Noisy suspension

[dom_e]

Hi all

I've had the Bongo since about Sept. and it's always been a bit noisy over speed bumps. The ARB bushes and drop links have all been done very recently, but the front suspension is very 'gritty' and noisy over speed bumps. There are also a few mysterious knocks still - more from the rear end than the front it seems.

As I've mentioned in a previous post reg. shocks, the boots have split, but the shocks still seem to dampen fine - i.e. I don't bounce down the road like a pogo stick!

Any ideas on where the problem could lie? My knowledge of suspension is limited and a forum search has found little of help so far. I hope it's not going to be too expensive!

I've got a 2.5TD, 2WD.

Many thanks all.

Dom

[dandywarhol]

Thoroughly check the lower ball joints on the wishbones for wear. Best way is to jack up under the wishbone then try to lift the wheel up with the jack handle - any wear will be apparant.

[mikeonb4c]

Strange. Mine used to do this when cold but stopped when warmer. Now (front a/r bushes and droplinks changed though I didn't notice whether the improvement was linked) it doesn't do it at all

[dom_e]

Thanks for the replies so far.

jack up under the wishbone

By this, do you mean jack up the Bongo at the jack point nearest to the front wheel (obviously one at a time) to raise it off the floor? Or, is there a certain place under the wishbone?

I presume if the joints are worn, they'll need replacing rather than repairing. I do remember reading a thread on this quite recently I think.

Ta

Dom

[dandywarhol]

Piece of wood on the (trolley)jack and lift the van by the wishbone. You then need to lift under tyre to see if there's any wear. Any other way will be difficult to detect because of the weight of the vehicle on the balljoint. It's common MOT check practice.

These guys sell them - cheaper than the ripoff evilbay prices...........

http://www.mazdabongoshop.co.uk/

[dom_e]

Thanks.

I don't have a trolley jack, so I may leave this for a garage to check if I can't see an obvious problem just jacking it up on the chassis.

Dom

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks.

I don't have a trolley jack, so I may leave this for a garage to check if I can't see an obvious problem just jacking it up on the chassis.

Dom

I'm trying to remember where the front jacking points are (somewhere near the wishbones?) but, assuming it is fine to do one wheel at a time (and I can't see why not) I wonder if the job could be done (with due care and attention) one wheel at a time using the vehicle scissor jack. Anyone able to comment on this?

[dom_e]

I had a quick poke around and there's nothing obvious wrong.

The jack point is behind and inboard of the front wheels where the wishbone meets the chassis - the concave of the jack fits the curve of the joint neatly. My jack has a simple diag. on it. Perhaps a little hard to describe so I'll try and post a picture at some point. It would make a useful reference if it's not already been posted.

[dandywarhol]

I'll try again......... ............if you jack up the vehicle from the van's jacking point all you'll suceed in doing is allowing the suspension to load up the (worn) balljoint and it will be difficult to feel the wear. Do it the way I suggested and you'll get a better idea of the condition of the joint...................

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Dom_e.

Do you understand what Dandy means by where to jack to test the joints? Obviously, be very careful as the coil spring will be under compression and you really, really don't want the jack to slip...

Anyways, my niece's Bongo makes an annoying front 'suspension' clunk going over road ruts and ridges. No idea where it's coming from - I've had a quickish look at the droplinks and a-r bushes and they seem firm enough. Thing is, the car had an MOT from a reliable company just before purchase, so I'm assuming they didn't find any wear anywhere either!

If you can't find anything obviously wrong, although it can be annoying, I'd just wait until the next MOT and see if it gets picked up there! Obviously, if it gets worse, it'll be worth a garage look-see. The 'good' news is that the suspension is where the Bongo seems to be most reasonable when it comes to prices!

On the 'boot' issue, I taped mine back up with duct tape - no idea how long it will last! However, what I did notice is that the boots aren't fixed at the bottom end; they slide up and down on the suspension body.

I'm wondering if 'my' clunks are from within the suspension units - they dampen ok, but could still be noisy if the piston is a bit 'loose' inside.

[dom_e]

Thanks again. Yes; I think I understand how to do it. I'll give it another look if I get time, or as you suggest, I may just wait until the MOT / next service interval (my wife and I are expecting our first child any time now, so time could be a little short!).

Dom

[dandywarhol]

How to check it - with a handy video

http://www.carquestchassistraining.com/ ... joints.htm

The example is an upper and lower wishbone setup but the same procedure applies to a mcpherson strut lower balljoint like the Bongos

[dom_e]

Fantastic - ta.

[bigdaddycain]

I used to have noisy suspension years ago, which curiously disappeared for a day or two after a rainy spell, or after jetwashing underneath. I eventually traced my noise down to a cunningly hidden snapped ARB bush clamp.

[missfixit70]

That is a distinct possibility, I had the same thing last year after I changed the bushes, the brackets seemed fine when I did them, but the night before my mot I realised the bracket had snapped on the rear drivers side. Made up a bracket to get it through the mot, a few weeks later the other side snapped, so replaced them both with proper brackets, ok since.
It's not immediately obvious that the bracket's snapped by looking at it.