4 wheel alignment and adjusting the rear suspension

[bongo&4kids]

Hi fellow Bongo owners!

I need to get the wheel alignment done on my 95 diesel Bongo, and I think I need all 4 wheels checked and aligned, via the Hunter system.

As far as I understand, the 4 wheel alignment only works effectively if the rear suspension is adjustable?
Does anyone know if this is indeed possible on Bongos?

Thanks!

[Northern Bongolow]

most 4 wheel alignment system align the moveable front wheels to the fixed position rear wheels so its possible to get all 4 going in the same direction.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGTHN3G_DR8

[mikeonb4c]

most 4 wheel alignment system align the moveable front wheels to the fixed position rear wheels so its possible to get all 4 going in the same direction.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGTHN3G_DR8

All of which assumes i guess that the rear wheels can't get knocked out of alignment with each other. Hope so as on (advice from BF posts i think) i had a 4 wheel alignment done by ADS about a year ago and all should now be hunky dory on my Bongo

[JoeC]

I think when I had mine checked is that the rears are fixed and the fronts are adjusted.

[Bongolia]

Worth having a four wheel align if its never had one . Even if the rears cannot be adjusted it can pick up prior accident damage and also knackered rear radius arm bushes and so on.
Ask them to check camber and KPI too if they have sophisticated enough kit.
Well worth starting with a clean sheet for your own peace of mind.

[JoeC]

Assuming that whoever you go to have the Bongo Friendee measurements in their system

[bongo&4kids]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I had the wheel alignment done a few weeks ago.

The garage were not overly helpful. I was told that the rear wheels, as well as the castor and camber, are all non-adjustable on Bongos?
They adjusted the fronts, and it made very little difference. I took it back in the next day, and after the second attempt, it is better but still not completely straight.

[Northern Bongolow]

it what way is it not straight,

[Bongolia]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I had the wheel alignment done a few weeks ago.
The garage were not overly helpful. I was told that the rear wheels, as well as the castor and camber, are all non-adjustable on Bongos?

That may be true but the value of a wheel alignment check is make sure that they are aligned to the OE spec. If there where found to be out of alignment then they should be able to find the reason, accident damage, worn bushes etc.
Because the vehicle is non adjustable is not a reason not to check the alignment.

They adjusted the fronts, and it made very little difference. I took it back in the next day, and after the second attempt, it is better but still not completely straight.

If by not straight you mean the steering wheel is cocked when driving in a straight line on level road then they have not set the steering wheel straight when setting the track up or the steering wheel has moved during the adjustment or they have taken the adjustment up on one side only.
Why not take it back again and get them to set it up properly or take it somewhere else and have it done.
The angle of your steering wheel doesn't mean that the tracking is not correct though.

[bongo&4kids]

The steering wheel is turned to the right to get the vehicle to drive straight.
I'm not sure that they had the right settings on the system. They typed in Mazda E-series ?? - and told me that that was correct for Bongos ?

[Bongolia]

The steering wheel is turned to the right to get the vehicle to drive straight.
I'm not sure that they had the right settings on the system. They typed in Mazda E-series ?? - and told me that that was correct for Bongos ?

Does the steering pull against you or is it just the position thats wrong?

Not sure on that I will have a look tommorow if its on our system.

[bongo&4kids]

The steering wheel doesn't pull against, but is still in the wrong position.
The second attempt after I took it back in was better, but I am still wondering if their setting were not correct on the 'Mazda E Series' ?
The readout on the secong time says 'Mazda E2200 #600.001- 4X4 (EUR)' ??

[Bongolia]

Then your track is probably correct but the steering wheel has moved during adjustment or it has been tracked up on one side rather than equally between the two.