Bongo Fury

Hi guys,

Posted on here before about my soft rear suspension. Until I can afford/get around to using the graystone air suspension system I was thinking to put in some of those rubber donut assistors.

towsure do some and the ones I think I need are the 26mm to 39mm ones.

I saw that Graystone also do a similar system, except that instead of a donut, they are a strip that coils around the inside of the spring more than once. The kit they do is GE14 and that covers 26mm to 38mm so I guess that is the best fit. Does anyone have experience of using these or have an idea which of the 2 systems would be better?

They look like this:



Seems a sensible stop gap for under a tenner as mine so easily bottoms out and with holidays coming up with people, bikes and baggage I'm hoping it will help.

Andy

Hi Apole
I've got some in mine....and I keep meaning to take them out.
Yes, they work, but....if you leave them in for a long time, they effectively prevent the coils thus supported, from working properly, and spread the suspension loading over the remaining coils, and can lead to spring failure....the air systems work IN ADDITION to the springs, and are far preferable....also they can be inflated/ deflated as needed
Cheers
Helen

helen&tony wrote:Hi Apole
I've got some in mine....and I keep meaning to take them out.
Yes, they work, but....if you leave them in for a long time, they effectively prevent the coils thus supported, from working properly, and spread the suspension loading over the remaining coils, and can lead to spring failure....the air systems work IN ADDITION to the springs, and are far preferable....also they can be inflated/ deflated as needed
Cheers
Helen

Are you sure about that if so, how can 'they' sell them without getting sued in the event of spring failure.
Anyone out there experienced a failure due to these assister's being fitted.
I have fitted them to our Bongo and now you worried me.

Hi Rwill
They were very popular years ago, and my reply is what was published as the downside in those days. These assisters are not as popular now, and , as I say, they are alright as a temporary fix for towing. The reason for the springs failing is only logic....in fact, a while back a member said they had just that trouble on a car some while ago.....
Cheers
Helen

I can see the logic in that...If the assistor shifts the compression to the other "coils" (i realize it's one coil in reality)then i can see that localized stress could occur over time, if however, the assistor shared the load of the upper and lower coil, then i can't see how it could stress the rest of the spring.