Hello

Had my Doblo a week or so now, and I'm liking the more upright driving position and better head room (I'm a lanky chap), However I'm trying to cure its wandering tendencies. I seem to be struggling to find anything other than service items (short of going to a Main Dealer so far) as none of the online people have rung me back yet, or just have service bits. I'm surprised by this as I have seen 100's of Doblos driving around, so for basic parts I didn't think it would be a problem!

I am trying to track down, the "spring Assisters" that sit above the rear springs as mine have seen better days, and an Engine mount. at the moment. My only joy is e-bay. and at £30 each side for the spring assisters I would like a second price at leaset.

So, where have you found best for parts please

Cheers

Wheaty

1.9JTD 04 Doblo MPV

Wheaty said:

I am trying to track down, the "spring Assisters" that sit above the rear springs as mine have seen better days, and an Engine mount. at the moment. My only joy is e-bay. and at £30 each side for the spring assisters I would like a second price at leaset.

Click to expand...

what do you exactly mean, the bump stops?

Yes you can call them bump stops if you like, but in my book, bump stops are not really part of the suspension design, more of a back up.

Found a helpful chap at JBS car spares in Manchester, and their price was about £40 each. I was rather hoping for 40-50 a pair..ho hum.

Wheaty

ouch! why are you changing them?

The steering is wandering a bit.
Im convinced that most of this is caused by a warn bush some where on the front LH suspension arm or something (after reading threads elsewhere and my own experience) , but after an hour on the ramps and a lot of wiggling and prodding, nothing obvious.

However I did spot that one of the rear bump stop thingumy's doesn't look that happy, and the good one doesn't look much better, and now its loaded up (for work) it feels worse at the back end when the steering goes for a walk.

The only other part on the suspect list is the bottom rear engine mount, which looks like it has more play in it that it should, and from the nature of symptoms may be part of the problem, or just exaggerating it.

Cheers

Wheaty

Note to self; dont test drive cars on windy darkening roads again...

but the bump stops are there to stop the suspension 'bottoming out', they dont actually touch the rear leaf springs so your problem is elsewhere.

Someone else had a similar issue to yours recently, have you done a search?

Hello.

Right, I have every thing loaded that I would normally, and it is not sitting on the rear springs, there is about an inch gap. So they are bump stops. just very big ones. It was something I read elsewhere and the size of them made me think that they were often sat upon.

Cheers for the link for the spring assisters, I discovered them earlier, and I am pondering getting a set to help with the weight, and bring the ride height back up a bit. I have to stoop under the tail gait now

I'll change the engine mount for now, as that could be in better nick, but I'm sure the bulk of the problem is in a warn wishbone bush some where. I'll get my MOT chap to have a look as well, when I next spot an empty ramp.

Cheers for the assistance

Wheaty

Wheaty, by 'spring assistors' I guess you mean those big cone-shaped yellowy rubber things that look a bit like sex-aids?

My Fiat garage showed me those on their computer and referred to them as 'wicks'. They cost me about 34 quid if I remember rightly.. can't remember if that was for one or a pair though, sorry.
Are they just bump-stops? I'm sure my Doblo handled better and felt firmer at the rear after new ones were fitted

Wicks eh? Thats a new part name for me..

I've got a few quote ranging from £30-50 Each, and although they may need renewing soon, and may not be helping to much, there not the cause.

I have an engine mount on order, which will help things run a bit more smoothly, and then I guess its looking like a new front wishbone at a guess.

As I have the same things going on as below.

https://www.fiatforum.com/doblo/272093-2004-steering-problem.html

Cheers for the assistance.

Wheaty

Ahh cant beat about the bush much longer, wishbones ordered..

Well, After I stopped beating about the bush and spent some money on what I believed to be the problem, I can now report the Doblo is cured.

2 x wish bones £80, possibly only needed the one, but without a pinpoint diagnosis decided that they were both probably a bit worn and needed sorting anyway.
1x Lower Rear engine mount £30

Although the second wishbone (for the bushes really) may or may not have been needed, all the steering + front end has sharpened up really nicely, and its brill. none of the wandering under power. Very smooth now, like it. Its now much better to drive than the best of the Doblos that I test drove.

Engine mount was worth the little extra too. I think it played more of a contributing factor than anything else, but acceleration is a lot smoother now, particularly improved at slow speeds.

All in all, I'm now a much happier Doblo owner. I just need to sort out how to arrange my tool boxes in the back now with all these extra inches.

Again, thanks for all suggestions. assistance. I may yet get a set or spring assisters, but once I have a few more pennies in my back pocket.

Wheaty