Juddering bongo

[Dave and sally]

Hello ,im new to bongo's but have been lurking on the forum before purchacing one
Anyway having bought a 96 ford freda a few weeks back i did all i could to get a good one (fingers crossed)
I stumbled on a private ad for a 96 ford freda 81k on the clock fully waxoiled all old mot's import docs and milage cert 12 months tax 12 months mot and full service history since its import in 2007 (importers crossfire cars)
Its a 4x4 aft model ithought a good buy at £2500 illness forced sale (old couple) seemed really nice folks
Heres the bad bit
We have been driving it daily absolutely fine over to wales down to malvern no probs whatsoever
Until this fri when fully loaded 6 of us and a weekends luggage down to van fest
On pulling away there is a juddering /knocking with a definate shaking of the front end only when moving off pretty quick (not silly quick ) just at a busy island for example
I have used the search button but nothing seems to hit the nail on the head
A few more facts
It has 16" alloys wheels with matching tyres all round (about the same tread depth too)
i have checked the wheels are tight and tyre pressures
On unloading the car and pulling off in the same manner there isnt any knocking
Can anyone with bongo knowledge help me out ?
many thanks in advance Dave and sally

[mikeonb4c]

Hello ,im new to bongo's but have been lurking on the forum before purchacing one
Anyway having bought a 96 ford freda a few weeks back i did all i could to get a good one (fingers crossed)
I stumbled on a private ad for a 96 ford freda 81k on the clock fully waxoiled all old mot's import docs and milage cert 12 months tax 12 months mot and full service history since its import in 2007 (importers crossfire cars)
Its a 4x4 aft model ithought a good buy at £2500 illness forced sale (old couple) seemed really nice folks
Heres the bad bit
We have been driving it daily absolutely fine over to wales down to malvern no probs whatsoever
Until this fri when fully loaded 6 of us and a weekends luggage down to van fest
On pulling away there is a juddering /knocking with a definate shaking of the front end only when moving off pretty quick (not silly quick ) just at a busy island for example
I have used the search button but nothing seems to hit the nail on the head
A few more facts
It has 16" alloys wheels with matching tyres all round (about the same tread depth too)
i have checked the wheels are tight and tyre pressures
On unloading the car and pulling off in the same manner there isnt any knocking
Can anyone with bongo knowledge help me out ?
many thanks in advance Dave and sally

Welcome Dave & Sally

Sounds like it might be related to the front wheel drive gear (CV joints? propshaft related?) but mine is a 2WD and I'm not a top 'techie'. Others will be along shortly no doubt with thoughts. Can you see any oil on, around, or on the ground underneath the front wheel/wheelarch areas? Is your Bongo an automatic, out of interest?

£2500 is a good price esp. if its a lifting roof AFT.

[apole]

Hi there,

Just a thought but I do recall a post on here about lowered cars (ie. they have shorter springs installed on the suspension) and that puts a strain on something.

Maybe it's something like that, and by loading the car up, the suspension then sits even lower which brings on the issue.

I'll try and find the post.

What colour are your rear suspension springs? If they are not black then that's a sign it's been lowered.

Andy

[Dave and sally]

Sounds like it might be related to the front wheel drive gear (CV joints? propshaft related?) but mine is a 2WD and I'm not a top 'techie'. Others will be along shortly no doubt with thoughts. Can you see any oil on, around, or on the ground underneath the front wheel/wheelarch areas? Is your Bongo an automatic, out of interest?

£2500 is a good price esp. if its a lifting roof AFT. [/quote]

Hi yes ill try ad a picture its in really nice condition yes the roof lifts up and nice and clean non smoking car
its automatic and there are no oil stains or leaks from the front diff or joints

[apole]

Hi again,

Sorry I'm barking up the wrong tree, here's the post:

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... t=lowering



Maybe CV joints with the extra load.

Someone will be along soon with some better advice.

[Dave and sally]

Hi there,

Just a thought but I do recall a post on here about lowered cars (ie. they have shorter springs installed on the suspension) and that puts a strain on something.

Maybe it's something like that, and by loading the car up, the suspension then sits even lower which brings on the issue.

I'll try and find the post.

What colour are your rear suspension springs? If they are not black then that's a sign it's been lowered.

Andy

Hi andy ive just checked and the van is pretty high (the alloys arnt low profile type) the springs are indeed black cheers for the suggestions so far all

[Dave and sally]

only pick ive got of the car maybee you can tell the ride hight from this?

[mikeonb4c]

Where are you guys based (its worth putting your approx location in your profile so forum users can see and react as needs be). If you are not mechanical yourselves and if the Bongo is driveable, it might be worth visiting a garage with it (pref. a Bongo specialist if there is one nearby). Or you could call out AA/RAC if you are a member and request that Bongo be recovered to a garage (might want to drive a short way from home before calling them depending on your breakdown cover).

At a guess, it doesn't sound too expensive or tricky to diagnose or fix, but don't quote me on that!

[Dave and sally]

Where are you guys based (its worth putting your approx location in your profile so forum users can see and react as needs be). If you are not mechanical yourselves and if the Bongo is driveable, it might be worth visiting a garage with it (pref. a Bongo specialist if there is one nearby). Or you could call out AA/RAC if you are a member and request that Bongo be recovered to a garage (might want to drive a short way from home before calling them depending on your breakdown cover).

At a guess, it doesn't sound too expensive or tricky to diagnose or fix, but don't quote me on that!

Ill ammend my profile now as i forgot to do that hehe thanks for pointing that out !
Im in sedgley near dudley westmidlands cheers

[Dave and sally]

Just a quick note for my benefit
I will be joining the forum properly as soon as they get back from bongo fest so i cant pay my subscription fee till the 21st sept

[Dave and sally]

Ive looked around the front end all i can find is the drive shaft tube bit along the axel wobbles a little bit ?

could it be just a uj joint? would that cause judder

oh the discs and pads are brand new so i dont think its from there

[mikeonb4c]

Ian Taylor at Market Drayton isn't a million miles from you and he's very good if you can limp (or get RAC to take you) there.

[Trebormint]

Hello ,im new to bongo's but have been lurking on the forum before purchacing one
Anyway having bought a 96 ford freda a few weeks back i did all i could to get a good one (fingers crossed)
I stumbled on a private ad for a 96 ford freda 81k on the clock fully waxoiled all old mot's import docs and milage cert 12 months tax 12 months mot and full service history since its import in 2007 (importers crossfire cars)
Its a 4x4 aft model ithought a good buy at £2500 illness forced sale (old couple) seemed really nice folks
Heres the bad bit
We have been driving it daily absolutely fine over to wales down to malvern no probs whatsoever
Until this fri when fully loaded 6 of us and a weekends luggage down to van fest
On pulling away there is a juddering /knocking with a definate shaking of the front end only when moving off pretty quick (not silly quick ) just at a busy island for example
I have used the search button but nothing seems to hit the nail on the head
A few more facts
It has 16" alloys wheels with matching tyres all round (about the same tread depth too)
i have checked the wheels are tight and tyre pressures
On unloading the car and pulling off in the same manner there isnt any knocking
Can anyone with bongo knowledge help me out ?


many thanks in advance Dave and sally

If you experience the juddering when pulling away & turning at the same time, especially out of a tight junction quickly, then I think it is a characteristic of the 4WD. Mine does it & always has done in the six years I've had the Bongo & I've never had any problems with it. It regulary passes MOT's, services & the 'once over' by my local mechanic.

[bigdaddycain]

Hello ,im new to bongo's but have been lurking on the forum before purchacing one
Anyway having bought a 96 ford freda a few weeks back i did all i could to get a good one (fingers crossed)
I stumbled on a private ad for a 96 ford freda 81k on the clock fully waxoiled all old mot's import docs and milage cert 12 months tax 12 months mot and full service history since its import in 2007 (importers crossfire cars)
Its a 4x4 aft model ithought a good buy at £2500 illness forced sale (old couple) seemed really nice folks
Heres the bad bit
We have been driving it daily absolutely fine over to wales down to malvern no probs whatsoever
Until this fri when fully loaded 6 of us and a weekends luggage down to van fest
On pulling away there is a juddering /knocking with a definate shaking of the front end only when moving off pretty quick (not silly quick ) just at a busy island for example
I have used the search button but nothing seems to hit the nail on the head
A few more facts
It has 16" alloys wheels with matching tyres all round (about the same tread depth too)
i have checked the wheels are tight and tyre pressures
On unloading the car and pulling off in the same manner there isnt any knocking
Can anyone with bongo knowledge help me out ?


many thanks in advance Dave and sally

If you experience the juddering when pulling away & turning at the same time, especially out of a tight junction quickly, then I think it is a characteristic of the 4WD. Mine does it & always has done in the six years I've had the Bongo & I've never had any problems with it. It regulary passes MOT's, services & the 'once over' by my local mechanic.

Mine's a fourby too, i don't experience juddering/knocking...But there is definite trye scrub when on lock and pulling away a bit "sharpish".

[bigdaddycain]

Ive looked around the front end all i can find is the drive shaft tube bit along the axel wobbles a little bit ?

could it be just a uj joint? would that cause judder

That sounds to me like you've discovered the fault, there is a chance that the UJ may need tightening up, it's not necessarily worn.

Your bongo has standard ride height.

I take it that none of the calipers are sticking? A quick test is to check the temperature of each wheel with the back of your hand,(after a run) if one wheel is noticeably warmer/hotter than the others, then you may have a sticking caliper, and the ATF fluid is clean and up to level?