Bongo Fury

Well months have gone by and I still haven't sorted my chuffing.

To recap I have a chuffing noise and knock (depending on loading) from the front left but only when hot and almost exclusively when turning right (loading the front left up)

I've had the Bongo running on stands, with a jack and beam loading the front wheels but can't recreate it. There is no play in the wheel bearing, nothing in the lower arm ball joint (and the lower arm has been changed at some point as its not original), the anti roll arm bushes are new and so are are the drop links, and discs and pads.

I'm starting to replace random parts as I can't find it and its doing my head in! What next wheel bearing? Diff? All sound good on stands with stethoscope but something is wrong and its getting worse.

Hi
There are a number of things that can cause the sounds you mention, and I reckon I've heard 'em all with the roads here ...any chance of a recording before you go spending more money?
If you've already spent on the items you mention, there could be the following:
Top mounts at the top of the strut .
Lower arm bushes (on the pivots towards the inner end)
The chuffing can be the rubber sheets that the springs sit on in the strut....and so on
To eliminate the chuffing, spray the whole strut with water for 5- 10 minutes, and try again....damp weather always quietens rubber bushes/ sheets
Cheers
Helen

Thanks for your reply Helen, all help is much appreciated from here on in!!!

Recording it may be difficult a) because it is difficult to recreate and b) over the rattles and squeaks of a diesel Bongo it might be difficult to hear! I will give it a try next time it happens, find a quiet roundabout to go round and round!

Interesting you say about the rubber "sheet" under the spring as mine is very perished and not sitting in the cup very well. Perhaps that is worth trying next, shouldn't be too expensive?!

With regard to top mount and lower arm bushes, they don't look too bad (but nothing does!) however when running on stands I did note that there was quite a bit of movement front and back in the lower arm, top mount and diff mount when accelerating and braking. I wasn't too worried as it looks very similar on the other side which is silent.

Just looking at the exploded diagram and I notice part 34-471B floating in mid air (rubber stop). Where does that attach/go? Is that effectively a washer at the back of the arm mounting? If so I'm missing that!

Also does anyone know where I could get hold of the rubber "sheet" which I think is 34-0A3?

roosmith wrote:Just looking at the exploded diagram and I notice part 34-471B floating in mid air (rubber stop). Where does that attach/go? Is that effectively a washer at the back of the arm mounting? If so I'm missing that!

Also does anyone know where I could get hold of the rubber "sheet" which I think is 34-0A3?

You should be able to get or order from Mazda Dealer, these suspension parts are used on the MX6 etc.

Remember that there is Sheets And Seats.

Hi
Before you go buying the parts, do the "check" with water, as I said....get it good and wet!....I always note that you can eliminate slightly squeaky parts if they disappear in wet weather...as did my spring sheets....in fact, I sprayed a bit of silicon spray round the spring area as well.
Cheers
Helen

helen&tony wrote:Hi
Before you go buying the parts, do the "check" with water, as I said....get it good and wet!....I always note that you can eliminate slightly squeaky parts if they disappear in wet weather...as did my spring sheets....in fact, I sprayed a bit of silicon spray round the spring area as well.
Cheers
Helen

Always found that a Light spray with brake fluid often does the trick. We used to have a machine in the lube bay for spraying springs etc but cant remember the name of the fluid that was used.

Hi
That reminds me of the old habit of putting water-soluble oil in the coolant in past years!...helps the water-pump bearings!
Cheers
Helen

helen&tony wrote:Hi
That reminds me of the old habit of putting water-soluble oil in the coolant in past years!...helps the water-pump bearings!
Cheers
Helen

That sounds like a load of bunk to me?

Once I had a wobble that made a noise on my car and it was that I had hit a pot hole and misshapen the tyre. I know that is a shot in the dark but have a look at the tyres. (Although you would never have seen this on the car)

I wonder if swapping your wheels round will mess the balance up. Might be worth a try to rule it out
unless you have evidence to suggest that it would not be this causing the problem. Good luck.

Hi
Mike...
Water-soluble oil is used on cutting / milling machines...Quite a few people used it in the cooling systems when they stopped putting grease nipples on water-pumps...It was quite common to grease water-pumps many years back, and putting water-soluble oil in coolant prolonged bearing life (or so it was reckoned)...ask around!....I even had some tubes of ex W.D. water-pump grease ...it all got chucked by the W.D., and there was an ace alternative use! Oh, and the tubes were lead tubes...at least the ones I had were!
Cheers
Helen

I should have said I have tried the water trick and no difference. The problem sounds more metal on metal than a creak or squeak. It sounds exactly like a warped disc but without any feedback through the peddle and with new discs and pads and yes they are seated properly and the calipers are good and straight!

The drop links and bushes have helped. I've ordered the rear bump stop as I wonder whether the arm is touching the chassis under turning and braking transmitting the noise of braking though the arm and chassis.

As suggested by Helen, I've got this video which you can hear the chuffing on, through the rattle and squeaks



It gets louder as I slow down on the brakes.

helen&tony wrote:Hi
Mike...
Water-soluble oil is used on cutting / milling machines...Quite a few people used it in the cooling systems when they stopped putting grease nipples on water-pumps...It was quite common to grease water-pumps many years back, and putting water-soluble oil in coolant prolonged bearing life (or so it was reckoned)...ask around!....I even had some tubes of ex W.D. water-pump grease ...it all got chucked by the W.D., and there was an ace alternative use! Oh, and the tubes were lead tubes...at least the ones I had were!
Cheers
Helen

Yes I get that but I think what I was trying to say is that as designed it should either need it or not need it. If it does, Mazda would say so. If they aren't say saying so, all I can think of is the risk to the cooling system of getting it wrong (emulsion clogging it etc). Also, isn't the bearing likely to be isolated from circulating coolant? I'm no engineer though so am only guessing at all these things

Hi
Mike
It was a common trick years ago, and well accepted. Mazda, and all other manufacturers stopped putting grease points on many components...it wasn't that they don't need it, but it was expense. Mr. Joe Public wants cheaper cars, so that's what he gets!....then it's up to him to service the damn' thing regularly (which he doesn't and complains if it goes wrong) All the necessary items that would have needed greasing then last until they drop, and need throwing away!...a bit of grease would prolong the life, but then Mr Joe Public complains of the time taken, and labour to service everything properly.Anything that has a bearing needs lubricating.
As for cutting oil , it's water-soluble, hence remains in solution, and whilst it's lubricity isn't like sewing-machine oil, or standard lubricant, it still offers help, and, yes, some water pump bearings are in contact with the fuid. There is no clogging, and it hasn't caused interference with the antifreeze!
In the end we drive cheap cars, because that's what Mr. Joe Public wants, then complains that it isn't a Rolls Royce...How many times have you heard of someone expecting a £2000.00 Bongo to give trouble-free service for years without touching much?????....and this is a car that cost thousands when new, and lke as not is all but worn out. Poor old thing needs resurrecting to thrive once more
Cheers
Helen