Bongo Fury

I have just had the two front shocks replaced (one was leaking and it was an MOT fail). I had a quick look under the wheel arches and it looks like the gaiters/dust covers were not replaced, as they look old and split, see the photos below.

Is that a problem? I would have thought that it would lower the lifetime of the shocks.
Also, would it be expected of the garage to replace the gaiters/dust covers? I admit I did not ask them specifically whether dust cover would be replaced, I did not even know they did not come with new shocks.

Photos below:

Passenger side:


Driver Side:

I share your pain. I had new front shockers a few years back and kick myself for not thinking to ask that new gaiters be fitted. For what its worth my mechanic is confident the shocks will be fine regardless. So far so good!

As Mikeonb4c says, in reality wont really make a great deal of difference. See this a lot from fast fits.
I cannot understand why the garage didn't ask if you wanted new or have included new in the pricing of the shocks. The additional charge would just be for the gaiters labour would be the same.
Best practice is to fit them and I don`t see why they would refit the knackered ones as they are totally ineffective anyway.
Was it a fast fit?

Bongolia wrote:As Mikeonb4c says, in reality wont really make a great deal of difference. See this a lot from fast fits.
I cannot understand why the garage didn't ask if you wanted new or have included new in the pricing of the shocks. The additional charge would just be for the gaiters labour would be the same.
Best practice is to fit them and I don`t see why they would refit the knackered ones as they are totally ineffective anyway.
Was it a fast fit?

Don't know about fast fit but I think these mechanics might need a wee visit to Specsavers.

The answer is simple. Adrian is a one man operation and tries to keep cost to customer cheap and not do things not asked for unless they make a material improvement. He knows i know my Bongo and would naturally have assumed that since i didn't specify i wanted them, i wasn't bothered. Also of course, he wouldn't fit non OEM ones on principle so could have been significant extra expenditure.

mikeonb4c wrote:The answer is simple. Adrian is a one man operation and tries to keep cost to customer cheap and not do things not asked for unless they make a material improvement. He knows i know my Bongo and would naturally have assumed that since i didn't specify i wanted them, i wasn't bothered. Also of course, he wouldn't fit non OEM ones on principle so could have been significant extra expenditure.

If your man only fits Genuine Mazda parts (shock absorbers) I would have thought he would have changed the covers to protect your investment and warranty?

These are only my thoughts for what they are worth

rita wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:The answer is simple. Adrian is a one man operation and tries to keep cost to customer cheap and not do things not asked for unless they make a material improvement. He knows i know my Bongo and would naturally have assumed that since i didn't specify i wanted them, i wasn't bothered. Also of course, he wouldn't fit non OEM ones on principle so could have been significant extra expenditure.

If your man only fits Genuine Mazda parts (shock absorbers) I would have thought he would have changed the covers to protect your investment and warranty?

These are only my thoughts for what they are worth

He's looked after me and the Bongo very well for 10 years so I've no complaints but yes, i wish i'd said to fit new gaiters, for completeness. He is however one of the best Bongo mechanics in the business, and always there when you need him, as many will testify.

[i]I cannot understand why the garage didn't ask if you wanted new or have included new in the pricing of the shocks. The additional charge would just be for the gaiters labour would be the same.
Best practice is to fit them and I don`t see why they would refit the knackered ones as they are totally ineffective anyway.
Was it a fast fit?[/i]

Mikeonb4c,
The above part was directed at the OP, I should have made that clearer.
Still not sure how to "quote" or upload images, so, "Bear with" as the saying goes.

Bongolia wrote:[i]I cannot understand why the garage didn't ask if you wanted new or have included new in the pricing of the shocks. The additional charge would just be for the gaiters labour would be the same.
Best practice is to fit them and I don`t see why they would refit the knackered ones as they are totally ineffective anyway.
Was it a fast fit?[/i]

Mikeonb4c,
The above part was directed at the OP, I should have made that clearer.
Still not sure how to "quote" or upload images, so, "Bear with" as the saying goes.

No worries - i never thought it was. I'd have rather been asked also but i know Adrian would have been thinking about cost vs. necessity, and he's also very busy. I have toyed with the idea of how i could fit gaiters without removing the shocks. Not a high priority job though