Bongo Fury

Hi. I'm a bit of an amateur when it come to car mechanics - so apologies!

I seem to have to replace all of my Bongo's brackets and bushes on a yearly basis - is this normal? Shouldnt the bushes wear first, protecting the rest of the assembly?

I dont know if it is connected, but my Bongo really creaks when I drive over any sort of speed bump, maybe even bottoming out. Maybe a separate issue, but might it be worth me stiffening up the suspension with an air spring or stiffer coil?

We have a conversion, but rarely drive with more than 2 of us in the van. The issue might be that we carry a heavy bike rack and 2 mountain bikes on a towball, probably weighing 40+kg in total, hanging off the back of the van.

Thanks

That's not an especially abnormal load. And that sounds too often for having to change bushes and brackets (all? Or front, or rear?) unless you do a lot of miles on rough roads. Cheap parts maybe?

Bushes don't protect droplinks as far as I am aware.

Yes could be poor quality. Are you replacing drop links at the same time. Earlier this year we replace both on the rear of the van and what a diference it makes. From memory though think this was our third set in seven year. Put ours down to rough farm an forest tracks we drive on as we all so managed to get through three sets of front springs on our seat car. Must be the other halfs driving

have you still got the rear axle bump stops fitted, 28-111b on this link below. if they are not fitted (most have got the plate on the chassis but the rubber has long gone). if this is missing the suspension has too much travel, so it stresses it too much and it wears very quickly.

http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... 1of02.html

In 9+ years of Bongo ownership, I've only fitted one pair of front droplinks and one pair of rear anti-roll bar bushes and brackets. It sounds like the parts being used are not up to Mazda quality, although as Ady says, you may have something else influencing their lifespan.

Thanks guys, I'll take a print of that diagram to my garage to check