As some of you may know, we have a Navara STX-550 named "Dave"
I've had it lifted (Old Man Emu) and added side steps and under body protection (ARB also) but got this done through an ARB reseller/agent (UV4x4).
"Dave" has had some trials and tribulations (including a bingle) but he has had an even darker secret. He has had a rattle "somewhere" on the left hand side for the past 18 Months. It sounds like it's the back door or the back leaves/shackles or front hub. Somewhere on the left.
Not just any old rattle but a "New Car" rattle. What I mean by that is, if I couldn't get the rattle sorted out I was now at the point that I was contemplating buying a new car; and not another Nissan.
I have been backwards and forwards to Nissan. They absolutely hate the aftermarket stuff (including the MT ATZ's) and have consistently blamed the noise on the suspension, the body protection, the tyres (can't see how) and as recently as this Wednesday, the tailgate.
I have been back to UV4x4 (twice) who found a crushed D-Bush on the sway bar and Nissan replaced this (begrudgingly), and been to Fulcrum to get aftermarket offset bushes fitted but still the rattle persisted.
A week ago I finally lost it and at that very moment was passing ARB Nundah. I dived in, spoke to Matt, told him my sad story and my suspicion that there was something wrong with my suspension and that I was losing my mind.
He calmed me down and booked me in for 8:00am yesterday.
I fronted yesterday morning and met Pete (Sterlo?) who took me for a drive around the surrounding streets and along their "proving track". The rattle was there, loud and proud and he set to work, along with Allan, finding where the rattle was.
After an hour or so I had to go to work and left Dave in their hands with the instructions "whatever it takes".
Over the next 4 hours the boys from ARB proceeded to start pulling the bits off (including the suspension) and testing the car.
I received a call from Allan around midday to tell me that they had isolated the noise to a sway bar link pin component (yes a Nissan thing).
I was ecstatic.
Allan asked me what I wanted to do and if I wanted, they could put it all back together and I could take it back to Nissan.
F..! Forget that!
Instead, I asked them to see if they could source the part from Nissan and replace it. He called later and said they had the part and I could pick it up at 4:00pm.
On the way to pick it up I grabbed a carton of Crownies in appreciation and arrived and dropped it on the counter.
Allan handed me the the invoice and I've pulled out my wallet thinking anything under $700-800 was going to be a bonus.
$180. That's right. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DOLLARS. Including the part! I was equal parts stunned but also relieved I'd brought the carton along. They had spent the best part of the day trying to solve someone else’s problem for $180. Legends
To the blokes that I dealt with at ARB Nundah (Matt, Pete & Allan) I salute you and want you to know how completely indebted I feel to you for helping out with this problem.
For the folks here on MySwag, we often see stories here about poor or dodgy service and I wanted to let you know about the excellent service I received at ARB Nundah in the hope that knowing about their attention to detail and customer service will generate it's own reward for them down the track.
So that was my Thursday.
Damo