Front drop links

[mickc]

Hi all.

Had my Bongo almost 3 years now and the front drop links are shot again, this will be the 3rd set since I've had the van (2.5D 2WD AFT)

These things must be made from chocolate, are there any other sturdier drop links which would fit rather than paying a fistful of beer tokens every year?

I don't even run my tyres at high pressure or do any kerb surfing so I can only put it down to cheap inferior parts.

Any ideas welcomed, thanks.

[Simon Jones]

Ian sells some heavy duty ones in the club shop. It seems the problem with the cheaper ones is the poor quality rubber boots that let in moisture and crud which eventually finishes them off.

£87 pair but should last much longer than the current ones: http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/mercha ... suspension

[al & chris]

yes go for the heavy duty ones. We had same problem but now with the heavy duty ones been on for a couple of years.

[mikeonb4c]

Weird. I've been using cheap Vauxhall vectra ones on the front and getting a few years use out of them. I do quite low mileage though it's my everyday car.

[dave_aber]

As it's the rubbers which fail first on the cheaper ones, leading to water / grit getting in and making the joints fail you can over-sheath the joints with a secondary protective skin and fill it with suitable grease - as detailed in this thread, and the one linked from there.

Basically, ARB links protected like this are still going strong after almost 4 years now. The one I left un-protected as an experiment was showing split rubber after 17 months.

[philpdr]

Tried the Vectra ones myself and only got a year out of them,less than 6thou.miles.Had a new set fitted in October after an advisory on the M.O.T.These were supplied by my mechanic and appear to have gone already so he's going to take them off and return them as faulty.

[mickc]

Many thanks for all the replies, all useful info.

Looks like I'll be buying a set of H/D links from the Bongo Shop and I'll fit them myself pre-MOT.

[teenmal]

These are the flavour of the month, very reputable supplier to the Motor Trade and with a 4 year guarantee .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-BONGO-2 ... 25683b1427