Bongo Fury

any views gratefully received! We were going along the other day (fortunately on a minor road) when the low suspension arm broke (sheared in two) Got uplifted by the RAC and taken to our local garage. They have examined the van and said we have a broken drivers side low suspension arm and a hole in the other one, but also damaged (bent/buckled) drive shaft. We are hopelessly ignorant and don't know if this sounds right or not. Could a broken lower suspension arm cause that damage?

We do have a warrenty until may, but not sure whether it covers this, I would like a bit more info before I go further with that.

Any help would be gratefully received!

The Pennycooks

This is one for dandywarhol in Edinburgh. He should be along soon to advise you. Where did you buy your Bongo?

Tony

I've never heard of something like this happening on a Bongo before. I hope Dandywarhol may be able to comment but it seems to me it must have been in a worn/damaged sate for some time to let go like that and really - it should be covered by the warranty, though I know some of the warranties given are only for major mechanical parts (engine/gearbox). Good luck and keep us posted.

Pennycooks wrote:any views gratefully received! We were going along the other day (fortunately on a minor road) when the low suspension arm broke (sheared in two) Got uplifted by the RAC and taken to our local garage. They have examined the van and said we have a broken drivers side low suspension arm and a hole in the other one, but also damaged (bent/buckled) drive shaft. We are hopelessly ignorant and don't know if this sounds right or not. Could a broken lower suspension arm cause that damage?

We do have a warrenty until may, but not sure whether it covers this, I would like a bit more info before I go further with that.

Any help would be gratefully received!

The Pennycooks

In a word..............yes.

Sounds like your Bongo has had previous damage to the front suspension.
The drive shaft damage will have been caused when the bottom arm broke.

Drop me a PM with your details and where the Bongo is now.

It's possible the bottom ball joint has popped out through excessive wear.

Alan

"They have examined the van and said we have a broken drivers side low suspension arm and a hole in the other one, "

By 'other one', do you mean on the other side? What kind of 'hole' is this - is it rust?!

I understand most warranties would cover suspension components, but you'd have to check the wording of yours carefully. Is it the seller's warranty, or an after-market one?

Very unusual problem.

I can imagine that such a sudden failure of the suspension arm could very easily damage the drive shaft - I hope it hasn't caused any problems inside the diff as this must also - surely - have come under a great deal of strain.

Regardless, this 'fault' must surely have been present for some time - way before you bought the vehicle? - I can't see any reason for a spontaneous failure of this part.

Are we talking about rusty wishbones here?

I have seen some shockingly rusty bongo wishbones in a skip, they were an accident waiting to happen.

I spoke to Evelyn's garage yesterday and he told me the wishbone had completely sheared just in from the ball joint There's also evidence of a hole developing on the other one. He's going to give the old wishbones to her and I'll have a look at them.

Seems it was lucky (?) to get through an MOT 10 months ago Being 4WD probably saved them from a biggie - the driveshaft would have kept the wheel/strut assembly from going AWOL! (still not a reason to buy a 4WD ) The shaft got damaged in the process.

Whether the problem is corrosion or cracking has still to be decided - Vauxhall had a recall on some of its vehicles where the wishbone developed stress cracks. Vauxhall then issued a directive NOT to jack the vehicle up by the wishbone as the cracks were caused this way

Keep you posted...................

Either way it should defo. be covered by the warranty in my view. If not, there is plenty of embarrassing stuff to take to trading standards officers etc. For example, would an independent assessor consider the fault should have been spotted at MOT and if so, why was it not spotted. Considering that a failure like this could result in loss of life, the authorities would (or should) be unlikely to take a light hearted view. Good luck and keep us posted.

Seems it was lucky (?) to get through an MOT 10 months ago

And surprising it hasn't been spotted during a service.

Doone wrote:

Seems it was lucky (?) to get through an MOT 10 months ago

And surprising it hasn't been spotted during a service.

Not THAT surprizing if the MOT place is the same outfit that does the servicing...

dandywarhol wrote:I spoke to Evelyn's garage yesterday and he told me the wishbone had completely sheared just in from the ball joint There's also evidence of a hole developing on the other one. He's going to give the old wishbones to her and I'll have a look at them.

Seems it was lucky (?) to get through an MOT 10 months ago Being 4WD probably saved them from a biggie - the driveshaft would have kept the wheel/strut assembly from going AWOL! (still not a reason to buy a 4WD ) The shaft got damaged in the process.

Whether the problem is corrosion or cracking has still to be decided - Vauxhall had a recall on some of its vehicles where the wishbone developed stress cracks. Vauxhall then issued a directive NOT to jack the vehicle up by the wishbone as the cracks were caused this way

Keep you posted...................

Very intresting, I haven't looked at the front suspension or bottom arm, but will get under the Bongo tomorrow. The front suspension arms on a four wheel drive Bongo have to cope with + and - force.

Interesting stuff, Dandy.

It seems such an unusual failure that it could very well be down to what you suggest about the 'jacking'.

When I did my drop links, I placed one jack under the wishbone but it was positioned directly under the outer ball joint - phew...

As far as I can imagine, the force on the lower wishbone - on the 2WD model at least - will be tension - ie a stretching force - only. Ok, very possibly there will be some slight bending forces too due to rapid up and down movements, but nothing serious. However, if you jack up the car using the middle-ish area of this suspension part, you are applying a completely bending force to it - possibly in excess to that it was designed to take... This could possibly introduce a weakness in the component which could ultimately cause it to fatigue and fail.

Pure speculation on my part, of course, but I certainly would caution against using it as a convenient jacking point.

Very interesting to hear back from Dandy or Pennycooks about their findings.

Actually, as TGP says, there will be compression forces on the wishbone too especially when cornering. Obviously, the part will have to resist bending when compressed in use, but the bending force it gains in this way will be nothing like a directly applied load to its middle.

thanks for all your comments. Just to give an update. I and have had to pay £160 to have one suspension arm replaced so that it could be transported by the RAC (£150) to the warranty garage, as the drive shaft was taken out and we had one arm broken so it would have been a real struggle to get it on the low loader. The van is now back where we purchased it, who have the warranty. They say they will honour the warranty, even though the suspension arm is classed as 'body work' (don't understand that one). From the conversations I have had with the garage he has mentioned there will be costs for me. I am not sure what they will be. I am annoyed as when the van was sent to the garage, the old suspension arm was in my van for the warranty garage to inspect, but they have now given it to the scrap man with out consulting me. I did get to see it before it went and it looked rusted from the inside out. On the outside it didn't look too bad. It wasn't a straight crack through, but more like twisted metal. I have asked for the other wish bone to be kept and the drive shaft.

Feeling quite hacked off as I have had to pay £300 and the possibility of more just because I sent it to the wrong garage. I am hoping he will give me something towards the costs of the replaced wishbone seen as that has been the cause for all the other damage, but I won't hold my breath.

thanks again for all your support The Pennycooks