06-07-2014, 05:18 PM
Thursday, I drove the coach to Southern Tire Mart for 6 Bridgestone 11R24.5 H rates tires (fronts were changed out about 3 years ago with Michelin 305/75R24.5). Leaving their facility, I heard a pop that I had not heard before but it wasn't very loud. As I drove away, I noticed that the air pressure was running about 90 psi so I started focusing on that. I just wasn't building up pressure with any authority. I circled back to the commercial truck tire shop and their mechanic and I determined that I had a hole in the right rear air spring on the steering axle that was leaking air as fast as the engine driven air compressor could produce it.
I called Chuck Clark, Newell's Parts Manager, and he ask how many lower mounting studs the airbag had (one) and if the airline came in through one of the upper studs or separately (separately). Based on that, he determined that the current Goodyear replacement airbag was R/W 1003589447C Steer. As it was mid afternoon on Thursday, I asked if he could ship it overnight, early delivery. Chuck had it ready to go within 15 minutes he had one packed up and ready to ship out. FedEx delivered it Friday morning at 8:45 and Southern Tire had me out by noon.
After all the horror stories of folks being stranded on the side of the road due to an airbag failure, I just wanted to provide the best of circumstances for a failure. Newell having the bag in stock and ready to ship, Chuck's outstanding knowledge in identifying the specific airbag and his willingness to get it out immediately (1.5 hours before the tire store closed) and FedEx delivered it 1 hour and 15 minutes after the tire store opened the next morning. Therefore, I only experience a 2 hours and 45 minutes total time delay that the shop was open to get the correct part from Oklahoma.
I will be heading to Newell immediately after the rally for additional airbag replacements as well as the service I had already scheduled.
The knowledge and dedication of the staff and management of Newell is a strong reason for owning a Newell. A special thanks to Chuck.
I called Chuck Clark, Newell's Parts Manager, and he ask how many lower mounting studs the airbag had (one) and if the airline came in through one of the upper studs or separately (separately). Based on that, he determined that the current Goodyear replacement airbag was R/W 1003589447C Steer. As it was mid afternoon on Thursday, I asked if he could ship it overnight, early delivery. Chuck had it ready to go within 15 minutes he had one packed up and ready to ship out. FedEx delivered it Friday morning at 8:45 and Southern Tire had me out by noon.
After all the horror stories of folks being stranded on the side of the road due to an airbag failure, I just wanted to provide the best of circumstances for a failure. Newell having the bag in stock and ready to ship, Chuck's outstanding knowledge in identifying the specific airbag and his willingness to get it out immediately (1.5 hours before the tire store closed) and FedEx delivered it 1 hour and 15 minutes after the tire store opened the next morning. Therefore, I only experience a 2 hours and 45 minutes total time delay that the shop was open to get the correct part from Oklahoma.
I will be heading to Newell immediately after the rally for additional airbag replacements as well as the service I had already scheduled.
The knowledge and dedication of the staff and management of Newell is a strong reason for owning a Newell. A special thanks to Chuck.