New springs / shocks ?

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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The Great Pretender
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by The Great Pretender » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:36 am

It would also be intresting to see that spring next to a standard one.
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mayk19
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by mayk19 » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:04 pm

Ive seen pictures of other bongos without the bump stop also, just the small bump as I have. anyone else got the small bump stop ? There was a photo from a russion guy who had the same bump stop not the long one.
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by skater » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:43 pm

what you have left is the baseplate of the bump stop.
I noticed one of mine looked like yours, the other was fine.
Problem is they perish and lose their bond to the baseplate.
I have a normal height set-up so took both of mine off.
I don't load mine much and so far so good, touch wood. [-o<
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mayk19
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by mayk19 » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:23 pm

mmm, cheers skater.. Makes sense though if you fit lower springs, then you need to remove those massive stops.
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by bigdaddycain » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:12 pm

mayk19 wrote:Ive seen pictures of other bongos without the bump stop also, just the small bump as I have. anyone else got the small bump stop ? There was a photo from a russion guy who had the same bump stop not the long one.
The bump stop is definitely missing,the mark on the axle where its making contact has started to turn rusty...I have modified my bumpstops to make them maybe 1/4 of an inch shorter? cut in the middle,remove some material, then rebonded using sikaflex,i used sikaflex to rebond the modded stop to the baseplate too, i clamped the whole lot in a vice over a weekend...They seem to have held nicely, and there is a definite reduction in bottoming out.

The suspension needs to travel that bit further before bottoming occurs you see?

I have been running around with the modified stops for nearly a year now, i have bottomed out a handful of times during this period,with standard stops it happened a handfull of times per week!
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mayk19
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by mayk19 » Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:01 pm

whats the general opinion about the air assisters ? They look like my best option...
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mayk19
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by mayk19 » Fri May 02, 2008 4:27 pm

Look at my springs under load... I fitted the spring assister the other week.

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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by dandywarhol » Fri May 02, 2008 5:59 pm

Jeebus :shock: ....no wonder it crashes and bangs the top ones aren't doing anything :shock:

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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by mayk19 » Fri May 02, 2008 8:30 pm

its not good is it ? Talked to guy at Maracle leisure, I've got the airbags to fit... maybe I really need to get a full set of original springs ?
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by dandywarhol » Fri May 02, 2008 11:06 pm

Yep. and bumpstops - or you risk damaging the airbags........ :shock:
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mayk19
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by mayk19 » Tue May 06, 2008 8:59 am

Where do I get new (Original) springs for my Bongo ?
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by mayk19 » Sun May 11, 2008 11:20 pm

scanner wrote:Curved yes, Bent maybe, Broken No.
Scanner, thanks for your post. Are you sure there not broken ? I've had other members recently tell me there broken. I'm at a bit of a loss at the moment as I'm not sure whats failed on my suspsension to make it start bottoming out. Your post indicated the springs are fine, another member PM'd me to tell me they were broken....
If the shockers had gone, could this also cause bottoming out ?

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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by roosteruk » Sun May 11, 2008 11:28 pm

The shocker won't cause any bottoming out Simon.
the shockers are there to allow a controled up and down action as the springs do thier job.
If you didn't have shocks, your car would bounce up and down all the time, making you sea-sick....lol

In my view, looking at the top section of the picture above, I would say that all the weight of the Bongo is being worked on the bottom section only and that will not take the weight.
Go for new springs mate, you will not go wrong.

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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by scanner » Sun May 11, 2008 11:30 pm

mayk19 wrote:
scanner wrote:Curved yes, Bent maybe, Broken No.
Scanner, thanks for your post. Are you sure there not broken ? I've had other members recently tell me there broken. I'm at a bit of a loss at the moment as I'm not sure whats failed on my suspsension to make it start bottoming out. Your post indicated the springs are fine, another member PM'd me to tell me they were broken....
If the shockers had gone, could this also cause bottoming out ?

ta.
The first picture and the second picture are not the same so which one are you asking about?
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mayk19
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Re: New springs / shocks ?

Post by mayk19 » Sun May 11, 2008 11:51 pm

Thanks Rooster, the only two options to me are £80 for original (old) bongo springs or £180 for lowered (40mm) springs. My concern is that after a few months, if I go lowwered, that I'll be back in the same place. e.g. the springs can't take the weight of the conversion. Anyone esle out there with a full conversion have any bottoming out issues ?

Scanner, the pictures are of the same spring, first is without a wheel on, second is with wheel on and weight of the vehicle being taken.

I've already purchased a airbag set, so whichever sprigns I finally purchase I'm going to fit an airbag kit to them.

Anyone else with lowered springs got a picture of thers under static load ?

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