Oustanding Service: Anropa & Mikem

[Mad Manny]

Background:
My daily, a 2010 Isuzu D-Teq 3.0 KB5, 254 000km has become increasingly 'skitterish' on the road.
My Mechanic reported that the rear suspension rubbers are shot.
That was 3 months ago.

I also have a 2003 Isuzu KB3 300TDI, 225 000km - the handbrake is difficult to apply & when you've applied it, it needs another 'click' to hold the vehicle.
But applying that extra 'click' is not easy.
Mechanic checked it out - handbrake cable is frot.

I went to Isuzu & they can get the cables. Note" There are two, left side & right side.
They want R1 900 ea!!! So, I decided on a plan B.
I told the mechanic to remove the cables & the vehicle will stay off the road, for now.



Today, I finally got an opportunity to attend to these two issues...

[Mad Manny]

So this morning I shoot off to Anropa Cables in the arse end of JHB (Heidelburg Rd).
I present the cables. They say no stock they can make them up.
I say cool., I hand them the old cables & leave, it's 09:30.

I shoot off to Darryl of Mikem Suspension Solutions in Eloff St Extension.
I have 3 tasks to achieve there:
1. My buddy Ernie of Donkerpoort 4x4 has a conundrum.
I converted Ernie from Camil to Bilstein & he loves them, (* I'll tell the story later)
However, when he later bought shocks for another bakkie (all Hiluxes) he went to Goldwagen Bloem.
Mikem is a bit far from Gariep. But the Bilstein shocks he got from Goldwagen are not right.
Ernie suspects they sold him Hilux GD6 shocks for his D-4D, but Goldwagen insist they are correct.
Months ago Ernie asked me to find out if he is right & if Darryl can help.

2. Tanya's Honda Accord needs new shocks. I need to see if Darryl can help.

3. I need a quote on replacing my D-Teq's rear suspension rubbers...

So... how did things go...?
..

[Mad Manny]

Feedback:
Mikem
Item 1. Darrell laid out a GD6 & a D-4D rear shock. Ernie was right - the GD6 is marginally longer (photo below)...
I called Ernie, put him on to Daryl & they've sorted it all out. Darrell will send him Service exchange shocks & Ernie will courier his shocks to Mikem.
Success!

Item 2. Bilstein don't do shocks for the Accord, but they called KYB. KYB have stock. Mikem will send me a quote.
Success!

Item 3. They did a very thorough inspection:
* Front Rt wheel bearing shot
* Tie Rods shot.
* Suspension rubbers shot.
* Shocks are finished.
Darrell will send a quote.
Success!

I had a lekker long chat to Darrell's dad - there is nothing he does not know about shocks.
I left even more convinced I'll always fit Bilsteins to my 4x4 over other brands.

Got back to Anropa at 11:30 (2 hours later) - the cables were ready!!!
Cost (remember Isuzu wanted R1900 ea! that's R3800!)
.
.
.
R1000.01 for both (don't ask me why there is a 1c) that's 1/4 of the OEM price!!!

Such great service from both suppliers!

[Erno Kapp]

Then you got home and your electrician did an outstanding job

[Erno Kapp]

I have had my Caravelle 4 motion fitted with seikel suspension 40k km ago and they also run bilstein with their suspensions I am very happy with Bilstein so far...

[Mad Manny]

Then you got home and your electrician did an outstanding job

Yes, his staff had done a great job.
My electrician hadn't been within 50km of my house all day though.

[Erno Kapp]

I am sure he trusts his staff and that they are well trained and bang vir die baas...

[Shane]

So I'll add in my own 2c....

Yesterday we are up in the cattle camp testing out a new pipe laying contraption we built on farm.

On the way back I suddenly hear the most disturbing KLUNK coming from my left front wheel.

Turns out the top rubber on the shock went awol.

Doesn't make sense!

Anyhow, I called Darrel and he smartly sent me replacements - for all of the shocks!

Should have them tomorrow.

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

[Erno Kapp]

Are you happy with the bilsteins?

[Shane]

So far I'm very happy!

[Paul#25]

I've used Anropa for handbrake cable's, speedo cable's and accelerator cable's for years. When building and modifying race car's you need lots of non standard bits and pieces. I've given them sketches and pieces of cable's as samples and always got exactly what I wanted at very reasonable prices. As mentioned, the area where they are is a bit dodgy but I've never had a problem getting there and back.
As for Bilstein shocks, they have been my first choice on both my Lotus 7 and the Porsche race car I built. They are consistent in harsh conditions and when I've had a problem with one, they have been rebuilt or replaced with out a problem.

[Mad Manny]

Here's the story of how Ernie became a Bilstein fan.

Years ago a group of us 'The Vloekgroep' were spending a weekend at Ernie's farm, Donkerpoort.
We were doing one of the trails & after awhile we started climbing this hill/mountain.
It was very rocky, meaning a good 30+ minutes of slow 'bash/crash' bouncy rock hopping.
When we got to the top Ernie jumped out his Hilux & knelt near his front wheel.
I said to Tammy "Something must be wrong, Ernie is trying to get something out from behind his wheel".

Then Ernie got up & ran to Fearless & knelt at my wheel, I got out & asked what was wrong.
"My Camil shocks are hot, but your Bilsteins are still cool - feel!'.

Ernie has been running Bilsteins since.

[Donkerpoort4x4]

I only use bilsteins now for a few reasons.
They are serviceable, they handle our corrigated roads well, they last long and they are not too expensive.

Anyway i bought a B8 suspension from goldwagen for my clubcab hilux. After some load i found out that the rear bottoms out on the shock when you have a ton on the back. After some investigation i came to the conclusion that the rear is too long. After 3 years and 110k km they are stil safe on gravel but the ride is getting more harsh as they need to be rebuild. The back is leaking a bit of oil due to the shock stopping the diff instead of bumpstops but i took them out the other day and they still feel firm. Goldwagen still believe that the shock is correct and wont replace them. Darrel at Mikem wil sort me out so i am very happy.

My brother also have a set in his patrol that Darryl build and they also have about 80k km on and still working ok.

My one friend that hunts for a living had a set in his ford and at 210k km the right front broke off at the shaft on the bottom ring. When we took them out it was caused by the lower rubber bush that was gone and caused the shaft to bend and break. The funny thing is that after 210k km they are still firm and if they replace the lower bush they can still work.

[grips]

Interesting

[AndreasR]

You can’t leave it there Christo. Share some of your wisdom please.