5500 Front Driveshaft/Front End Issue

[atgreene]

My front drive shaft had a squeek in the 5500. Had my mechanic pull it Thurs. There is a double U joint on the front where it attaches to the front axle yoke. Within those 2 U joints is a centering joint. We had to torch a U joint to get to it and found that the centering joint is bad. Called my GM dealer. They said it is a non-servicable item.

But WAIT! THERE'S MORE! Not only can't you repair it but GM says the driveshaft is unavailable. Yup, if you have a 5500 and need a front driveshaft because they are not repairable, you can't get one.:mad:

I took it to Williams Bros., a local driveline shop. They'll have parts Monday AM and should have it back to me Mon. afternoon. PITA. I told them to do away with the double U joint if needed. Seems like a lot of extras stuff there for no reason. Mechanic agree's, says that a straight driveshaft would be fine.

Also, front needle bearings are bad in the front axle. Wheels have a little play already at 36K miles. Town DPW 4500 has already been through this (my mechanic does the DPW stuff so he see's what they are having issues with and tells me:wink). They lost their shafts as well as the needle bearings when theirs went bad. No way to grease them either. GM has them coming, but again, not sure when or where they are coming from. He thought they were coming from Michigan, but couldn't tell me for sure.

Anybody done their front bearings? If so, did you go through GM or match them to another manufacturers? I may have a buddy at Atlantic Bearing who may try to match them up when I get the new ones in. As it was, I opted not to have my mechanic tear it apart until we have the parts.

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

Lovely .
Arent you setting yourself up for a vibration by eliminating the parts ?

[Mark Oomkes]

You sure it's a GM and not a Ford?

Spoke with a competitor who has a TorqShift waiting for the planetaries. Can't get them from Ford, because they're shut down.

Can't get them from dealers, because they're holding on to them because they can't get them from Ford.

Remind me as to why GM and Ford are having such major problems?

[atgreene]

I'm begining to think that buying the tractor with a cab to plow with might not be such a bad idea. Can't seem to buy a truck, and all it's going to do is get beat-up and destroyed. A 75 hp tractor with plow and blower would last longer, be less headaches, push better and be worth more when I'm done.

I've 'bought had it with trucks.

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

You sure it's a GM and not a Ford?

Spoke with a competitor who has a TorqShift waiting for the planetaries. Can't get them from Ford, because they're shut down.

Can't get them from dealers, because they're holding on to them because they can't get them from Ford.

Remind me as to why GM and Ford are having such major problems?

Sucks when you have to be your own parts supplier .But thats what its down to .
But some one is BS because Ford is not shut down .

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

I'm begining to think that buying the tractor with a cab to plow with might not be such a bad idea. Can't seem to buy a truck, and all it's going to do is get beat-up and destroyed. A 75 hp tractor with plow and blower would last longer, be less headaches, push better and be worth more when I'm done.

I've 'bought had it with trucks.

The trucks are an evil cost of doing business , thats all .

[Mark Oomkes]

Sucks when you have to be your own parts supplier .But thats what its down to .
But some one is BS because Ford is not shut down .

Might have been during Christmas\New Year's, he didn't specify when. Just that he's been waiting for that part and can't get it.

[hlntoiz]

Alan, I remember seeing a video that you can drive forward and backwards. Had a snow blower that kinda flipped on it to do driveways with it. That would be the way to go.

[Mark Oomkes]

Alan, I remember seeing a video that you can drive forward and backwards. Had a snow blower that kinda flipped on it to do driveways with it. That would be the way to go.

New Holland Bi-Directional. I think Howard had one or was going to get one.

http://www.newholland.com/h4/products/products_series_detail.asp?Reg=NA&RL=ENNA&NavID=000001277003&series=000004882711

[hlntoiz]

New Holland Bi-Directional. I think Howard had one or was going to get one.

http://www.newholland.com/h4/products/products_series_detail.asp?Reg=NA&RL=ENNA&NavID=000001277003&series=000004882711

That is the tractor but it has a blower on it that knida flipped over and you could pull the snow into the blower as well as push it. I remember seeing a vid of it.

[CGSI]

Alan
Is it a double cardin joint? my 01 ram 2500 had a bad one we found when we went to replace the squeeking u joints in it too and Dodge did not offer a rebuild kit for it either but NAPA did and it was only 41 bucks.

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

No problems with the Drive shafts .

Chevrolet K5500


DIAGNOSTIC RECOMMENDATIONS/INSTRUCTIONS FOR INOPERATIVE

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) GAUGES AND RADIO. *TT
PARTS SHOWING NO STOCK OR NOT AVAILABLE. *MJ

LOW POWER, WARNING LIGHTS WILL BE COMING ON, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE IN THIRD GEAR ALL THE TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND CHECK TRANS LIGHT WILL BE COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AND A CODE MAY BE SET, P0207. *TT

6.6L LLY ENGINE - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) U0106 RESETS OR WILL NOT CLEAR. *MR

VEHICLE MAY HAVE A TIGHTER TURNING RADIUS IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER, OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE TURNING RADIUS DUE TO THE SELF-ADJUSTING STEERING LIMITER NOT SET. GM VOICEMAIL LOG. *TT

ALLISON LCT1000 DOES NOT ENGAGE DURING HIGH IDLE WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL INPUT. SIT BULLETIN 1457493. *TT

6.6L LLY DIESEL ENGINE FUELINJECTOR COMPRESSION LEAK NOISE OR SOOT AROUND THE INJECTOR BODY.*MR

SOME VEHICLES ARE MISSING A RETAINER THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSH ROD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TOGETHER WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF FOUNDATION BRAKES. DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE BRAKE SWITCH RETAINER AND INSTALL A NEW

FLYWHEEL HOUSING CRACK WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION.*MR

6.6L LB7 REPEAT ENGINE OIL LEAK (LEFT SIDE) #2 MAIN BEARING CROSS BOLT. *MR

DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR TURBO FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF OIL OR REPEAT TURBO FAILURES. *TT

6.6L LB7 ENGINE - FUEL RAIL PRESSURE REGULATOR HARNESS CONNECTOR SERVICING. *TT

LABOR OPERATION ASSIGNMENTS FOR CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 AND PRIOR PASSENGER CARS AND TRUCKS, 2003-2004 KODIAK C4500-C8500 AND TOPKICK C4500-C8500 SERIES MODELS. *TT

EXHAUST SYSTEM LEAK AND/OR RATTLE NOISE. *TT

6.6L LB7 LLY DIESEL ENGINE WITH ROUGH, UNSTABLE, LOW IDLE SPEED OR STALL. *TT

SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT, P0087, P0093, P1093, LOW POWER, NO START, HARD START, FUEL IN CRANKCASE. *TT

LOW POWER, WILL NOT GO OVER 2300 RPMS. 6.6L LB7 ENGINE. *TT
INTERMITTENT NO FORWARD OR REVERSE WITH POSSIBLY EITHER A FLASHING PRNDL DISPLAY OR A RANGE SHIFT INHIBITED MESSAGE. *TT

REPEAT ENGINE OIL LEAK AT MAIN BEARING SIDE BOLT. *TT

6.6 LB7 LLY DURAMAX ALLISON LCT1000 NO SHIFT MISFIRE LOW POWER, DASH WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON, TRANSMISSION IN 3RD GEAR ALL THE TIME AND CHECK ENGINE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHTS ON INTERMITTENTLY. SERVICE VME. *TT

RESETTING OIL LIFE MONITOR SYSTEM AND TURNING OFF CHANGE ENGINE OIL LIGHT. *MJ

INACCURATE SPEEDOMETER. *MJ

ENGINE OIL IN THE TURBO CHARGE AIR COOLER PIPES AND HOSES. *TT

GLOW PLUG CONTROL MODULE LOSS OF COMMUNICATION, POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) U0106 SET, AND DTC WILL NOT CLEAR. *TT

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

Alan
Is it a double cardin joint? my 01 ram 2500 had a bad one we found when we went to replace the squeeking u joints in it too and Dodge did not offer a rebuild kit for it either but NAPA did and it was only 41 bucks.

Man , maybe he'd get lucky .

I always have a love/hate relationship with NAPA , but some NAPA stores are just so much better than others .

[atgreene]

Nope, non of those issues.

As for tractors, I just keep thinking it over in the back of my mind. The 75 hp Mahindra isn't a bad tractor for the same coin as a new truck. Just a thought, probably won't do it, but it's tempting. My furthest road/driveway I do is less than 12 miles from my house, so driving it isn't much slower than a truck, yet you move more snow per pass and have better visibility.

I've got to stop thinking about this or I'll do something crazy.:o

[Mark Oomkes]

That is the tractor but it has a blower on it that knida flipped over and you could pull the snow into the blower as well as push it. I remember seeing a vid of it.

http://www.pronovost.qc.ca/pxpla.html

[cat320]

Nope, non of those issues.

As for tractors, I just keep thinking it over in the back of my mind. The 75 hp Mahindra isn't a bad tractor for the same coin as a new truck. Just a thought, probably won't do it, but it's tempting. My furthest road/driveway I do is less than 12 miles from my house, so driving it isn't much slower than a truck, yet you move more snow per pass and have better visibility.

I've got to stop thinking about this or I'll do something crazy.:o

what is so crazy Gordyo and I saw a newholland dual drive at the snow and ice show a couple of years ago i tell ya if i had alot of drives all withing driving range that snowblower combo would be sweet. 4wd high visability front bucket and rear blower pluse those things move pretty quick.

[atgreene]

With the way trucks are built today it's something to think about. Not sure I'm crazy enough to try it, but I am thinking about it.

[GMC Driver]

Alan,

We just got our 5500 back last week, it was down for the same thing. We had wheel bearings gone out - on the left side it had become so bad it ruined the spline end on the driveshaft. I have not seen the invoice as of yet, but it is my understanding that the left driveshaft had to be replaced - and they did get it through GM, although it took a bit of effort to locate. I do know he was able to get some parts from different sources, where the pricing was more advantageous to GM's price. We also ran into the supply problems with the holidays being sandwiched in the repair time.

We also had some brake issues this past summer - and for those repairs my guy was able to outsource most of the parts rather than going through GM. I recall GM wanted over $700 for a rear caliper.

Our truck has about 55K miles, it's an '06. For the most part, it has been a good truck - although these past two repairs have been costly (I haven't got an exact total on the last repair - but he tried warning me!)

[paulsoccodato]

I told them to do away with the double U joint if needed. Seems like a lot of extras stuff there for no reason. Mechanic agree's, says that a straight driveshaft would be fine.




Just as CGSI said, it sounds like a double cardan joint. Rebuilding it is probably your best bet. I think removing it is going to cause you all sorts of problems. The pinion angle on the front differential, probably requires the joint to keep the driveshaft at the correct angle. Not to mention if you take it out, the shaft might end up too short.

[snowjoker]

Take your Drive shaft to shop that builds them and they can fix it for ya, I could get you a double cardan joint to build a new shaft off one of my retired trucks, but im sure yours is much heavier than they used in 3/4 ton trucks....

[Plow Dak]

You need to keep the double cardan joint. It allows more dshaft angle and alignment without a vibration. It's there for a reason. Don't cause another problem.

[EIB]

Alan,

This tractor might be what the doctor ordered.
http://rochester.craigslist.org/grd/996611075.html

[atgreene]

You keep posting things like that and I'll do something I shouldn't.:drool

[hlntoiz]

http://www.pronovost.qc.ca/pxpla.html

Exactly.....Thanks Mark.. Saved as a favorite:wink....This is the perfect driveway plow. No piles to worry about.

[John DiMartino]

Alan,as much as the front driveshaft problems stink,that truck has worked a hard life from day one.In all fairness,that truck probably pushed more snow in 2-3 yrs in Colorado than most trucks do in a lifetime.Then it went to Maine,where it pushes just as much,LOL.:winkWith that said,I agree with Mike,you should do the CV joint as it was from factory.My local machine shop has rebuilt many for me,when the get real bad.The factory doesnt spend money for nothing,if its there,then NVH testing revealed it needed to be there.Not putting it there can cause excess harmonics and wear out other parts faster.
CGSI,I know this sounds risky,but autozone has the front driveshaft for the Dodge 2500/3500 complete,last time I bought one it was $169 w 1 yr warranty.I put 2 or 3 of the in plow trucks so far,.no problems and theyve been in a few yrs now.With how far gone these were,there was no rebuilding them.

[atgreene]

Don't get me wrong John, the truck is a horse. I work it non-stop year round, so I expect to have issues. I tell my mechanic when he comes in (usually a couple days a month) find anything wrong and fix it. When he's done with that he does fiters, lubes, oils etc... It gets regular fluid changes whether it needs it or not. He's a good guy and knows his stuff, well worth the extra set of eyes looking at these things.

I'm in a unique situation in that he spends a couple days a month working for the DPW and they have a '05 4500. Their's has been treated a little rougher than mine, so problems show themselves first there.:wink He gives me updates so I know what to watch for. Things like the needle bearings he knew right what to check and what it needed. As well as the front hub bolts that break out, he'd dealt with their's first.

It is a little frustrating that GM can't get a replacement part for something that is "non-serviceable." I've left it up to Williams Brothers to do what's best, not sure what they are doing, but they have done others, so I'm sure I won't be a guinea pig. If they determine it can be lengthened and installed w/o the joints, I'm happy with that. If not, I assume they are building a new joint that can be replaced inhouse and not require any special parts.

I did want to give all the 4500/5500 owners a heads-up on these issues though. Keep an eye on these things before they cost you big $$$$ or leave you stranded in a storm.

I would buy another 5500 in a heartbeat. It's been a great truck and goes great, all but the Goodyear G124 tires, that is.:mad: GM should use Michelins or some other manufacturer for some tires with bite in snow.

[stargazer]

That fancy snowblower on the tractor. Did you notice the driver had a steering wheel and controls facing the rear???? My 70 hp tractor doesn't have that option!

That would sure prevent the stiff neck that was all I could think about while watching. In deep snow, snow blowers become slow blowers. 20 hrs. of plowing could turn into even more hours. Could you even turn your head after?

Looking back while running farm equipment is more occasional, With snow, cars, garages, etc. it would be endless.

But of course, tractors sure are maneuverable. I started with one when I was 10 years old with a snow blade on the bucket lift arms. Sure could stack with that setup!

[Pickering Snow]

My front drive shaft had a squeek in the 5500. Had my mechanic pull it Thurs. There is a double U joint on the front where it attaches to the front axle yoke. Within those 2 U joints is a centering joint. We had to torch a U joint to get to it and found that the centering joint is bad. Called my GM dealer. They said it is a non-servicable item.

But WAIT! THERE'S MORE! Not only can't you repair it but GM says the driveshaft is unavailable. Yup, if you have a 5500 and need a front driveshaft because they are not repairable, you can't get one.:mad:

I took it to Williams Bros., a local driveline shop. They'll have parts Monday AM and should have it back to me Mon. afternoon. PITA. I told them to do away with the double U joint if needed. Seems like a lot of extras stuff there for no reason. Mechanic agree's, says that a straight driveshaft would be fine.

Also, front needle bearings are bad in the front axle. Wheels have a little play already at 36K miles. Town DPW 4500 has already been through this (my mechanic does the DPW stuff so he see's what they are having issues with and tells me:wink). They lost their shafts as well as the needle bearings when theirs went bad. No way to grease them either. GM has them coming, but again, not sure when or where they are coming from. He thought they were coming from Michigan, but couldn't tell me for sure.

Anybody done their front bearings? If so, did you go through GM or match them to another manufacturers? I may have a buddy at Atlantic Bearing who may try to match them up when I get the new ones in. As it was, I opted not to have my mechanic tear it apart until we have the parts.



Alan First that joint is called a double cardon and that thing will not have the correct driveshaft angle or defeclection if removed. The shaft is aval remaned from A-1 Cardone . The Axle bearings are no big deal Detroit ball bearing has them along with CR and TRW GM gets the bearings from detroit ball.

The double cardone shaft is pricey the one in my Chev set me back 350 bucks my cost, however theres no getting around it. The driveshaft company thats working on the shaft you trust????. Reason Joint clutch who does our shafts on more than one situation has not phased the double joint back together causing a wicked viberation, thats what GM and Ford both say not serviceable.

[BASIC]

Alan,I hope tractor dealers are more honest than car/truck dealers.Not to get off topic but if you were to buy a tractor,what would you buy?
Ron

[atgreene]

More wierd news from GM. They called me today to tell me that the seals were in, but.......................

The bearings are "out of system?" I think was the term he used. He thinks GM is swapping producers of the bearings or making a different bearing kit. Either way, the earliest he can find out is FEB 4. Then he'll know when I can get some, or if I can even get any.

I did get the AC Delco numbers from him, called a buddy at Eastern Bearing and bingo, matches up to a Timken needle bearing. I'll post the info when I get it for anyone looking for them. Then you can go to any bearing place for them.


Ron, as for tractors, I keep daydreaming about plowing with a tractor, and after todays 22 hour storm, I was really thinking it over. Not sure what tractor I'd go with, but it won't be a Kubota (they have a 8 sp tranny, have tried them with blowers and wasn't impressed). The Mahindra has me intrigued. Looks like a nice tractor, simple, not too many bells and whistles. If I had the money though, my first choice would be a Massey Ferguson. Always have felt they build a heavy tractor and have a world wide parts network. Today would have been the day for one with a blower though. 14" of dry poweder on top of what we allready have gotten. All it did was fly/slide right back into the roads and drives. Very slow clean-up.:mad:

[stargazer]

. Today would have been the day for one with a blower though. 14" of dry powder on top of what we already have gotten. All it did was fly/slide right back into the roads and drives. Very slow clean-up.:mad:

And it did one other thing, it flew back onto the windshield and froze up on those long runs. One mile and a quarter road, I had to stop after each run and hammer off the ice. The wipers couldn't wipe and the ice between glass and plastic kept the wiper arms from moving properly. Finally broke one tip off of the driver's side wiper blade. Replaced that blade and all went well. I can't understand why just replacing a wiper with a new one works so well.

[atgreene]

Yea, I changed a cutting edge at 11 pm last night:mad: (yea, I know, but I didn't expect a 24 hour plowing event and had spent all my time insulating the garage instead of wrenching). 1/2 an hour in the garage and all the windows were ice free again. Some nice having heat, makes a huge difference to get rid of that ice build-up.

[stargazer]

Yea, I changed a cutting edge at 11 pm last night:mad: (yea, I know, but I didn't expect a 24 hour plowing event and had spent all my time insulating the garage instead of wrenching). 1/2 an hour in the garage and all the windows were ice free again. Some nice having heat, makes a huge difference to get rid of that ice build-up.


Sounds real nice. I just kept the trucks rolling all night to keep them warm. :grinz

[atgreene]

Well, I still don't have my driveshaft back yet. Parts were not shipped as promised to Williams Bros. They called today to ask wtf is up, turns out the company they buy from failed to ship so they are now overnighting them so I can get my driveshaft back tomorrow afternoon.

But that's not all folks....

Mechanic tore into the front end to do the needle bearings. Found that the knucle U joints are not real bad, but have some minor stiffness to them, so I opted to change them. Called GM dealer, parts not available, maybe in a couple days. IT'S A DAMN U-JOINT!!!! WTF!!!!!! WHY THE HELL WOULDN'T THEY KEEP U-JOINTS IN STOCK? So we use the part # from them and call Sanel auto parts, they can only get the cheap ones. Move on to Williams Bros. Yup, got 'em, will have them when i get the drive shaft tomorrow.

So we get to the passenger side. Moisture had at some point gotten into the inner wheel bearing. Needs to be replaced, likewise with the U-joint. Call GM. Yup, we can have seals tomorrow, no go on the wheel bearing, maybe in a couple days, 1 in stock in Boston, maybe, but not sure. May have to come from "out of area". WTF! It's a simple wheel bearing. Got the numbers. Called my buddy at Eastern Bearing, he had one on the shelf. He'll bring it home with him and get it to me at coffee in the am.

Also found some very minor play in the upper ball joint. Called back GM dealer. Wow! The have 1 in stock, it's in Augusta, truck will bring it down to Portland sometime tomorrow:popcorn2.

So, tomorrow I've got to run in, get the parts if all goes well and get back here in the afternoon to start putting this thing back together. Right now both hubs, shafts, bearings etc.... are laid out all over the garage floor. I doubt we'll get it back together tomorrow night, looks like Fri. if all goes well.

The Ball joint and U-joints weren't real bad and mechanic hedged on replacing them. He felt they were an option at this point and plan to do them within the year. I'll be damned if we're going to put this thing back together only to tear it down in 6 months. I'd rather know it's squared away.

I just don't understand GM. You can't make a living selling from an empty shelf. There's something weird afoot here. There is enough 4500/5500 trucks out there that I can't be the only one rebuilding a front-end on one. Even the parts guy seemed rather sheepish. I've talked to him so many times now he and I both have the vin memorized. And he now knows I want parts numbers on everything so I can find my own parts from an outside source.

Pics to follow.

[cat320]

well that is the upper management at GM for ya If they had a brain they would be dangerous

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

Well, I still don't have my driveshaft back yet. Parts were not shipped as promised to Williams Bros. They called today to ask wtf is up, turns out the company they buy from failed to ship so they are now overnighting them so I can get my driveshaft back tomorrow afternoon.

But that's not all folks....

Mechanic tore into the front end to do the needle bearings. Found that the knucle U joints are not real bad, but have some minor stiffness to them, so I opted to change them. Called GM dealer, parts not available, maybe in a couple days. IT'S A DAMN U-JOINT!!!! WTF!!!!!! WHY THE HELL WOULDN'T THEY KEEP U-JOINTS IN STOCK? So we use the part # from them and call Sanel auto parts, they can only get the cheap ones. Move on to Williams Bros. Yup, got 'em, will have them when i get the drive shaft tomorrow.

So we get to the passenger side. Moisture had at some point gotten into the inner wheel bearing. Needs to be replaced, likewise with the U-joint. Call GM. Yup, we can have seals tomorrow, no go on the wheel bearing, maybe in a couple days, 1 in stock in Boston, maybe, but not sure. May have to come from "out of area". WTF! It's a simple wheel bearing. Got the numbers. Called my buddy at Eastern Bearing, he had one on the shelf. He'll bring it home with him and get it to me at coffee in the am.

Also found some very minor play in the upper ball joint. Called back GM dealer. Wow! The have 1 in stock, it's in Augusta, truck will bring it down to Portland sometime tomorrow:popcorn2.

So, tomorrow I've got to run in, get the parts if all goes well and get back here in the afternoon to start putting this thing back together. Right now both hubs, shafts, bearings etc.... are laid out all over the garage floor. I doubt we'll get it back together tomorrow night, looks like Fri. if all goes well.

The Ball joint and U-joints weren't real bad and mechanic hedged on replacing them. He felt they were an option at this point and plan to do them within the year. I'll be damned if we're going to put this thing back together only to tear it down in 6 months. I'd rather know it's squared away.

I just don't understand GM. You can't make a living selling from an empty shelf. There's something weird afoot here. There is enough 4500/5500 trucks out there that I can't be the only one rebuilding a front-end on one. Even the parts guy seemed rather sheepish. I've talked to him so many times now he and I both have the vin memorized. And he now knows I want parts numbers on everything so I can find my own parts from an outside source.

Pics to follow.


Damn , you got a ********* going on .

[Pickering Snow]

Alan

Before i typed this i logged into GM Dealerworld a funtion i borrowed when i left the Dealership has the system Admim there for 16 yrs. :wink

Willowrun is the primary hub for GM parts from there it Viens out to the diff parts of the US Augusta is your parts Depot for Maine.

Gotta play the Devils Advocate here all the parts you list are in ample supply more could be done its not GMs inner parts div its Maines in abilty to communicate with the major hubs.

Does any of the dealers you contacted know what a Spat case is ? :rolleyes: All of this is key strokes away if someone would put a consirted effort into finding stuff.

I dont want to pick on the east coast and by no means is this what my post is about its not just Maine, before Christmas Chuck needed some wiring harness adapters from Truck Lite threw Napa . Between me and Mark the Napa store owner here we educated Chucks local Napa that owns not one but three stores in NJ how to use Napas central distrib centers, the parts Chuck needed oddly enough were setting in NY a state away yet he was being told nation back order :rolleyes:, needless to say he got his parts but it was like talking to a brick wall getting them to him.

I guess for me in this buss my world revolves around getting parts how Mark has put up with me after all these years is beyond me , he knows i wont except noone has something has a answer , he just tells me next day worst case. Other parts stores here in Midland want my buss however they know it comes with a cost if all there gonna do is look at there warehouse and say no then there fired.

I have found parts when noone said it was poss , Mark O lost a Coil module on a V10 Dodge that was considered nowere to be found i found it, America runs on the replacement parts system and stumble on the parts counter end is gonna cause a major cough.

I have stood up at meetings in Detroit with Napa preaching to hundreds of Part store owners if they want to grow there buss fire half there counter people and recruit retired wrenches they are always the best bet at finding and understanding the heartache of setting with a unit tore down with no parts. I told the Ceo of Napa this just this past fall if you want to keep using the Slogan We keep America Running then quit allowing understaffed underfunded and under educated people to buy Stores.

Gm has probley one of the best of the Big threes parts system , Ford being the worst Chrys being the second best.

It all starts at the Dealer if there staff doesnt know how to work the system then You Alan Greene are gonna be the one that suffers , no diff than the Napa system.

[Chuck Smith]

Amen Fred. Even with the Midland Napa holding their hand, they still screwed it up and took more time than necessary to get my parts. I should have had them on a Tuesday, but instead, they came the following Monday because the local Napa didn't know how to work the system. It's really a shame.

Another short Napa story about knowledgeable staff. Had a customer come in because his plow would not angle. His local Napa "diagnosed" his problem with a book, and told him he needed a PA Block, only $800 :eek::eek: so they got it for him. Like I said, he came because it didn't angle. So that was not his problem. I changed his couplers and replaced 2 broken springs in his old PA Block, and he was back in business. Told him to take back the $800 part. Napa gave him a hard time, and I had to write a letter to Visa for him to fight them. For $800 he could have bought a 99% rebuilt/new E-57 or E-60 pump.

~Chuck

[hlntoiz]

Alan, I know where you could get a great deal on a Case Tractor. My dealer here is Awesome!

[Mark Oomkes]

Alan, sorry to hear of your troubles with 2nd largest auto mfg in the world.

Maybe you ought to buy a smaller hat and you wouldn't have these problems. :rolleyes:

[atgreene]

Got almost everything today. Spent 3 hours going from place to place running errands. Williams Bros. got my shaft fixed (don't go there Mark) but the wharehouse screwed -up the order on the U-joints, only sent one. Tomorrow I have to drive 60 miles round trip to go pick-up 1 freaking U-joint because some morron at a distribution wharehouse can't type.:mad:

As for GM, OConnors is the largest in Maine, and yup, their pretty useless. They were on speaker phone today while I waited for parts (2 hours late driving them down from Agusta) listening to an automated parts network thingy. You can't tell me that GM isn't equiped so that they can just look at a screen and see where the parts are? They were doing the "Push 1 for availability" BS. They need to come into the 21 st century.

Oh, and they briefly lost my ball joint. Wasn't sure it made it down. Finally found it.

I have no doubt you're right Fred. We're at the end of the line here and everyone just accepts the fact that they say it's unavailable. I find it hard to believe wheel bearings and U-joints aren't sitting on a GM shelf somewhere in the Northeast. Really frustrating. Hopefully it will all go together ok tomorrow.

I will post all the seal #'s, bearing #'s and U-joint #'s so anyone with a 5500 can get them locally w/o having to deal with the GM part network.

BTW, looked at the new 5500's at Oconnor while I waited, centering joint on the cardigan joint is different, GM has upgraded it. Suppose everyone had issues?

[chtucker]

Glad it is working out for you Alan..

That was one of the first 4500/5500 4x4 delivered end user some others made it to upfitters, but that truck was in the first five delivered in the state of Colorado.

[Pelican]

I was reading the January issue of 4 Wheeler Magazine at the tire shop today and there was a small article on a replacement for cardan joints that's supposed to be quite a bit stronger and last longer than the originals. It was in the "what's new" section. I didn't have anything to write down their website with, does anyone here subscribe? It might help someone in the future with this same problem.

[cat320]

Steve that would be a good idea for a where to get it section .

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

This yet again is a perfect example how manufacturers should stop rushing products to market .

[cat320]

really makes you think of what they do in R&D :popcorn2

[PSDF350]

really makes you think of what they do in R&D :popcorn2

R&D is rush to development.

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

R&D is rush to development.

Exactly. It makes the enduser the Beta user .

[cat320]

so just thing what went into a 45-5500 ?
the cab came from there savan van's a tilt hood redesinged cab modified 4x4 from older trucks same engines, oh and big fold away mirrors. I feel they cost a little too much for what they are . all these trucks do I remember back when i got my '85 you could of got a K30-35 for like $17K with a dump body and from then till now they still have not come up with a great diesel engine front end . All it seams to be is costing more to buy and more to fix and pay the gov in bewtween for a safty sticker that can put you out of bussiness for weeks and cost you even more.

[chtucker]

so just thing what went into a 45-5500 ?


Van cab, derated Duramax,Allison trans, Dana Axles, New Venture transfer csae, some straight frame rails...

Not much special was developed for the 4500/5500. Just poor GM specing on their part (driveshaft, wheel bearings and hubs)

[cat320]

howard that was the first thing i noticed was the van cab maybe because i have a van from them . lol

But just think about what went into building a vehical back in the day with not much technolgy and today with all the high tech that is here and they still have more problems than back when cars first came into being. parts and traing???? what about suport none .after hearing what Alan is going thru to buy and fix you have to just scratch your head and wounder where this counrty is going. and it's not going for the better the more high tech savi we get the worse it seams to get. unless your one of those high paid executives you will work till ya die .

I don't really see the kind of improvement that warrants the price that you paid origanly for that 5500 do you?

[atgreene]

Another day, another set-back. Cut the old U-joints out this am. Mechanic scratched his head and looked at the new U-joint I had (other one still coming overnight express due to shipper mistake), seems they sent the wrong ones. Called Williams Bros., they were awesome. Tom called Oconnor GMC who told me that U-joints weren't both available. He twisted some arms and they agreed they did have 2 in stock, sent them down on the truck at 1.

So tomorrow we're back at it. So far I have over 240 miles into running for parts due to errors and mistakes/unavailability. I told Williams Bros. to get me two more u-joints through Spicer (backordered of course:mad:) so I'll have them on the shelf for next time. I already got the extra needle bearings, they went into the 5500 spare parts box on the shelf. Next is extra seals and wheel bearings. If they can't stock them and can't get the parts I'll keep them on-hand myself.:mad:

I think Fred hit the nail on the head, though. OConnors has the parts, they just don't know it. I suspect some of it is hoarding so they can work on municipal vehicles etc.... in an emergency and part is just plain incompetence.

[hlntoiz]

Alan, Sorry you can't make it down tomorrow. It would have been fun having you there. Get that truck fixed and no excuses for the GTG in Erie:D

[BrockwayMT]

Remember that 4x4 4500/5500 is a very small volume product compared to a pickup. Right now we build about 30 273GM transfercases on a good week with capacity for ~100/wk. Right now NQF/NQG/NQH are around 1000/day with capacity ~18000/wk. Looks as though Flint may build under 1000 4x4 4500/5500 trucks this year.

[chtucker]

Remember that 4x4 4500/5500 is a very small volume product compared to a pickup. Right now we build about 30 273GM transfercases on a good week with capacity for ~100/wk. Right now NQF/NQG/NQH are around 1000/day with capacity ~18000/wk. Looks as though Flint may build under 1000 4x4 4500/5500 trucks this year.

WOW! can't believe it is so little..

[atgreene]

Wow is right! There's a bunch around here, never would have assumed there were so few.

FWIW, truck is all back together. Put the plow on last night in prep for tomorrow's storm. So far no issues.

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

Remember that 4x4 4500/5500 is a very small volume product compared to a pickup. Right now we build about 30 273GM transfercases on a good week with capacity for ~100/wk. Right now NQF/NQG/NQH are around 1000/day with capacity ~18000/wk. Looks as though Flint may build under 1000 4x4 4500/5500 trucks this year.

How could that even be worth while for GM ? There is a candidate for the chopping block .

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

Wow is right! There's a bunch around here, never would have assumed there were so few.

FWIW, truck is all back together. Put the plow on last night in prep for tomorrow's storm. So far no issues.

You got that back together in time , we'll both be busy 24 hrs from now .

[PSDF350]

How could that even be worth while for GM ? There is a candidate for the chopping block .
It would explain the huge price differance between them and ford and dodge for 450/550 and 4500/5500. Low to mid 40's for dodge and ford upper 50's for gmc/chevy.

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

It would explain the huge price differance between them and ford and dodge for 450/550 and 4500/5500. Low to mid 40's for dodge and ford upper 50's for gmc/chevy.

Fords F550-450s 4x4s are in the 30's now .:eek:

http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=1958848&guid=D453866A898B42419EE8FEAABC876303

[PSDF350]

Fords F550-450s are in the 30's now .:eek:Now if only they had a diesel I felt confident buying.

[BRUNSWICK CONCRETE]

Now if only they had a diesel I felt confident buying.

They all have their quirks . Hey , you got a 6.0l , it looks to be running perfectly in your driveway ditch ......:grinz

[PSDF350]

They all have their quirks . Hey , you got a 6.0l , it looks to be running perfectly in your driveway ditch ......:grinz

Lmao:o Your right my truck has been great. But not all can say that. Plus I didn't know of thier problems till I was allready buying it, so had to cross fingers and hope I didn't make a bad choice.