knocking noise when travelling over bumps at low speed

[Barley 1981]

over the past week we have noticed a banging noise from the bongo when going at low speeds 0-say40mph it is noticable when going on bumpy roads, we crawled underneath to check the exhaust wasn't knocking on anything as that is what it sounds like.....anyone had the same thing?

Thankys

[wishmaster]

Drop links & arb bushes come to mind More technie guys will be along shortly with more advice

Iz

[mister munkey]

One or 't other without a doubt. Fixable DIY job but a reasonable labour charge at any (reasonably charging) local garage.

Not a Bongo specialist job but try to get genuine Mazda parts fitted, some copies won't last more than a year.

[Barley 1981]

ok to get the parts from this site?? thanks

[missfixit70]

Worth getting the more expensive blueprint or Mazda droplinks if they're needed, if you don't want to risk having to change them every year, some people have found cheaper vectra droplinks (for the front, Galaxy ones for the rear) to do the job for years. Make sure you swap them in pairs as well.
If you're going to the anti roll bar bushes, get the brackets done at the same time, or you'll probably only find them snapping shortly afterwards.

[Simple Simon]

And if you mullah the nuts on the anti roll bar bracket as I did, you can get them from Mazda. They are a strange thread but the same ones are fitted to the RX8(?) Certainly a current production Mazda.
2nd one came off easily with sufficent soaking in WD 40 over a couple of days.

[missfixit70]

Or Ian is now stocking the nuts in the club shop as well I think From another droplink thread here - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... hilit=nuts -

After many false starts, I have now managed to get hold of some flanged nuts for the Blueprint drop links. They will be a bit expensive I'm afraid as they are genuine Mazda items. Members price £3 each. Will put on website over the weekend.

[mikeonb4c]

Worth getting the more expensive blueprint or Mazda droplinks if they're needed, if you don't want to risk having to change them every year, some people have found cheaper vectra droplinks (for the front, Galaxy ones for the rear) to do the job for years. Make sure you swap them in pairs as well.
If you're going to the anti roll bar bushes, get the brackets done at the same time, or you'll probably only find them snapping shortly afterwards.

yes and if its banging rather than just knocking (in another context they mean the same thing but.... ) then it may be a bracket has already let go and the ARB is a moose on the loose

[missfixit70]

My broken rear brackets made more of a graunching, wierdly sounded like it was coming from the front too

[mikeonb4c]

My broken rear brackets made more of a graunching, wierdly sounded like it was coming from the front too

Ah! Mine made a banging noise when I cornered. I guess Bongos all make different noises when they're banging

[bongolow]

Make sure you use a six-sided socket to get the nuts off. They are extremely tight (mine were anyway) and you can easily round the nuts if you use the twelve notched type.

[mikeonb4c]

Make sure you use a six-sided socket to get the nuts off. They are extremely tight (mine were anyway) and you can easily round the nuts if you use the twelve notched type.

Absolutely. And an extension arm for leverage, and give 'em a good spray with Plusgas/WD40/penetrating oil/whatever and leave for a while before undoing them. Occasionally, nothing works and an angle grinder has to be called for, but fingers crossed

[mikexgough]

Top tips......... and for a pictorial.......

Here you go