Bongo Fury

One problem is a clunking that sounds exactly like a worn CV joint on lock. Replaced and the noise is still there - its noisy in both directions now. The guy that checked it over for an mot showed me the front propshaft - there is play in it. The universal joint is damaged according to him. The problem started when there was a lot of juddering on tight turns - in forward or reverse. It happens all of the time on full lock in any direction. The front diff had a bolt which had snapped off. The diff was bouncing up and down a good few inches. The mechanic drilled out and replaced the bolt. The diff has stopped moving but the juddering remains - he thinks its the transfer casse, but doesnt know enough. Another garage said - your tyres are the wrong size - then changed their mind after a brief search on the net. They then decided the viscous coupling in the transfer box has gone and damaged the front diff with it. Thing is, I'm wondering if that's their conclusion as it gets them £400 labour - i don't know why but they think its an 8 hour job. I'm very wary of being taken for a ride - it seems to be the norm around here. I've read through several forums re:bongo transfer cases and came across one that said it was down to the prop shaft alone - he seemed to have the same symptoms as me - only he said he had a "tight" limited slip diff on the rear - i don't know if i have one or not???

any light you could shed would be great. I know i need two new tyres for the MOT - other than that, it would have passed - except for these problems. I just don't want to be throwing my money away - I need two tyres, a propshaft, a front diff, a transfer box - not to mention the labour - and apparently the rear diff is leaking a little - "groan" - would it be a good case for disconnecting the 4wd ? Do you think this might be the prop shaft alone causing the problem?

my bongo is an automatic 2.5D from 1995.

my 2.5 diesel did an equally weird list of things recently,it was causing the 4 wd to grip on tight turns,it even made the front diff seal leak.
eventually tracked it down to a front tyre with an egg/bulge on the tread,not a large one but just enough to affect the rolling radius of ONE tyre,which knocks out the balance.
check your tyres very carefully.
i jacked them all up at the same time, and let them spin, then drag a piece of chalk on each one in turn.
i then fitted 4 new tyres.problem gone.

Are you sure you don't have a Limited Slip Differential (LSD) in the rear diff? They can & do judder on a tight lock, mine has always done it by I don't worry about it as it isn't uncommon at all with the type of LSD used in the Bongo. Sometimes changing the diff oil can help - but make sure you use the correct LSD oil. There are also additives out there that are supposed to help.

With all the propshaft/diff bolt etc. problems you've had it sounds like the viscous coupling has given up.

My problem is if changing all of the four tyres and propshaft don't cure the problem, I'm left with a duff bongo that has just cost me another £300 or so.....any other suggestions?

Reading the replies, i had hope until it got the the one with the viscous coupling.....oh no....

Hi jaynetheweed,

Reading between the lines it looks like your best option is making your vehicle a 2 wheel drive.

Cheers.

ok, would this be as simple as disconnecting the front (problematic) prop shaft? Is anything else involved?

I have another member who says the juddering on lock is not going to be related to the propshaft? I'm not sure how it all works....sorry

jaynetheweed wrote:My problem is if changing all of the four tyres and propshaft don't cure the problem, I'm left with a duff bongo that has just cost me another £300 or so.....any other suggestions?

Reading the replies, i had hope until it got the the one with the viscous coupling.....oh no....

Sounds to me like that £300 might be better spent getting replacement VC etc . parts etc. off of a GOOD scrapper (Bellhill Motors etc., accident damaged or w.h.y.). Before that, try swapping tyres front to rear just in case, to see if that makes any difference. Maybe Bongo could be driven over to Belhill and swapover work done while-u-wait.

Ok, I've now put my VIN number into the Russian site and apparently i have a NORMAL DIFF. I take it this means i do not have an LSD?

correct!

do you have any ideas on what the problem might be then? this consequently, the juddering, only first became noticeable when driving in snow. it did a wonderful job, but maybe it was too much of a strain on the transmission.

i didnt realise how important the tyres were. what a finicky thing the 4wd system is. over time my tyres have become worn and i have not replaced 4 at the same time, also the tyres on there were van tyres apparently. i now know 4wd doesn't like van tyres. they were on there when i purchased it.

but the problem started when i had run the original tyres for 8 months, not after a change.

also i have to say, the bongo drives ok in a straight line, there is no judder there then, but there is a whining/drone noise like a diff gone. since the bolt has been replaced there is horrendous vibration through the front, as if the front diff now reattached properly is under strain.

its still driveable, but very noisy and i know something is going to fail soon, but what?
btw, i'm not driving it at the mo, as its got no MOT.
ideas???

Northern Bongolow wrote:my 2.5 diesel did an equally weird list of things recently,it was causing the 4 wd to grip on tight turns,it even made the front diff seal leak.
eventually tracked it down to a front tyre with an egg/bulge on the tread,not a large one but just enough to affect the rolling radius of ONE tyre,which knocks out the balance.
check your tyres very carefully.
i jacked them all up at the same time, and let them spin, then drag a piece of chalk on each one in turn.
i then fitted 4 new tyres.problem gone.

All i know is when i had the egg wheel on the drivers side all i could hear was a dub dub changeable with speed like a flat would sound... Two new fronts fixed it..

I had a front prop go & that would vibrate from about 30/50.. I never took any faster till i got it replaced...

Have you seen this thread? http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... front+prop

I'll give you this link too.. It may help if you give em a call...? http://www.bellhillgarage.com/

I know its a fair drive for you, but they MOT too!

jaynetheweed wrote:do you have any ideas on what the problem might be then? this consequently, the juddering, only first became noticeable when driving in snow. it did a wonderful job, but maybe it was too much of a strain on the transmission.

i didnt realise how important the tyres were. what a finicky thing the 4wd system is. over time my tyres have become worn and i have not replaced 4 at the same time, also the tyres on there were van tyres apparently. i now know 4wd doesn't like van tyres. they were on there when i purchased it.

but the problem started when i had run the original tyres for 8 months, not after a change.

also i have to say, the bongo drives ok in a straight line, there is no judder there then, but there is a whining/drone noise like a diff gone. since the bolt has been replaced there is horrendous vibration through the front, as if the front diff now reattached properly is under strain.

its still driveable, but very noisy and i know something is going to fail soon, but what?
btw, i'm not driving it at the mo, as its got no MOT.
ideas???

As jaylee says (via link to them), save it for the trip to Bellhill once you've spoken with them and lined up the parts and the work

jaynetheweed wrote:do you have any ideas on what the problem might be then? this consequently, the juddering, only first became noticeable when driving in snow. it did a wonderful job, but maybe it was too much of a strain on the transmission.

i didnt realise how important the tyres were. what a finicky thing the 4wd system is. over time my tyres have become worn and i have not replaced 4 at the same time, also the tyres on there were van tyres apparently. i now know 4wd doesn't like van tyres. they were on there when i purchased it.

but the problem started when i had run the original tyres for 8 months, not after a change.

also i have to say, the bongo drives ok in a straight line, there is no judder there then, but there is a whining/drone noise like a diff gone. since the bolt has been replaced there is horrendous vibration through the front, as if the front diff now reattached properly is under strain.

its still driveable, but very noisy and i know something is going to fail soon, but what?
btw, i'm not driving it at the mo, as its got no MOT.
ideas???

Take the front propshaft off (4 bolts) and see if the vibration disappears, then it's either the VC or front diff. Check the VC by following this thread
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ht=viscous

http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... mgno=.html

This might sound a bit off the wall but your symptoms are very similar to one of my recent woes.

It turned out on mine that the tremors in the steering end was caused by a worn UJ in the rear propshaft.

Worth getting your spannerman to check.