[Bernie]

It’s takes about 1 hour per bag after you get wheels off 15 min to change shocks each

[Archived]

I took my time and replaced air fittings and new nuts on bags and I probably spent 6 hours on drives, I always torque the nuts on wheels so it takes a while, and I cleaned up in there also.

[Archived]

I assume that the amount of time listed above for the airbags is using a jack and jack stands and not on a lift ? Can the shocks on the drive and tag axles be done with the wheels still on the coach?

To do the air bags does both the inner and outer wheel have to be removed?

[Archived]

To replace the drive air bags you can do it most efficiently with the chassis supported on a floor with the suspension raised to the max height. Raise the fenders. Remove the outer wheel. Remove the front shock.

Then remove the nuts holding the air bags in place, cut the air hose to the air bags (you need to replace the push in fittings with compression) and the air bags come out.

The time stated above is correct, and the replacement of shocks involves no time because air bag removal covers the time spent.

Whoever is quoting you that time is cheating you. If the 4 drive axle air bags cannot be replaced, including shocks in 4 hours the shop doing the work needs to be retrained.

[DON]

Yes on the floor bags fully inflated then stands, then deflated bags, and just had to remove outer wheels. Did not replace rear shocks yet, just fronts

[Harry]

Where are you located Dabank, and who quoted you the hours?

[Dan]

Apple Valley California. The quote is from Prevost in Mira Loma.

I had them basically do the entire front suspension (except lower arms)and install the front Airbags and front brake calipers already. They worked with me on the front on the hours but the rear the hours are way to long.

10 hours for 4 arm bags, 4 hours for 4 shocks and 3 hours for rear sway bar drop end links bushings. I think I will just go the rear myself unless they drop the hours but they are insisting it takes that long. I know the shocks and bushings should only take a couple of hours and the airbags most people say 4 to 6 hours?

[Archived]

The hours we have suggested above are reasonable. I am not aware of any shop that cannot do your list of dog bone bushings, shocks, and air bags in a very generous 6 hours. I am including the time to drive the bus into the shop and going to the parts counter, selecting the tools, etc.

I tend to be someone who makes a simple project take longer because I am vacuuming or blowing the accumulated stones and sand from the work area, and spending time looking things over to make sure all is OK, not only with what I am working on, but the other stuff not usually visible. I am also going to leak test everything when done, including the fittings on the ping tanks and anything else I never usually get at.

But it still is not going to take more than the 2 days quoted. Not even close. There was a time when Prevost was charging about $4400 to change all air bags on a coach, and this was when the cost of parts was in the neighborhood of $1200. At that time their labor rate was $100 per hour. That meant they were spending 32 hours for labor. When other shops were charging about $1000 for the labor to change air bags Prevost adjusted their quotes and apparently they cut it in half, which is still unreasonable. I am not a professional, I change air bags about every ten years, and if I had to do the work you described I could do it in a single day even at my age.

[Frank]

I don’t mind paying $133 a hour and I don’t even mind if there is a extra hour charged for unforeseen events or chasing parts but double or triple the actual time is not fair. I was charged 30 hours already for upper arms,front airbags,x2 tie rods,center tie rod,x2 torque rods,x2 front calipers and the drag link installed.

Plus a $625 alignment and $700 for a DMI to inspect the coach. I also service every fluid on the coach and the generator. I am pretty deep on repair cost and I am fine with all the repairs they suggested plus I added on more repairs because of age or since we already done so much I figured I would just complete the job.

[Bill]

I just double checked they want 12 hours for the airbags, 3 hours for the shocks and 5 hours for the sway bar end link bushings.

[Bill]

I don’t believe that Prevost has ever been interested in being price competitive. They charge what they charge and the tour bus companies pay the bill for the convenience, availability and legal status of those repairs.

Prevost can, literally, charge anything they want and the bus companies will still line up to have them make the repairs. It’s just another business expense.

[Fred F.]

• They can on a H don’t know about X

[Art]

The Prevost’s new service computer system is all computer based times. The branches use the computer time via mandate from above. There is a lot of “double dipping” on the times. They claim there is nothing they can do. Hopefully “management” will correct this going forward. Jax was the first on the new system. I had the privilege ?? of being one of its first subjects. After much discussion the bill was corrected. Probably a good idea to get a quote prior to work starting.

[Ron]

My coach has been there since the old system and now it has changed to the new system. The staff has been good and have given me discounts. My issue is the amount of hours, they say they will charge actual hours but obviously the only way to know for sure is me to be there during the repairs. Everything is finished except for the items listed above and they are closing out the invoice. So I am know thinking maybe I should just go down there and have them do the rest of the repairs while i wait and obviously they should be able to complete the job in half the time they have quoted. I am not trying to bash them and I would like them to do the work, I just want to be treated fair on the hours.

[Archived]

I realize the “powers that be” in any business sometimes make decisions that when viewed from a customer perspective or even an employee’s perspective as ill conceived.

The service manager is so far down the totem pole he doesn’t get an opportunity to participate in some decisions, and in the corporate world there is a lot of people who will not rock the boat even when they view decisions as bad. I guarantee the service personel and managers that have to answer to the customers would rather have some freedom in pricing.

Owners have two ways to address this. They can find someone else to do the work. Air bags, shocks, and dog bone bushings are simple jobs and with a little care even a relatively unskilled person can replace them since there is not requirement for adjustments, use of the computer, or that involves special skills. I would make certain that if I chose that option I made it clear to the service manager the Prevost pricing policy is the cause.

The second option is to negotiate, and that means going as far up the food chain as possible. Arm yourself with facts and point out why the pricing is unreasonable and if enough customers take the time to use reason to negotiate realistic pricing, maybe the corporate policy gets changed.