Bongo Fury

i bought a 1999 facelift 2.5 diesel 4x4 bongo in january and love it apart from clunk noise that comes from drivers side front wheel whenever you drive over an uneven bad piece of road. as was under warranty i asked dealer to check out and he gave it the all clear. it is doing my head in ! can anyone give me any advice on this problem ? regards barry

Meadow1812 wrote:i bought a 1999 facelift 2.5 diesel 4x4 bongo in january and love it apart from clunk noise that comes from drivers side front wheel whenever you drive over an uneven bad piece of road. as was under warranty i asked dealer to check out and he gave it the all clear. it is doing my head in ! can anyone give me any advice on this problem ? regards barry

Sounds like front drop links and/or anti-roll bar bushes could be the problem. Simple fix if so, but I don't like the way the dealer just dismisses it as normal. Where are you based, as there may be an independent Bongo specialist near you that you culd get an independent opinion from.

mikeonb4c wrote:

Meadow1812 wrote:i bought a 1999 facelift 2.5 diesel 4x4 bongo in january and love it apart from clunk noise that comes from drivers side front wheel whenever you drive over an uneven bad piece of road. as was under warranty i asked dealer to check out and he gave it the all clear. it is doing my head in ! can anyone give me any advice on this problem ? regards barry

Sounds like front drop links and/or anti-roll bar bushes could be the problem. Simple fix if so, but I don't like the way the dealer just dismisses it as normal. Where are you based, as there may be an independent Bongo specialist near you that you culd get an independent opinion from.

Agree with that Mike.... seen it before where sometimes there looks to be no wear or little play in the links and bushes but when you drive it you pick up on it......if it is them then it's a good opportunity to change all components connected with the roll bar......

I guess if someone local can confirm to Meadow1812 that links/bushes etc is the problem then he/she can take the findings to the dealer and ask if they will change the offending item or if not request that they pay for the work to be done/parts purchase....

put the car on full lock and which ever side you can get your hand behid the wheel (so offside for left lock, nearside for right), you'll see the drop link bolted to the shock absorber, reach round the back of the drop link and grab it at the top where it bolts and try to wiggle it left and right, if there's any movement then they need replacing, make sure you get the anti roll bar bushes done at the same time, should be all under warranty.
Julian

Hi
If it's only one side, it's usually lower ball-joint/ wishbone bushes (or droplinks/ anti-rollbar bushes)
Cheers
Helen

And when they change the anti-roll bar bushes, make sure they put new steel u-brackets on too. Costs peanuts, but the old brackets often give up the ghost when put back on with new bushes (metal fatigue + strain of holding/compressing new bushes).

321Away wrote:put the car on full lock and which ever side you can get your hand behid the wheel (so offside for left lock, nearside for right), you'll see the drop link bolted to the shock absorber, reach round the back of the drop link and grab it at the top where it bolts and try to wiggle it left and right, if there's any movement then they need replacing, make sure you get the anti roll bar bushes done at the same time, should be all under warranty.
Julian

If members follow this excellent description then there will be less posts on Drop links and less MOT failures for the same....

Right...better go ....stop waffling and get this 71 Fiat 500 up for it's MOT....... Kingpins...

mikeonb4c wrote:And when they change the anti-roll bar bushes, make sure they put new steel u-brackets on too. Costs peanuts, but the old brackets often give up the ghost when put back on with new bushes (metal fatigue + strain of holding/compressing new bushes).

I was just about to say the same thing Mike! I had the clunks some years ago... new bushes on the ARB didn't cure it... Hairline fracture in the ARB bracket (one of) A new set of brackets cured the clunk.

i would just like to say a big thankyou to mikeonb4c, mikexgough,321away,helen&tony and bigdaddycain for taking the time to give me information i was needing much appreciated guys regards barry louise and meadow [new bongo converts].

Meadow1812 wrote:i would just like to say a big thankyou to mikeonb4c, mikexgough,321away,helen&tony and bigdaddycain for taking the time to give me information i was needing much appreciated guys regards barry louise and meadow [new bongo converts].

No worries (well plenty actually, but thats not your problem )

Oh and have you fitted a low coolant alarm? V. strongly advise it if you haven't