MC7 Suspension Bellows Defective Bead Ring.

[Stormcloud]

After the steering box replacement, I thought we should tackle some air leaks, particularly one near the drive axle.

The source was easy to find, even without soap and water. The bellows installed last fall was leaking around the base, at the bead ring. Hmmph.
The plate was cleaned well prior to installation, and it went together OK. It didnt leak at first, but thats where the air is coming from now.

So, we removed the 'now' 1 year old bellows and can't see any defect in it, or in the platesof the suspension. I have a spare new bellows, so we installed it, along with 2 new bead rings and hardware (all supplied by MCI).

All done, bolts snugged up nice, air up the coach and air is leaking around the bottom bead ring like crazy! WTF ! ! !

Checked the bolts, etc. All is good, so we removed the bottom bead ring.
The bead ring appears to be distorted around the bead ( the part that holds the bellows down onto the plate). The bead of the ring, I believe, should be at a uniform height above a given flat surface, because it is the lip that provides uniform pressure on the lip of the bellows. A bent or mis-shapen ring will not provide the pressure needed to keep the air in. ( please correct me if I am mistaken.)

Checked the other 2 bead rings that were just removed, they are also distorted, but it appearsed that only 1 was leaking.

Did I receive some defective bead rings a year ago, and am just disovering them now?. MCI has only 1 bead ring in Canada, and it's on its way to my home via air express. I certainly hope that it is not distorted too. We used a gradual sequence to tighten the bolts, so I know its not something we did.

Anyone else have this trouble? What's the remedy??

Thanks for your help.

Mark

[mikelutestanski]

Hello:     Had the same problem with my 7  . Received one bellows from mohawk and the bead ring on the bellows was defective. Please inspect the bellows rubber ring on the bottom and top . Any imperfection will be noticeable .  The bellows plates and uper and lower should be flat and smooth. File or sand and paint if possible. 
     I have blocking plates so that is one side.
    Regards   mike

[bevans6]

I don't quite follow.  Is the clamping ring of steel that the bolts go through the problem, or is the internal steel band covered with rubber of the actual spring bellows the problem?

Brian

[Stormcloud]

It's the clamping ring that is bad. The internal lip which forces down on the bead of the bag was not formed correctly; therefore doesn't put equal pressure on the lip and is causing air leaks at the plate.

I was going to gring the internal lip til its reasonably consistent and try it, especially if the replacement part doesn't arrive today.

I didn't know that overnight express delivery from Montreal didn't necessarily mean over only 1 night..... 

Mark

[Busted Knuckle]

It's the clamping ring that is bad. The internal lip which forces down on the bead of the bag was not formed correctly; therefore doesn't put equal pressure on the lip and is causing air leaks at the plate.

I was going to gring the internal lip til its reasonably consistent and try it, especially if the replacement part doesn't arrive today.

I didn't know that overnight express delivery from Montreal didn't necessarily mean over only 1 night..... 

Mark

Mark,
MCI & I have gone round & round over late parts ordered overnight and extra shipping charged but still not overnighted!
Call & complain they will refund the shipping cost and a % of the purchase price of the product! Been there done that got the T-shirt to go with it!
  BK 

[Stormcloud]

Hi, BK.

Thats definitely on my to-do list for next week. Sometimes when I order from a jobber, the part may not be exactly right, or have minor imperfections.
I figured ordering direct from MCI, there wouldn't be quality control issues, but these rings are definitely crap!

Maybe shoulda bought an iggle, except we can't import those into Canada.

Mark

[Stormcloud]

So, Friday afternoon about 1:30pm, the replacement bead ring arrives from MCI. Overnight delivery now means two days, if any one is interested.

The replacement ring is perfect. No distortion whatsoever, and it clamps the bead exactly right. no leaks, whatsoever. So, back on the road about 4pm Friday, with a spare (used 1 year) bag and 3 defective bead rings in the parts box.

Now that the weekend is over, I will be drafting a letter to MCI about the quality of these parts, the aggravation and additional time and expense the substandard parts have caused, and their suggestion on how to turn this situation from a cold prickly into a warm fuzzy. 

Mark

[gumpy]

Now that the weekend is over, I will be drafting a letter to MCI about the quality of these parts, the aggravation and additional time and expense the substandard parts have caused, and their suggestion on how to turn this situation from a cold prickly into a warm fuzzy. 

Mark

Mark,

I suggest, since you cannot use the defective rings, that you include them in the letter and send them directly to whomever oversees MCI parts. Explain all the details in the letter, and offer a solution, such as a full refund for all the defective parts, plus a refund on the shipping you paid for the defective parts, plus a refund on the recent overnight delivery you paid extra for that wasn't overnight. This is all you can really expect from them. Word the letter strongly enough to let them know this is what you expect them to do for you since it was their fault.

Include your phone number, and indicate you will be calling him personally in 5 days to follow up if you have not heard from him by then. Then do so. If he balks, go over his head and work your way towards the top. That's when you start mentioning lawyers and class action lawsuits (everyone who purchased a ring will be included in the lawsuit).  It's unlikely you'll have to go further than the parts manager for a refund.

craig