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Ongoing front air bag issues
Several of you have helped me find mobile repair folks to fix my front air bags that have been getting “popped” due to some issue with the front end. I have now blown 4 in less than a year. The last one was replaced in Co. Springs and a couple of weeks back I drove from Co. Springs to Denver and only made it 51 miles before the other side air bag blew. It must have had a pinch already and it blew a small hole while cruising up I-25. While we were in Co. Springs, PASS referred us to a local bus company and the service manager came to us after hours and took a look at what was going on and what we might do to fix it. He could not see anything obvious other than the same things I have shown here and that is that the air bags are clearly hitting and running on the chassis from time to time. He suggested that since the bushings on the radius rods and lateral rod had never been replaced that would be the place to start. When this last air bag blew I drove up on some ramps I made and there was only about 1″ clearance on the left front bag and about 3″ on the right one so things are not straight. The new bushings cost $4.95 each from Prevost. The labor from a local Volvo facility in Denver was $1700 to replace the 10 bushings and the air bag. The front end does feel much more solid even though the bushing we replaced did not look bad. So that’s where we are for now and have a 1000 mile trip planned from Denver to MI starting today. Wish me luck!
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9 Replies
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Since Prevost replaced bushings and bags, put it on their plate. They warranty their work and they don’t want to keep replacing bags so let them figure it out. They got to see it and work on it so they should be able to figure it out.
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First of all, finding Prevost service anywhere between TX and CA is IMPOSSIBLE. It’s a vast wasteland and CO puts you about as far away from Prevost service as possible.
Now, the good news! Woowie, Zoowie. Who would have thought that $49.50 worth of bushing could make such a difference in the way the coach drives! It appears that I have forgotten over the years just how great a Prevost drives. There must have been a gradual degrading in the ride and handling over the years. Today’s drive (350 miles) was simply a pleasure. I still can’t be sure it will be the solution to the air bag problem but I sure am hopeful! The coach was driving so well I thought I would run it up a bit like I used to do. At 72 it ran great (pretty normal) but above that I had some front end vibration even with my Centramatics. Today, 80 was smooth as a baby’s butt! Truck’s passing me by did not move me to the side even a little bit (like the old days that I had forgotten).
I took a peek under the coach at one of our stops and I see that the Volvo techs did NOT properly re-engage the nut locks properly (only bent 1 of the 2 tabs) but I will take care of that in the next few days. I will send pics to Volvo showing them what the techs missed.
“Right now”, I am really, really happy and I am thinking that I should consider replacing the bushing on ALL of the remaining radius rod bushing (a dozen or so in the rear of the coach). We had a great drive today and it reminded me why I bought a Prevost in the first place. Now, if only I could find someone who knew how to fix problems with a DDEC I engine!
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Thanks for sharing your story about the bushings making such a difference.
Regarding the DDEC I engine, have you tried talking to American Fleet in Springfield, MO? They do lots of Detroit Diesel, 8V92s as well as Series 60.
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Bill, you didn’t happen to overnight in Kearney Ne by chance?
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American Fleet put a new engine in for me years ago. They know nothing about a DDEC I but had a new engine waiting for me and completed a change out in 2 days!
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I did stay in Kearney!
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I saw your bus, we were parked just a few slots down. Was going to say hi this morning, if I’d known I’d have knocked on your door.
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We saw the 2 Prevost’s down the road last night but we got in and it was cocktail time (I love the time change when it’s to my advantage!).
We were off early to visit the Archway and then headed East. We planned to stop in Council Bluff and lose a couple of bucks at the casino (rv park) but it was too early so we made it (almost) to Des Moines KOA West. Not a great site. No chance to get level and a weird asphalt ridge to get into the site which we fell off of on the way in. I guess they were making an attempt to get the site somewhat level but the edge of the site falls off nearly a foot with only enough width to keep your front or rear wheel on the grade during the turn,but not both. One or the other is going to fall off the edge. Even with the front end dropped and the rear as high as I can get it, we cannot even get the bubble (level) to move off the upper limit.
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Well rats, shoulda come by, its pretty much cocktail time anytime!(-:
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