Bongo Fury

Thanks for that Dunslair. Where did you position the inflation valve? Mine are being delivered today.

Bainsy wrote:Thanks for that Dunslair. Where did you position the inflation valve? Mine are being delivered today.

As you look in from the open sliding door, the valve is on the right hand side of the plastic step vertical face. Easy to get at but not in the way. we went for a t piece and single valve.

You won't regret fitting them.

I fitted some spring assisters recently and it was a bit fiddly. Had to borrow spring compressors and take them right out to get the units in without damage. I ran the pipework along the same route as the brake pipe:





I'm very fussy about fitting or drilling anything and I didn't want the valve anywhere too visible or prone to damage, but still accessible to get a gauge or attach a pump. I found a great little spot in the plastic trim that covers the fuel filler pipe. To protect it from the muck under the vehicle, I made a rubber flap to cover the area. Very pleased with the results:






(plastic cap not shown in photo)

Looks very neat Simon.

Hi Nigel - on the side of the bumper - at the weekend as I am away this week I will take a pic and email it to you - can you PM your email address pse? Cheers Jim

Got my air assistors which I bought from air lift UK fitted yesterday. Made a big difference to handling. Garage said in order to avoid drilling unnecessary holes they fitted them with the stem at the bottom which is upside down according to the instructions. Valve mounted in the side cubby hole where the jack is. They appear to work fine but douse it matter that they are upside down according to the installation instructions?

Hi Bainsey,
Upside down is the correct way for a bongo, when I mentioned I had bought a set I was given the same advice from several members of the forum, you won't regret fitting them, remove any sharp edges on your rear springs, and check at least once a month they are inflated to your required pressure. Mine are 20psi.

Thanks Jim. That's a relief! Do you increase the pressure when you are fully loaded?

Nope they seem to sit fine, as I said previously I tubed mine to be raised independently, (due to the side conversion), as most of the weight is on the rear drivers side, however it sits fairly level and corners fine with 20psi per side.

We got ours from http://air-lift.co.uk/ and they seem to do the job they were intended to do perfectly well.

What pressure do you pump your's to Alison?

Hi,

Also fitted air lifts a couple of years ago, better ride and handling. After much experimentation run mine at 30psi and find that seems best pressure for me.

cheers

These could be a bargain if you get them for less than the usual £110 inc postage:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-bongo-A ... 257b83d06b

The description made me chuckle: "they were new when I fitted them a year ago". By the same logic: my Bongo was new, when it was made .

The instructions that come with them don't really apply to a Bongo. You have to fit them with the pipe downwards and there is no way you can squeeze them thru the small hole in the bottom of the suspension arm as the diagram indicates. I spent ages trying to feed them in thru the side of the spring and just gave in and removed the spring with proper compressors (about £15 from Screwfix) which was so much easier.

Bainsy wrote:What pressure do you pump your's to Alison?

Will have to ask my husband what he settled on in the end because he was playing around with it to get it right for when we are towing the caravan.

Hi all - just fitted mine this morning.....not finished yet as the T piece was missing so cant inflate them as yet. I fitted them with the valve downwards as per many of the posts. The thick washer at the bottom with the grooved face bottom most and the thinner washer on the top. I did think that washers don't seem to fit very cleanly and evenly on the spring locator seats (top and bottom).....anyone else found this? Any solutions that can be suggested?
I was trying to share an image but kept getting an error about not being able to determine dimensions.....will try again later if anyone needs to see a picture
When I jack up the rear to inflate them I can ensure they get seated more correctly before lowering the vehicle again.......hopefully then they won't move around as the suspension loads and unloads when driving??