Bongo Fury

Hello again my lovlies,

My bongo has been off the road for almost a year. Sad story - won't bore you.. hard times meant we couldn't afford to keep it running - nor could we sell it in that condition. Hence my absense from here.

Recently got a local mechanic to get it though an MOT (pads, calipers, rear wheel hub etc), and everything seemed fine for a couple of days.

Happy Days. (still needs lots of work but now has an MOT and can be driven - in theory)

I knew it needed an anti-roll bar bracket (sheared), and thought that explained some of the strange rattling noises I could hear over bumps etc.. (at first I thought it was the spare wheel holder dangling!).

Before the new bracket and bushes arrived, I noticed a proper clunk/clang whilst setting off - sounded like a 'spanner in the works' - so to speak. Still could have been the anti-roll bar flapping around, but now I fitted the bracket (ouch! i'm bleeding!) - I can safely say it isn't that... if it happens at speed it sounds like I ran over a large branch or a lump of metal that is hitting the underside.

Now I get this rhythmic ticking/chaffing kind of noise, which I am presuming is related to the clunk - but could be wrong!! This noise is quite loud - audable from outside, and is related to the turn of the wheels ie: the faster the wheels go the faster the ticking.

I am going to double check the Jack is not loose or anything that could cause the scary clunk/clank.

Anyone got any ideas? I would really appreciate it any knowledge.. broke the bank this month getting it back on the road, so getting it to a garage is n't an option. I am quite crap at mechanics - been keen to get my beloved bongo tickety-boo (my state of mind is definitely affected by the state of ma bongo!)

thanks

paul

(ps - read all the posts about 'noises' - I am REALLY hoping it isn't diff, prop, cv etc!)

hi,i have owned my bongo for over a year now and like any other vehicle you get problems.the only thing i can suggest about the clunking.does it happen when you drive over uneven ground,i e filled in pot holes etc.if this is so then i would say that your drop links on the front anti roll bar need replacing you cant miss them it,s a long bar with two small balljoints, anti facing, one on each end.i had this problem with my precious about two months ago,if you grab hold of the bar and shake it or get someone to rock the vehicle from side to side and look under the front of the vehicle you can actually see and hear the worn joints on the links clunking.i had only one gone on the drivers side,but i replaced both to be on the safe side,it,s worth noting that drop links for vauxhall vectra 95 on will fit the bongo .it,s the same with certain other parts ,they can be matched up with other vehicle parts ie track rod ends from a transit van also fit the bongo and are a lot cheaper to buy.i,m sure that your problems can easily be rectified by browsing the pages of this website.there are loads of members on here and they will all try to help if they can.also check out the archive section of the website the information that you find there is fantastic.don,t give up. paul

hiya

thanks for the replies - my bongo is a 95 4wd model, with 105k on the clock (quite a few of our own)

It needs a new exhaust system, new (or reconditioned) front blower motor (current one died due to the classic water ingress), an aircon recondition, and a bit of rust treatment and a wax seal job. It also need the front wipers sorting - they seem to get stuck in mid-wipe and wil lonly carry on with a bit of encouragement, this started just after the MOT.

I am half up for doing it all myself with a little help to keep costs down, but I am pretty green with lumps of metal, so if anyone can recommend anyone in glos/wilts who could do it let me know! (they might be able to help identify some of my noises too).

I managed to replace the broken anti-roll bar bracket and bush in pouring rain, it was quite comic. I also cut my hands, as getting to the bolts was tricky, mainly due to the broken bracket and they were extra tight, but also doing this kind of stuff without a pit and with a weak spanner arm makes it all the more interesting!!

Anyway - I suspect the ticking is actually a brake pad sticking like someone else mentioned in a different thread. At least it seems to be intermitant, and it does have new pads.

The clunking - who knows! It's a bit scary though.

I still get a little jangle when going over bumps, despite the new bracket but I suspect until i get it over a pit and have a proper poke around i will be unlikely to find out. The drop links look ok to me.

You are right though about it being difficult to diagnose noises!

Thanks for the tips and advice - I think I might have to leave checking the diff to an expert though!

Just an update FYI

The jangling, ticking AND clunking was all about the handbrake!

The pads had come apart and the pins and everything were jangling, getting lodged against the hub and getting chewed up.

Our new local mechanic (not a 'fitter' as he puts it!) diagnosed and fixed it.

Ah, that clunk...