As I exited the PA Turnpike in Philadelphia back on Wednesday I had been rudely awakened to the all-too-familiar sound of a rear wheel bearing on its way out. The left rear had been replaced just before Carlisle last year, so I assumed that this time it was the right side. While driving back and forth between the Fairgrounds and the hotel during my stay I realized that the noise was getting progressively louder, so waiting until I got home wasn't a smart option. Many thanks to Bobby Tow for his diligence and cell phone time Saturday morning locating a dealer that both had the part and could schedule it for first thing Monday! Much to my surprise, mid-morning, the Service Mgr advised me that yes, the right bearing was bad, but replacing it only got rid of about 75% of the noise, because the left side was also going out! They had a guy on the way to a Harrisburg warehouse for another bearing. When I told him that the left bearing was only 1 year old, with 24k miles, he asked if it had been done by an authorized Chevy dealer (yes) and did I have the receipt (not with me). I offered to call the dealer, Lynn Layton in Decatur AL, and have them fax the invoice. That was done and Lawrence was thereby able to cover the cost of the year-old bearing, if not the labor. The cost was still over $600, but would have been $1000!
Lawrence was great, and I was on the road home shortly after noon. On the way home I contacted Art Spong (Group Manager, Performance Cars Brand Quality) to update him in the situation. At his request I called the Lawrence Service Mgr back to relay Art's request that they send the old bearings to him for analysis.