BajaRon
Well-known member
True story. I'm not mentioning any names but this encouraged me so much I wanted to share it with the Spyder community.
A customer called me recently about a 'Popping' noise with her Spyder which happened every time she turned. She had the noise checked out at a Spyder dealership and the report came back that one of the end links on my sway bar was bad. She had my sway bar kit installed on her late model RT earlier this year and she was asking me if it was normal for one of my end links to go bad this quickly and how it might be fixed.
I told her that over the years a few end links had been found to be defective (not a safety hazard, just making noise) so that it was not outside the realm of possibilities. But that these links were designed to last the life of the Spyder so it was not likely. With the lack of definite information from the dealership. And because it is pretty easy to check the condition of the end links. I asked her if she would be willing to find a friend and verify that the end links were indeed bad before throwing expensive parts at the problem.
After outlining how to check the sway bar system, and how to make corrections where possible. She agreed to do some further inspection herself. I did not hear from her for about a week so I emailed to see how it was going. She said she'd had a routine medical procedure and that until the short recovery period was over she would not be able to do it. Then I really felt like a heal!
pps:
However, she had taken her Spyder to another Spyder dealership and they said that the sway bar bushings were worn out!
At the risk of her thinking I was giving her the run-a-round, I told her that those Delrin bushings are very tough as well as self lubricating. They just do not wear out. I said that I was even more skeptical of this 2nd opinion than I was of the 1st.
(Don't you just hate it when the manufacture is telling you one thing and the service department is telling you something else? I think we have all been there and it is no fun).
It's not that I expect every customer to be a master mechanic. Or even that they know a lot about their Spyder (much less how a sway bar functions). I understand that many want to put gas in their Spyder and ride. Leaving everything else to their dealership. And that is perfectly fine and, for the most part, works out pretty well.
We all have our areas of expertise and our areas of weakness. That is why there are 'Experts' in every field. They are supposed to help us with their wisdom and knowledge. Unfortunately, that doesn't always work out as it should. Sometimes the 'Experts' fail us.
So, now we get to the reason I'm imparting this entire event to you.
This lady (having recovered from her procedure) lifted her Spyder (obviously a resourceful person) and while going through the steps I provided, found that the 2 bolts holding the bushing blocks were loose. She tightened these 2 bolts, went for a ride, and guess what!!!
That's right! She found, diagnosed and corrected the problem that 2 dealerships were unable (or unwilling) to do!
Now you may be thinking that I love this story because this wonderful lady got me off the hook (which, admittedly she did). But it's not about that at all. I am so proud of this customer! She persevered and prevailed. She went above and beyond! She tackled this thing and conquered it! And I say 'Bravo'!:thumbup:
In a world where it seems so many revel in being the 'Victim'. This just warms my heart.
If you think I am making too much of this, (as I am sure she does) I understand. From the broad perspective it is a small thing in a big world. But isn't that how things change for the better? If we all continue to do our best, even in the small things. That is how we all come out better in the long run.
Have a great day everyone! Enjoy the ride!
Ron (bajaron)
A customer called me recently about a 'Popping' noise with her Spyder which happened every time she turned. She had the noise checked out at a Spyder dealership and the report came back that one of the end links on my sway bar was bad. She had my sway bar kit installed on her late model RT earlier this year and she was asking me if it was normal for one of my end links to go bad this quickly and how it might be fixed.
I told her that over the years a few end links had been found to be defective (not a safety hazard, just making noise) so that it was not outside the realm of possibilities. But that these links were designed to last the life of the Spyder so it was not likely. With the lack of definite information from the dealership. And because it is pretty easy to check the condition of the end links. I asked her if she would be willing to find a friend and verify that the end links were indeed bad before throwing expensive parts at the problem.
After outlining how to check the sway bar system, and how to make corrections where possible. She agreed to do some further inspection herself. I did not hear from her for about a week so I emailed to see how it was going. She said she'd had a routine medical procedure and that until the short recovery period was over she would not be able to do it. Then I really felt like a heal!
pps:However, she had taken her Spyder to another Spyder dealership and they said that the sway bar bushings were worn out!
At the risk of her thinking I was giving her the run-a-round, I told her that those Delrin bushings are very tough as well as self lubricating. They just do not wear out. I said that I was even more skeptical of this 2nd opinion than I was of the 1st.
(Don't you just hate it when the manufacture is telling you one thing and the service department is telling you something else? I think we have all been there and it is no fun).
It's not that I expect every customer to be a master mechanic. Or even that they know a lot about their Spyder (much less how a sway bar functions). I understand that many want to put gas in their Spyder and ride. Leaving everything else to their dealership. And that is perfectly fine and, for the most part, works out pretty well.
We all have our areas of expertise and our areas of weakness. That is why there are 'Experts' in every field. They are supposed to help us with their wisdom and knowledge. Unfortunately, that doesn't always work out as it should. Sometimes the 'Experts' fail us.
So, now we get to the reason I'm imparting this entire event to you.
This lady (having recovered from her procedure) lifted her Spyder (obviously a resourceful person) and while going through the steps I provided, found that the 2 bolts holding the bushing blocks were loose. She tightened these 2 bolts, went for a ride, and guess what!!!
That's right! She found, diagnosed and corrected the problem that 2 dealerships were unable (or unwilling) to do!
Now you may be thinking that I love this story because this wonderful lady got me off the hook (which, admittedly she did). But it's not about that at all. I am so proud of this customer! She persevered and prevailed. She went above and beyond! She tackled this thing and conquered it! And I say 'Bravo'!:thumbup:
In a world where it seems so many revel in being the 'Victim'. This just warms my heart.
If you think I am making too much of this, (as I am sure she does) I understand. From the broad perspective it is a small thing in a big world. But isn't that how things change for the better? If we all continue to do our best, even in the small things. That is how we all come out better in the long run.
Have a great day everyone! Enjoy the ride!
Ron (bajaron)
