Bongo Fury

Just wondered if anyone else has had this problem, and what it is?

I had to drive from Kent up to Northampton today, and on my way back on the M1, I noticed, when I applied the brakes I it shuddered up through the steering wheel. I have never noticed this before, but I have reciently swapped the tyres from front to back as she was pulling to the left quite a bit. I was advised the balancing and tracking was ok and swapping them around may sort it. She is no longer pulling to the left, but the "shuddering"is a bit nerving!Could this be the sign of a more serious problem? Please say no!!
Thanks in advance....
Simon.

Could be tracking - unlikely to be balancing when braking. Normal cause for this is warped disk, but as you have just had the wheels changed please check the wheel nuts are tight as you dont want a wheel falling off.

Reckon it could be warped disc had the same on different car, but don't quote me

I had that in my civic after i cooked the brakes and warped them. It had huge accord discs too being a vti.

Holding on the footbrake on after a lot of braking can warp the front brakes because they cool at different rates.

Thanks All... Just checked the bolts and they are all tight, sounds like it is the warped disc then, just hope it don't cost too much!! cheers

Simon.

I'd have suggested warped discs first...However, it seems a little strange that this phenomenon has only manifested itself since the rotation of the wheels,you may have a slight flatspot on one of your (now) front tyres, that could possibly have not showed itself as a wobble/shudder when fitted to the rear.

Feel for a pronounced lip on the discs,discs are more likely to warp when they have got thinner (weaker).

Mr Halibut wrote:

Holding on the footbrake on after a lot of braking can warp the front brakes because they cool at different rates.

That's spot on, people don't realize that its a good idea (especially with an auto) not to hold the bongo on the footbrake after a long descent,the hot pads retain the heat in that area of the disc, whilst the exposed part of the discs are cooling. I,ever so slightly "creep" the bongo in such circumstances to even out the heat dissipation. ( i do love my bongo )

A garage can check if they are warped, you may be able to get the discs skimmed?

Hi

These seem ok according to the right up


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAZDA-BONGO-1995- ... dZViewItem

Hi Bonsi007
My Bongo mysteriously acquired shuddering brakes (also pulsing through the pedal), which felt exactly like warped discs, overnight a few months ago. The shuddering disappeared after about 40 miles, as suddenly as it had appeared. The consensus afterwards was that, as the Bongo had been sitting for over a week exposed to the (very) local sea air, the cause was localised corrosion of the discs. Theory being that as the corrosion wore off the braking returned to normal. I'm not 100% convinced, since the incident hasn't been repeated, despite the Bongo being parked up for a week at a time in the same location. I do reckon that it was some kind of corrosion on the discs/disc causing a change in the friction of part of the surface though.

Rhod

On the hot brakes front (avoidance of) I'm a bit of a tight git who wants his linings (sorry, pads - I'm an old MG hippy) to last forever and I use 'Hold' a lot to assist in deceleration (provided entry speed is not too high - dont want to over strain the engine). Am I being a very bad person ?

mikeonb4c wrote:On the hot brakes front (avoidance of) I'm a bit of a tight git who wants his linings (sorry, pads - I'm an old MG hippy) to last forever and I use 'Hold' a lot to assist in deceleration (provided entry speed is not too high - dont want to over strain the engine). Am I being a very bad person ?

The hold button , I don't want to touch that mysterious peice of kit. Have heard stories of it sticking on

I use my Hold quite a lot, mostly in 30mph zones to keep the speed down.

My understanding of the Hold Light sticking on is not down to over-use of the button but a warning that serious transmission trouble may be ahead.

As with most parts, its probably healthier to "exercise" them from time to time to stop them feeling redundant & playing up.

If I'm wrong, someone will no doubt politely point that out shortly.

I expect they will, I will try that out and hope that all goes well, and don't call me shortly.

I'm always pressing my button, descending hills, slowing for roundabouts, overtaking ( pretend it's nitrous ). If they didn't want you pressing it, they wouldn't have fitted it surely? (thought you'd prefer that to shortly )