Just got my first Berlingo, its an ex forestry one marked "motricite renforcee" on the back doors. Annoyingly as soon as i went up forestry tracks (im a tree planter) it started making a nasty knock/ding sound intermittently, it seems this is the rear axle bearing problem ive just been reading about on here. On inspection the rear wheels do splay out at the bottom, very visibly.

My first question is, is it safe to drive? It feels ok on the roads apart from juddering about 70 or at 60 on big bends.

Will it need some sort of special rear axle? I ask since it apparently has a higher ride height.

I found reconditioned Berlingo van axles on ebay at 250 a go plus send them your old one after, would one of these fit?

If i could swap the axle out for a recon one, what other bits would it be wise to get in advance of the job since it would mean swapping all the other bits over.

Does anyone have any other advice, since im far from expert, though i do have a friend who is an excellent roadside mechanic.

Alternatively, could anyone give me a quote to do the job, im based in Dumfries and Galloway Scotland but can get somewhere to stay in Yorkshire if someone in the North of England was up for doing it.

Thanks.

You would probably pop in one from a 1000kg rated van if you carry serious loads. Different torsion bars and ride height.

I would build up a complete rear beam and swap it all in one, better than mucking about with changing over your brakes, flex and hardlines, compensator etc.

Don't overlook the 140mm long T50 bit required for the rear subframe mounts.

ive never seen a torsion bar rear axle from a 1000kg van in the uk addo, not sure if they even do a 1000kg one with torsion bars in the mk2 which im presuming this is?? think they swap to leafs or some other proprietry suspension setup for the rear of the 1000kg vans?

as for swapping the rear axle, unbolt the drums/back plates and unclip the brake lines and handbrake cables and drop the main part of the axle off then replace and bolt the bits back on, it saves bleeding brakes etc and makes the whole job simpler

(11-01-2014, 05:01 PM)dumdum Wrote:  ive never seen a torsion bar rear axle from a 1000kg van in the uk addo, not sure if they even do a 1000kg one with torsion bars in the mk2 which im presuming this is?? think they swap to leafs or some other proprietry suspension setup for the rear of the 1000kg vans?

as for swapping the rear axle, unbolt the drums/back plates and unclip the brake lines and handbrake cables and drop the main part of the axle off then replace and bolt the bits back on, it saves bleeding brakes etc and makes the whole job simpler

That sounds like a great bit of advice that I will keep in mind if I have to change my rear axle