DIY suspension and drive shaft repairs - easy or hard?

[Oggy Bongo]

I've just got our Oggy Bongo back from MOT and for the 3rd year running is passed (well actually it failed last year as the wipper blades needed replace... whoo! I'll take that thanks )
However it has had some advisory points and I was thinking about whether to attempt to replace/repair them myself.
The advisory items are:
1. Near side rear drive shaft oil seal leaking
2. Near side front antil roll bar link has slight play
3. Near side outer track rod end joint cover split/missing (assumed split and not missing as this would be a fail)
4. Off side outer track rod end joint cover split/missing (assumed split and not missing as this would be a fail)

I am also thinking about replacing the drop link front and back.

SO.... are these jobs something a practical sunday petrol head like me could do ; if so are there any special tools i will need and how long might it take me
I'll also need to identify what these parts are on our bongo.
Many thanks
Stuart

[steveyd]

Hi,

I don't know about the drive shaft oil seal or the rear drop links, but the front drop links should be ok (make sure you have a hacksaw to hand as the bolts will probably be seized). Its actually easier to replace the front drop links if you are also replacing the anti roll bar rubber mounts - as you can just undo the top link bolts on the strut both sides, then undo the roll bar mountings, you can then wangle the whole thing out from under the Bongo and you'll have loads of space then to undo the lower drop link bolts on the bar itself.

I've just replaced my track rod ends - @ £15 each. You will need a 17mm socket to undo the bolt on the hub, a ball joint splitter (though you may get lucky with a wooden block, big hammer and some swearing - one of mine was so loose it fell out!! ). At this point measure & record the distance from where the thread starts on the steering rack (or some other datum) to the center of the track rod end. You will then need a couple of 19mm spanners to undo the lock nut (I used a plumbers wrench). Once the lock nut is undone then the track rod should just undo. Another method is to count the number of times the track rod has to rotate to unscrew off the end of the rack - however I've tried that before and it doesnt work - especially if the new track rod is a different length to the older one! I've since done 1000km on my new track rods and it still tracks straight and no sign of uneven tyre wear..

If you have the front wheel off already for the drop links, sorting the track rods should be ~15 mins if you have a ball joint splitter... So all could be done in an afternoon!

Hope this helps,

Steve

[steveyd]

oops - didnt mention it in my reply (but goes without saying) that when you put the new track rod end back on the distance from the datum on the steering rack to the center of the new rod end must be the same..

Also, my new rod ends didnt have a castellated nut like the old one, just a nyloc nut so I got some threadlock and did them up tight. Depending on the make of the new rod end, you might also need an allen key to keep the centre bolt stationary whilst you tighten up the new nut.

S

[321Away]

Drop links are fairly easy and straight forward,nsf is slightly more difficult with 4WD, the track rod ends aren't too much trouble either dont think missing rubber is a fail either, but the rear drive shaft oil seal is not a nice job, dont get me wrong its do-able but it takes time and is fiddly, its a typical old school car problem, hours of labour to remove, 2 mins to replace and hours to re-assemble! all in i'd allow minimum of 2-3hrs for the rear seal alone as although straighforward there are lots of fiddly bits,like re-assembling the handbrake/shoe assembly, dont get me wrong in my experience nothing is impossible and anyone is fully capable of doing anything,if it was put together by someone, someone else can take it apart!!

also depending on the year of your car there are sometimes more than 1 seal in the rear diff.

Julian

[Oggy Bongo]

Thanks guys thats is most useful and i think i'll give the roll bars, track rods and front drop links a go but clearly need to think more about the real oil seal.
BTW julian, Do you know how many seal my Bongo has? its a 1998 SGL5 2.5TD 4x4 .... white over silver
Stuart

[rita]

Thanks guys thats is most useful and i think i'll give the roll bars, track rods and front drop links a go but clearly need to think more about the real oil seal.
BTW julian, Do you know how many seal my Bongo has? its a 1998 SGL5 2.5TD 4x4 .... white over silver
Stuart

Hi Oggy Bongo,

Check out the BF shop for seals,they stock both types.

Cheers..

[teenmal]

Hi Oggy Bongo,

It might be worthwhile checking the breather on the diff casing.

Cheers.

[Oggy Bongo]

Thanks - it certainly worth a look first.
OB