Made some new friends this week. Started out as a black list assist. They
had just left from picking up their Royale somewhere from a GMC Vendor in
the midwest. They had purchased a bunch of new parts including a lower
geared final drive which they wanted to have installed before their trip
back to their home in Wasilla, Alaska. So, they detoured to Cinebar to
have it installed. Once there, much more work was performed, and they left
for home. They got to Boise, Idaho and had a blowout on the left front.
When they jacked it up and checked for slack in the front end, they
uncovered a whole bunch of play in the hub and knuckle as well as the lower
ball joint. He looked up my name on the black list, and called me. I
referred him to Bill Hubler in Caldwell, Idaho, near where he was. Bill
apologized that he could not take on the job. After talking with the new
owner, I told him to come on by my shop.
Hubs, knuckles, and wheel bearings and seals were all needed. After
several phone calls to Applied, the hubs, knuckles and front bearings were
on the way before they arrived on Tuesday. Thanks to Nick and Jim at
Applied.
On Tuesday, we jacked up the coach and removed the old hubs and
knuckles, after further inspection, the lower ball joints were determined
to also be needed. So, my local supplier sourced some for us, and had them
that afternoon.They were the wrong joints which we could only determine by
very careful measurements. The tapered part was smaller than the GMC joints
enough to protrude all the way through the knuckle, and never tighten on
the taper. A game of a few thousandths of an inch. So, more vendor
searching, going the extra mile, to secure the correct joints in Tacoma,
Washington. First thing this morning, I picked them up, brought them back
and verified the fit. Owner buttoned it up, torqued everything, put in new
cotter keys, back on the ground, hooked up the toad, and headed North to
Alaska. They stayed several days and nights with us, shared adult beverages
and good food with us, they took us out for great Mexican food and
Margaritas, shared some great stories. I am sure we will meet again. What a
great group of people. I count my blessings, everyday. They are many.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon
had just left from picking up their Royale somewhere from a GMC Vendor in
the midwest. They had purchased a bunch of new parts including a lower
geared final drive which they wanted to have installed before their trip
back to their home in Wasilla, Alaska. So, they detoured to Cinebar to
have it installed. Once there, much more work was performed, and they left
for home. They got to Boise, Idaho and had a blowout on the left front.
When they jacked it up and checked for slack in the front end, they
uncovered a whole bunch of play in the hub and knuckle as well as the lower
ball joint. He looked up my name on the black list, and called me. I
referred him to Bill Hubler in Caldwell, Idaho, near where he was. Bill
apologized that he could not take on the job. After talking with the new
owner, I told him to come on by my shop.
Hubs, knuckles, and wheel bearings and seals were all needed. After
several phone calls to Applied, the hubs, knuckles and front bearings were
on the way before they arrived on Tuesday. Thanks to Nick and Jim at
Applied.
On Tuesday, we jacked up the coach and removed the old hubs and
knuckles, after further inspection, the lower ball joints were determined
to also be needed. So, my local supplier sourced some for us, and had them
that afternoon.They were the wrong joints which we could only determine by
very careful measurements. The tapered part was smaller than the GMC joints
enough to protrude all the way through the knuckle, and never tighten on
the taper. A game of a few thousandths of an inch. So, more vendor
searching, going the extra mile, to secure the correct joints in Tacoma,
Washington. First thing this morning, I picked them up, brought them back
and verified the fit. Owner buttoned it up, torqued everything, put in new
cotter keys, back on the ground, hooked up the toad, and headed North to
Alaska. They stayed several days and nights with us, shared adult beverages
and good food with us, they took us out for great Mexican food and
Margaritas, shared some great stories. I am sure we will meet again. What a
great group of people. I count my blessings, everyday. They are many.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon
