Suspension / shock absorber query

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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alexknill
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Location: Wetherby, West Yorkshire

Suspension / shock absorber query

Post by alexknill » Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:15 pm

Hi

Hope someone can help

Just got back from a week away and noticed that when the Bongo is full of people (7), the suspension bottoms out very easily. It also does the same with a towbar mounted bike rack on with 2 adults and 2 kids.

I have just looked in the fact sheets at spring assisters - frankly, the look of the job and the rating put me off attempting it myself.

Are there any alternatives? Would changing the shock absorbers sort it? If so (or not), any recommendations of anywhere to go in the Wetherby/Harrogate/York area?

Hope someone can help

Thanks
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missfixit70
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Re: Suspension / shock absorber query

Post by missfixit70 » Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:30 pm

Changing the shock absorbers won't help at all as they just control the rebound rather than take any weight. If you could get hold of brand new springs it may make a difference, but then it's just as easy (& probably cheaper) to fit the spring assistors. I've still got to do mine, got them from here - http://www.mattsavage.com/acatalog/copy ... rings.html based in Derbyshire, he may be able to help with fitting? It doesn't look too bad a job to be honest, any half decent mechanic should be able to do it in an hour or 2.
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scanner
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Re: Suspension / shock absorber query

Post by scanner » Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:34 pm

Just watch the strain assisters put on the springs. They seem to concentrate the strain onto the coil where it meets the assister.
Instead of the end of the spring moving easily in its seat, the coil has to flex as it reaches the assister and can eventually break.

I know one of mine did on an estate car I had them fitted to.
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missfixit70
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Re: Suspension / shock absorber query

Post by missfixit70 » Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:11 pm

Are you talking about air assistors here Scanner?
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scanner
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Re: Suspension / shock absorber query

Post by scanner » Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:32 pm

missfixit70 wrote:Are you talking about air assistors here Scanner?
Ahh - no, just the rubber ring assisters that fit between the coils of the spring.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165660

also warned about here.....
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/ ... tm?t=64568
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