Vibrating At The Front..Getting desperate-please help!!!

spend-a-penny · Post by **spend-a-penny** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:58 pm

Hi, We would welcome most gratefully any suggestions or advice about our poorly 4x4 bongo.
It is suffering with a constant vibrating/rubbing sound at the front of the van and can be felt through the floor, front seats and steering wheel. (it sounds a bit like a helicopter!) The sound goes faster and slower according to your speed.

We have already:- Changed both front C.V boots and joints.
Changed both front wheel bearings.
Had the Diff. oil checked - it is clear and not smelling.
We service it regularly - change the oil every 3000 miles.
The tyres on the front are the correct recommended Bongo ones.
She has done approx 60,0000 miles.
It is getting to be a real dear do, so next repairs need to be the right one for the job!

Thanks for your help everybody.
Kind regards, jonty and Penny.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:08 pm

Hi
If it's a rubbing sound, it could be binding brakes. Have you felt the wheels after a journey? - one would feel considerably hotter if the brakes were binding.
Vibration could be a distorted tyre or wheel - have you had the wheels/tyres checked for balance etc.?

spend-a-penny · Post by **spend-a-penny** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:41 pm

Hi,
Had wheels properly balanced 'bout 6 months ago, so probably needs doin' again.
I think we'll have the brakes looked at.... if it's as simple as that I'll slap my forehead !!!

Thanks for your suggestions.

Penny and Jonty.

Post by **westonwarrior** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:47 pm

I remember on my last van it had its breaks repaired by an unqulified mechanic to get it through its mot for its sale to me.

Any way a few weeks after I got it i started getting a vibrating noise which was directly in relation to the speed not the engin.

On my inspection I found the unqualified mechanic had over tightened the wheel bearing which caused one to sieze and get a flat spot and that was what caused my vibration/noise I changed the bearing and noise cured.

so I dont know but may be a bearing

ICB · Post by **ICB** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:07 pm

When I've had this sort of thing it's either been balancing, tracking, seizing calliper or warped disk.

Best of luck.

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:55 pm

I know the search facility is awaiting repair, so I'll try and drag up some stuff from remembering (not easy at my age!) what I have read before.

* There is definitely an issue about wheel balancing, and getting it done right

* There are loads of after market wheels fitted to Bongos. Some like ours are 'universal' ie will fit most popular Japanese vehicles. They have eight (?) holes, so they fit four stud and five stud vehicles. These are more troublesome to balance.

* I recall some wheels have stepping rings to seat on the hub, and they are the worst of all to balance.

65mpg is the problem speed. Ours, having had the wheels balanced twice i.e. took it back after the first time was not good enough, is as smooth as any other vehicle at that speed.

izzizm · Post by **izzizm** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:33 pm

i know its slightly missing the point .. it does sound like a different problem .. but shaking from 50mph up is usually the back wheels out of balance - lower speeds is the front (apparently)

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:42 pm

If it is 4wd have you checked for play in the front propshaft bearings/universal joint?

Sounds a bit like the prob I had last year....easily sotrd by a prop shaft specialist for about £25.

H

shakey · Post by **shakey** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:42 pm

Check your tyres if they are the original Japanese ones, they can cause all sorts of problems, a rear one of mine had a twist, probably caused by cord breakage (poor plug repair or impact damage), putting a section of tread out of alignment, the Bongo shook like a dog with dysentry as I increased speed. Shakey

samuel · Post by **samuel** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:29 pm

Sounds like it could be a worn UJ from the transfer box shaft to the front axle. This was the subject of a Mazda recall notice.

Give the front shaft a good shake and make sure these UJ's are tight.

brorabongo · Post by **brorabongo** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:44 pm

shakey wrote:Check your tyres if they are the original Japanese ones, they can cause all sorts of problems, a rear one of mine had a twist, probably caused by cord breakage (poor plug repair or impact damage), putting a section of tread out of alignment, the Bongo shook like a dog with dysentry as I increased speed. Shakey

Heres one of those problems which you can come accross with original Japanese tyres (see pictures). I have emailed the company but have not heard back

They caused differently noise/vibrations depending on speed.
falken tyres