Rear Suspension

[spitineye]

Hello all,
Long time no see!

Last week i had my front shocks and drop links replaced, as i can no longer afford the sea-sickness tablets,
probably caused by the credit crunch, or global warming or some form of terrorism.
My mechanic has advised that the back is still needing done, but i can't see any in any of the bongo shops (shocks that is, not the drop links).
any reccommendations on what/where i should be looking?

cheers,
Spit

[brorabongo]

Hi Spit

Good to see your back. Hope it was nothing serious that kept you away.

Untill you get a better answer, see if you can find any info here.....

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ks#p234785


Could well be down your way in a couple of weeks to visit the famous Ninewells.

All the best.

[spitineye]

Hi Spit

Good to see your back. Hope it was nothing serious that kept you away.

Untill you get a better answer, see if you can find any info here.....

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ks#p234785


Could well be down your way in a couple of weeks to visit the famous Ninewells.

All the best.

no no, just busy with activities (not been on rival forums if that's what you mean).

You mean the world famous Ninewells Garage?!........oh, the hospital!

I am literally a few hundred feet from living within the hospital grounds! type in DD2 4BQ into you sat-nav, or google maps if you need Bongo-friendly parking. If you can hold off until Easter, we could swap houses, as i will no doubt be frequenting Golspie again. If i could work from home, i'd move there in a jif! This time i hope to give Brora a bit more attention, as it was a flying visit last time

[brorabongo]

I am literally a few hundred feet from living within the hospital grounds! type in DD2 4BQ into you sat-nav, or google maps if you need Bongo-friendly parking. If you can hold off until Easter, we could swap houses, as i will no doubt be frequenting Golspie again. If i could work from home, i'd move there in a jif! This time i hope to give Brora a bit more attention, as it was a flying visit last time

House swap sounds good, but we are just down for one night, as one of the kids is having an overnight EEG. I'll look you up though.

[missfixit70]

From the compatible parts database at the top of techie

I think that it would be useful to include this kind of info too ( from BigD and Flippa)

Procomp make a compatible rear shock absorber for the bongo, 2X ES3000 (part number 320500)


These are available from http://www.exploreprocomp.co.uk

[Grahame at work]

Hi Spitineye,

nice to hear from you again -

As a matter of interest was that much of a job?
I've been thinking of doing the front shocks on mine.

Were they perticularly bad or was it just for a better ride?

regards Grahame

[spitineye]

I fear explorerprocomp may have gone bust! dead line, website although working up to checkout, won't take cc details!

They were looking good too! any other options, other than 'genuine parts' (read expensive)?

Graeme,

2 front struts (whole thing, genuine Mazda), 2 drop links, (not genuine)- £240 approx from Bongobits.

Labour from mechanic - £70, was ready by lunchtime the same day.

[missfixit70]

Have you tried using the alternative partfinder link at the end of the compatible parts database? may be worth a look.

[bigdaddycain]

I fear explorerprocomp may have gone bust! dead line, website although working up to checkout, won't take cc details!

I hope they haven't folded! I was banking on them for when my shox give up the ghost....

[MountainGoat]

Grahame have you tried Warrington Mazda where it is reported that original coolant hoses can be sourced a lot cheaper than at Bongobits. I worked in Warrington for the New Town Development Corporation for a twelve years and know my way arround (well the general directions but the new road system is a pain). I will be passing through Warrington on my way to the Snowdonia meet in March and probablly stopping over night with my sister in Wigan. If you can get the parts that you need in Warrinton I could drop them off at your son's place in Stow.

Tony

[Grahame at work]

Thanks Tony,

I'll keep that in mind - but probably a bit early for me.

I'll look into that place though as I'll be not far away later in the year.

Regards Grahame

[spitineye]

i am completely stumped! Can't find any UK stockists of Monroe shocks, not much better finding ProComps either. Tried a few 4x4 specialists, none of which can get the 320500 model that we require.

Anybody know which other variations within the ES3000 range will fit?
Or even the ES9000?

I'm refusing to pay double for some poxy Mazda branded nonsense!
bah humbug!

[spitineye]

Right,

slight update, with added info for your notebooks.

other vehicles that use the 320500:-

Dodge Pickup 79-93 2wd
GMC jimmy s-15 (front) 83-95
GMC Pickup s-15 (front) 83-94
Mazda Pickup B2000/2200/2600 2wd 86-03
Nissan Pathfinder 4wd hardbody patrol 82
Toyota Pickup 2wd 70-95

Now, the 321500 is far more popular(ie, available!) the _215__ refers to the extended length, 21.5", as opposed to the 320500's 20.5".
The 319500 (19.5") is also more popular than 'ours'.

Would this 1" either way make much of a difference? I don't know much about this kind of thing. I can only assume either would fit, but with a slightly different 'feel'?
Also notewothy is the other digits. The ____0_ refers to the connection. An 0 is for loop at top, loop at bottom, which is obviously what we want. The last digit refers to some bits you get in the box, which doesn't really affect anything.
Hopefully this hasn't already been covered in a factsheet (i forgot to renew my membership! i'll get to it soon Ian!! ), but there it is anyway for club-tax-dodgers like me at least.

So, lastly, on the change in length of 1" up or down? Advisable? Would it even be noticable?

Thanks for your time,
Spit

[dandywarhol]

The extra inch could be important when the spring "tops out" i.e. then cresting hump back bridges and the like. While the bumpstop controls the movement of the damper on full compression, its the damper which controls the amount of travel at extension.

A solution might be to fit shorter springs to compensate..........................