pay for a hotel room for several days while they worked on my bus.

So all will be well soon and I will be on my way. Then it is just a question if Doggett Freightliner in El Paso Texas will reimburse me for the bill for the new wheel, stud, and wheel cover, and when. I will keep you posted.

PP · March 27, 2018, 05:21:28 PM

Glad to hear that you're making progress.
Will

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · March 28, 2018, 03:24:37 PM

Thanks PP. They brought the second wheel over and replaced it and put on all new nuts. They could not find the wheel cover in time before I had to leave, but it should be there by the time I return.

They mailed the paid receipt to Doggett Frieghtliner. We will see how long it takes them to pay it. The bill came to more than what the original service cost.

Oonrahnjay · March 28, 2018, 03:41:04 PM

Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on March 28, 2018, 03:24:37 PMThanks PP. They brought the second wheel over and replaced it and put on all new nuts. ...

Did they at least put a thread gauge (or similar) on the studs to see if they were stretched?

I'm worried about your studs, Gary.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · March 28, 2018, 05:10:50 PM

Quote from: Oonrahnjay on March 28, 2018, 03:41:04 PM
Did they at least put a thread gauge (or similar) on the studs to see if they were stretched? I'm worried about your studs, Gary.

I don't think so but they put new nuts on so they should have realized if they were stretched.