Subframe Rotten at front wheel jacking points

[serge]

Hi Chaps

Have booked the Bongo in for new rear wheel arches next week....many thanks for all of the advice about transit wheel arches from Hadrian....will report in on how they look when finished

At this year's MOT, the inspector pointed out 2 holes in the subframe at the front wheel jacking points, which he suggested, whilst not an MOT failure, should be welded before they get worse

When I asked the body shop to do these at the same time, on looking at the holes the mechanic said that the holes looked like drainage holes for the subframe and that I shouldn't get them welded over

Not knowing about this type of thing, can anyone enlighten me on this before I pop it in......might just as well get all of the welding done at the same time if the work is needed

Cheers

Serge

[mikeonb4c]

Hi Chaps

Have booked the Bongo in for new rear wheel arches next week....many thanks for all of the advice about transit wheel arches from Hadrian....will report in on how they look when finished

At this year's MOT, the inspector pointed out 2 holes in the subframe at the front wheel jacking points, which he suggested, whilst not an MOT failure, should be welded before they get worse

When I asked the body shop to do these at the same time, on looking at the holes the mechanic said that the holes looked like drainage holes for the subframe and that I shouldn't get them welded over

Not knowing about this type of thing, can anyone enlighten me on this before I pop it in......might just as well get all of the welding done at the same time if the work is needed

Cheers

Serge

I'm not an expert on Bongo anatomy, but when they say subframes, do they mean the front wishbones? I can recall a case of collapse due to corrosion on a Bongo wishbone some time back. Replacements can be got I believe, if that is the problem.

[321Away]

keep re-reading your post trying to make sense of it!! do you mean the large flat area just behind the front mudflaps? in which case they should have 2 drainage holes on the bottom? or the notorious point wher the aforementioned meets the outer sill and corrodes there?
Julian

[waycar8]

keep re-reading your post trying to make sense of it!! do you mean the large flat area just behind the front mudflaps? in which case they should have 2 drainage holes on the bottom? or the notorious point wher the aforementioned meets the outer sill and corrodes there?
Julian

sounds like there corrosion around the drain holes and the mot guy thought they had rotten through!

[bigdaddycain]

I realise it may be a bit awkward, but is there any possibility of having a couple of photo's of the offending holes to look at please? Then we'd all be certain as to what we are talking about here...

[vanvliet]

Can someone PLEASE take a photograph of these drain holes as I have an MOT next week I have two identical rusted holes , about 1.5 cm across on the underside front of the sills on both sides of the van where the seems meet
I will take a pic of the ones on my van tonight tonight. They look odd because the rest of the sill is rock solid
The van was treated with Waxoil from import . I poked inside the hole and shone a light there is still waxoil present. So, other than the rusted area it is as clean as a whisle. If I get it welded up I worry about where the water is coming from which lies in this corner - - - I may end up simply sealing it in again!

[mikeonb4c]

Can someone PLEASE take a photograph of these drain holes as I have an MOT next week There are two identical rusted holes , about 1.5 cm across on the underside front of the sills on both sides of the van
I will take a pic of the ones on my van tonight tonight. They look odd because the rest of the sill is rock solid

This is beginning to sound v. like the complete rust through I found on mine a few years ago, on the nearside, where the cill meets a cross section, each just ahead of or just behind (I can't remember which) the fron wheel arch. Others checked at that time and found they had them too. It was hard to know if there had once bee an drain hole as the rust hole was bigger and located where the drain hole might otherwise have been. Wheelquick expertly welded a very sound looking plate over the place sand its been good ever since, but I did wonder at the time whether I should have drilled a drainhole there. Interested to see what others have to say about presence (or lack of) a drain hole in this area. Mind you, you'd think if there had been a drai nhole, that a rust through of this sort would not have happened, so I think there is not, and it rusts there as being the collection point.

[rita]

Hi Chaps

Have booked the Bongo in for new rear wheel arches next week....many thanks for all of the advice about transit wheel arches from Hadrian....will report in on how they look when finished

At this year's MOT, the inspector pointed out 2 holes in the subframe at the front wheel jacking points, which he suggested, whilst not an MOT failure, should be welded before they get worse

When I asked the body shop to do these at the same time, on looking at the holes the mechanic said that the holes looked like drainage holes for the subframe and that I shouldn't get them welded over

Not knowing about this type of thing, can anyone enlighten me on this before I pop it in......might just as well get all of the welding done at the same time if the work is needed

Cheers

Serge

Hi Serge,
It is not advisable to use this as a jacking point.

[mikeonb4c]

Hi Chaps

Have booked the Bongo in for new rear wheel arches next week....many thanks for all of the advice about transit wheel arches from Hadrian....will report in on how they look when finished

At this year's MOT, the inspector pointed out 2 holes in the subframe at the front wheel jacking points, which he suggested, whilst not an MOT failure, should be welded before they get worse

When I asked the body shop to do these at the same time, on looking at the holes the mechanic said that the holes looked like drainage holes for the subframe and that I shouldn't get them welded over

Not knowing about this type of thing, can anyone enlighten me on this before I pop it in......might just as well get all of the welding done at the same time if the work is needed

Cheers

Serge

Hi Serge,
It is not advisable to use this as a jacking point.

Doh, yes, I should have thought to say that

[Gripped]

Is it the same as this? If so, it appears to be a common area. Just had mine welded too.


http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... db#p517870

[mikeonb4c]

Is it the same as this? If so, it appears to be a common area. Just had mine welded too.


http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 0d#p517870

Thats the one. BongoMTBer's post, Page 2, 2nd pic is where mine had gone (though on the nearside). I think we just have to live with this as what happens to ageing Bongos (my expensive anti-corrosion treatment arrived way too late to stop what must have been going for years).

[vanvliet]

Yes looking at the pis that is exactly where mine has gone In my case it was just a small hole and I have now welded on neat patches I may drill a hole into the patch and fit a grommet I ve zinced and waxoyed from the nearest grommet but i want to really get stuff into that corner What worries me is that this clearly rusted from the inside out Where is the water coming from? I reckon all Bongos must have this problem so check yours now - - -
G