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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Vehicle test hi allMost of you probably don't know that, in Ireland, up until this year all campervans were exempt from a road worthiness test(yes even the ones that look like Juggernauts). I got notification that I had to make an appointment to take Ambi along to a VTN centre. This is where commercial vehicles are tected as opposed to NCT centres where they test cars. Ambi is a 1985 Bedford ambulance built by Hanlon and converted to camper by me. 
Needless to say I was a bit nervous but talked to the guy at the centre who said to bring it and they'd give a list of probs. I knew it was in fairly good nick and I keep it inside. I was very pleased with the list I got. It was: Worn or perished shackle bushes Drive shaft bolt loose Braking efficiency - left rear slightly inadequate (adjusting will probably sort it) Brake pedal rubber worn So the question is does any one know where I can get the rear shackle bushes and the pedal rubber? Thanks Micheal ---------------------- |
 Wed 21 Mar 2012 @ 13:54
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
'Worn or perished shackle bushes' might be a mis-diagnosis of bush drift in the spring eye leading to the spring rubbing one side of the shackle; rear shackle can go the same way & rub one side of its chassis support. Best way of finding out if the bushes are worn is to have a look at the spring rear eye bush first (the one that's prone to 'wear') by removing the through bolt then separating the spring from the shackle. A worn bush will be loose in the spring eye or the centre sleeve will be loose in the bush. If the bush is ok & just offset to one side then re-centre the bush using a press or a suspension bush tool (Ford Cortina one is a close fit). Once the bush is centred so that the spring sits evenly in the shackle a couple of large, thick (~2mm) washers that fit over the the bush sleeve & between the spring eye & shackle each side of the spring will keep the lot centred. Pedal rubber: vauxhall-car-parts. ---------------------- |
Wed 21 Mar 2012 @ 15:49
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Thanks, Phil, for the speedy reply and the link for the pedal rubber. 
I had a look at the bushes and as Phil says there is some drift but there are few, both shackle and spring eye ones that are perished and disintegrating. I'd like to get the full set of 12. Does anyone know where they can be got? Do vauxhall carparts have them if you know the part no. I've got to get a move on as I have 21 days to retest free or else it €87.50. Trouble is, I'm away for half of that with easter hols and a course. I found these http://www.superflex.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=SF173-1337K in the "where to get parts" bit but I don't know if they are the right ones and does any one know about poly ones. Think i'd prefer to stick to the old traditional ones. As always help greatly appreciated. Micheal |
Wed 21 Mar 2012 @ 21:57
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
micheal wrote: I'd like to get the full set of 12. Does anyone know where they can be got? Do vauxhall carparts have them if you know the part no. Yes, here. 
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Wed 21 Mar 2012 @ 22:03
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Thanks again Phil. Am I right in thinking I need 12 of them. It's going to add up a bit. Have you any experience of the polyurethane bushes? I'm thinking of doing the job myself. Other than the pressing in of the bushes are there any pitfalls. Thanks Micheal |
Thu 22 Mar 2012 @ 09:16
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
6 bushes required, 1 bush per spring eye + 1 bush per rear shackle. Use soft soap to aid installation of new bushes. For soft soap mash bar soap (stearate soap) in warm water to make a thick slurry; don't use wash-up liquid (detergent) - some can be detrimental to rubber. I've not tried PU bushes or come across anyone that has. Biggest problem when renewing bushes is the shackle bolts being seized in bush inner sleeves. Worst case is having to cut bolts using a grinder (thin 4-inch disc between shackle & spring); heat + big hammer can work but need to avoid cooking spring or distorting chassis mountings. Rear bushes usually can be renewed without loosening the axle U bolts but it's a good idea to loosen them anyway. If front bushes are being renewed then detaching the springs not only makes fitting new bushes easier but also refitting springs & getting alignments right on reassembly; thing to avoid when axle detached from springs is stretching the brake hose. Reassembly: install springs to chassis then, before tightening shackle bolts, attach axle to springs & hand tighten U bolts. Final tightening should be done with van on its wheels & with its normal load on-board. ---------------------- |
Thu 22 Mar 2012 @ 09:55
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Just to confirm, to adjust the rear brakes I wind the adjuster through the slot with a screw driver till the wheel locks and then wind back a couple of clicks till it spins again. It sounds simple but it all feels a bit vague. Micheal |
Sat 24 Mar 2012 @ 17:58
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
I finally got the springs off Ambi. I've made some interesting discoveries. I don't think I've got a standard setup. My springs are 60mm wide and the spring eyes are 58mm dia These are the springs 
These are the shackles they are 60mm wide at the top and the gap at the bottom for the spring is 80mm wide. 
These are the rear bushes pretty weird looking. one came outbut I presuming the metal sleeve has to come out as well. 
These are the front bushes which also had a couple of rubber washer in ech side. 
So I'm guessing that the bushes coming in the post aren't going to me of much to me. Has anyone seen this kind of set up and does anyone know where I might get bushes for these springs? The bolts through the spring eyes are 14mm dia. Micheal |
Sun 25 Mar 2012 @ 14:59
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Adjuster on 10-inch manual adjust rear brakes doesn't click; drag is from proximity of lower pull-off spring to adjuster wheel. Wind up to lock brake to definite clunk when wheel rotated in either direction then back off until wheel turns freely (2 to 4 segments of the adjuster wheel). If hub bearings play can be felt then either adjust bearings end float or wind back adjuster to compensate so that brakes don't drag when van back on its wheels. ---------------------- |
Sun 25 Mar 2012 @ 15:02
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
micheal wrote: Has anyone seen this kind of set up and does anyone know where I might get bushes for these springs? The bolts through the spring eyes are 14mm dia.
You've got the CF2 set-up. 
Not found a source for new bushes (yet) so it might be down to finding nearest comparable bushes & adapting to fit. ---------------------- |
Sun 25 Mar 2012 @ 15:08
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Oh bugger. I should have said it was a CF2. |
Sun 25 Mar 2012 @ 15:37
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
I had a nightmare trying to find bushes last year. I had to get them from a custom van place in the end. http://www.superflex.co.uk/products.php?cat=173 Although nearly £60 a set they are a bit expensive... but when you have a MOT failure, what can you do. I have been told that series 3 land rover bushes are the same diameter, but are half inch too long... maybe could be cut down. Regards Nigel. |
Sun 25 Mar 2012 @ 18:22
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
My spring eyes are bigger dia than that - 58mm dia. and my springs are 60mm wide. What year is your van? I have a series 1 landrover with series 3 springs and they are much smaller that I need. There a firm here who make springs, I'll have to see if they can get bushes or else I might have to change the springs! micheal |
Mon 26 Mar 2012 @ 10:32
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Finally got the rear shackles off. What a crap design - not helped by the fact the the rear step is built around the shackle pins so the pins would be driven back in to the inside of the van. Not of course that there was any hope of the pins being driven any where - absolute siezed solid in the inner bush sleeves. I found I had to burn out the rubber on the nut side to push the shackle over enough to get an grinder blade in to cut between the shackle plate and the chassis pocket. I had to do a bit of grinding first as a new blade was too big. It certainly made for and interesting night in the pit with the heady aroma of burning rubber and the firework display coming from the grinder. Tomorrow I'm off to a spring manufacturer who hope they will be able to adapt some bigger bushes for the springs and for the shackles. I might have to drill out the spring hangers to 16mm instead of 14mm. Fingers crossed!! Micheal |
Tue 27 Mar 2012 @ 10:44
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
micheal wrote: I found I had to burn out the rubber on the nut side to push the shackle over enough to get an grinder blade in to cut between the shackle plate and the chassis pocket. That's the one: no joy at all getting rear shackles off. 
White grease (Duckham's Keenol or equivalent) on new bolts & inside the bush sleeves makes life easier next time around, or if a shackle fractures (peculiar to 270/280 & code 035 140-inch wheelbase 350 models). ---------------------- |
Tue 27 Mar 2012 @ 12:31
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
I got the springs bushed up all I have to is refit. Great service carried out in a series of ramshackle sheds - proper engineering works. Cost 190 euro (£160) which I thougght was good value as it included pushing out old bushes, sleeving and altering nearest similar bushes to fit and pressing in the 6 bushes, drill rear spring hangers to 16mm dia and they threw in a 16mm drill bit so I can drill th front hanger. Must try to get some of that grease, would copper grease do a similar job? Does anyone know what vauxhall car part are like on returns as I have send back the bushes I ordered from them? Micheal |
Wed 28 Mar 2012 @ 14:56
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
micheal wrote: Must try to get some of that grease, would copper grease do a similar job? If you can't find Keenol then try Ramanol that's supposed to be a direct replacement as a waterproof grease; any grease for marine use such as stern glands should be ok. Not so sure about CopaSlip; doesn't seem to work as well - over the years I've found a few things seized up despite evidence of CopaSlip. ---------------------- |
Wed 28 Mar 2012 @ 17:29
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Sorry for the delay in replying, looks like you have got it sorted now anyway. My van was 1982 CF250. I bought these:- http://www.superflex.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=SF173-1337K And gave them to the garage to fit… I guess that they were fine as I later collected the van with full MOT. Looks like there are several different spring sizes for Bedford vans. Nigel. |
Sat 31 Mar 2012 @ 09:11
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
The Saga continues I adjusted the brakes and brought back for retest. Spring bushes ok but the rear left brake was worse than it was before. I was off on hols and left it in to a guy who roughened the shoes and drum a bit. went back for retest today and failed again. I'm at a bit of a loss. I don't know if a fluid change would help or should I try new shoes.The tester said some thing about checking the load test valve.Help please. |
Wed 18 Apr 2012 @ 11:25
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
oops I mean load sensing vavle of course  . Not that i have any idea how that works.
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Wed 18 Apr 2012 @ 11:55
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