Shocking Update

ihamner · Mar 26, 2009

Here is the latest on our shocks. We had not replaced the shocks until now and we have over 300,000 miles on the truck. We decided to have a mechanic do it since this is the first time it has been done. My husband will be able to change them next year now that he has observed and talked with a person doing the work.

Here is what I am hoping Linder (after talking with Bob) can explain to us. The TA where we had the work done was able to put Monroe shock absorbers on the drive tires using their package deal. But the shocks on the front had to be replaced with Freightliner Shocks (according to the TA shop) because Freightliner apparently has proprietary shocks on the steer tires. Leave it to Freightliner!! They were very expensive - $311 for the pair and that is just for the shocks. Is it true that we HAVE to use the expensive Freightliner shocks in the future on the steer tires???

BUT - what a ride!!!! We can not believe the difference! We will never let this go so long again!! Thanks, Bob, for the reminder and for the information.

TeamCaffee · Mar 26, 2009

Bob said nope you can get shocks at NAPA. Get the part number off of your sales ticket and then NAPA can cross reference the part number for the correct shocks. If they did not write the part number down look on the lower half of the shock absorber. This number will be a Freightliner number and a Gabriel number.

I am so glad that the truck rides better now!!

Doggie Daddy · Mar 26, 2009

OMG,$311.00 for two front shocks? Will you please tell us the TA that did this work,so others can be aware of a ripoff repair facility.

davekc · Mar 26, 2009

I have paid that for 4 of them.

greg334 · Mar 27, 2009

Freightliner shocks; $79 for a pair for my truck. Labor for front axle shocks - zero, they are too easy not to put on myself.

Doggie Daddy · Mar 27, 2009

India,you can't let these people get away with this. This is clearly price gouging by this TA shop and they need to refund about half of your money for the front shocks.

Makes me wonder what they charged for the rear shocks.One thing that I have learned about repair shops,is that if you feel that you are being taken advantage of,then you probably are.

And then when it comes time to pay the bill,then you need to express your concerns about the amount being charged. By speaking up when I think or when I know I'm being cheated,I have had literally thousands of dollars removed from my repair bill.

You and hubby have just got to get outraged with these people. One note this doesn't work all of the time,but most of the time it does. Sadly there are some shops that don't care that you are P O'd ,but at least you will feel better giving them a piece of your mind.

x06col · Mar 27, 2009

To ALL the O/O out there:: I wonder what else has been neglected on that truck???

It really DOES pay to read that "little" book named the Owners Manual, at least once.

greg334 · Mar 27, 2009

x06col said:
To ALL the O/O out there:: I wonder what else has been neglected on that truck???

It really DOES pay to read that "little" book named the Owners Manual, at least once.

Um... right.... owners manual...... how many people have one?

Doggie Daddy · Mar 27, 2009

greg334 said:
Um... right.... owners manual...... how many people have one?

I gots me one.

bluejaybee · Mar 27, 2009

Since they were Freightliner brand replacement shocks, the price doesn't surprise me. The Monroe price or Gabriel brand price at NAPA would probably be cheaper. Bad part is that they are the same thing. I paid $75.00 each for Monroe for the front of my Peterbilt at NAPA. And I doubt you will wear the new ones out in another year. Front ones normally are not hard to replace (if they aren't frozen on the bushings, or bushings frozen on mounting stud). Back ones can be a problem if not equipped with proper tools.

TeamCaffee · Mar 27, 2009

Last time we bought shocks Bob asked our local Freightliner what their shocks cost and when he heard the price he said ok I will go to NAPA. The sales guys asked Bob what the shocks were at NAPA and he then beat the price. That was a new one for us.

Doggie Daddy · Mar 27, 2009

bluejaybee said:
Since they were Freightliner brand replacement shocks, the price doesn't surprise me. The Monroe price or Gabriel brand price at NAPA would probably be cheaper. Bad part is that they are the same thing. I paid $75.00 each for Monroe for the front of my Peterbilt at NAPA. And I doubt you will wear the new ones out in another year. Front ones normally are not hard to replace (if they aren't frozen on the bushings, or bushings frozen on mounting stud). Back ones can be a problem if not equipped with proper tools.

You are absolutely correct bluejaybee,this job is not for the faint of heart or the lightly tooled backyard mechanic. I thought I could do the job on our last truck, and did manage to get 2 changed. The other 2 weren't budging even with a breaker bar and a cheater pipe.

Now I take the lazy man's approach to this job and let my local repair shop do it,as they are cheap and fast.(can you say air impact wrench)

ihamner · Mar 27, 2009

We are so baffled by all this. We called NAPA and gave them the part number to see what a replacement would cost so we would know for next time and so we could decide about calling the TA that did the work to see if we were taken advantage of. By the way, it is the TA in Las Vegas.

The NAPA guy checked the part number and said for our year Freightliner (2007) they do not have corresponding cross reference parts.

Next we called Middle Georgia Freightliner where we purchased the truck and the parts department never returned our call. Unfortunately this seems typical of Middle Georgia when it comes to our calls to them. Interesting that the sales folks will always return the call but service/parts has never been able to help us nor will they return our calls. Hmmmmmm!

mjolnir131 · Mar 27, 2009

ihamner said:
Next we called Middle Georgia Freightliner where we purchased the truck and the parts department never returned our call. Unfortunately this seems typical of Middle Georgia when it comes to our calls to them. Interesting that the sales folks will always return the call but service/parts has never been able to help us nor will they return our calls. Hmmmmmm!

This is where you call the Sales Dept and inform them unless the Service Dept has a major change that,that was the last truck you will ever buy there

TeamCaffee · Mar 28, 2009

ihamner said:
We are so baffled by all this. We called NAPA and gave them the part number to see what a replacement would cost so we would know for next time and so we could decide about calling the TA that did the work to see if we were taken advantage of. By the way, it is the TA in Las Vegas.

The NAPA guy checked the part number and said for our year Freightliner (2007) they do not have corresponding cross reference parts.

Next we called Middle Georgia Freightliner where we purchased the truck and the parts department never returned our call. Unfortunately this seems typical of Middle Georgia when it comes to our calls to them. Interesting that the sales folks will always return the call but service/parts has never been able to help us nor will they return our calls. Hmmmmmm!

We had that happen once at Middle Georgia and our next call was to Heath Woods one of the owners. It has not happened since.

As for the NAPA deal I will have Bob give Frank a call and see if Bob can do some more digging around.

bluejaybee · Mar 28, 2009

NAPA....I have had trouble getting the local guys to look up parts for me. These heavy duty parts are in a different catalog than regular vehicles. Some stores know and some don't. Click the link below and under search, enter your part number and be sure to put a check in the interchange box. If no results, keep entering different ways. Like part number is 37884-93, and it won't show results, try entering 3788493. Usually I can take the part number I find online, to the local store and get them to get it for me, but not always. There again, it all depends on how bad they want to help me. Everytime the local store gets it for me, it is cheaper than online price. I generally use this as a guide to what is a fair price or not. I am in no way promoting NAPA or it's products. But, I have been able to use this online service and think it is a good thing for them.

http://www.napaonline.com/NOLPPSE/(S(z4rlqiqpzfrhy4e2inpwxu55))/Welcome.aspx

rodeehos · Apr 7, 2009

SOME NAPA STORES ARE FRANCHISED OWNED. SO THERE PRICES COULD BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONLINE PRICES. I PURCHASED A PAIR OF SHOCKS FOR ONE OF MY FL-70's ABOUT A MONTH AGO AT TRUCK-PRO AND THERE COST $63 AND THERE WERE MONROE. COULDN'T GET THE OLD ONES OFF MYSELF, SO IT COST ME $60.00 FOR THE LOCAL SHOP TO DO IT.

fatboy1 · Apr 7, 2009

we got our front shocks installed at freightliner in troy il, service and shocks and tire rotation total bill $411. they let us park and sleep overnite on lot,they have shore power next to the pond between shop and tech building plugged slept and wasnt even bothered.

miker · Apr 7, 2009

Doggie Daddy said:
India,you can't let these people get away with this. This is clearly price gouging by this TA shop and they need to refund about half of your money for the front shocks.

Doggie is correct here, I paid 56.00 a piece for 2 front shocks at the International dealer, and had a roadside service company around my house come to me and change them for only 70.00 dollars. The next time I will change them myself, I knew that I could do it even though I hadn't done it before, but was just worried that I might get stuck and then get a load offer, so 70.00 dollars an hour and he comes to me, I don't think that's bad.

derby11 · May 2, 2009

I find it hard to believe the TA in Las Vegas did this as for I was just out there 2 months ago and had the front shocks changed on my frieghtliner and they charged me $79.00 plus tax installed and they were monroe shocks.