Checking A Secondhand Beam

[benje 0]

Hello all,

 

I've had a really quick search but couldn't see anything.

 

Basically, on my 306 the rear beam is on its way out. Now the only replacements I seem to be able to find have been removed from the cars. Is there anyway to check them off the car for obvious rear bearing issues? If I undid the shocks would the trailing arms move enough to be able to determine free play etc / knackered bearings?

 

Also, apart from the obvious camber issues, is there anything else you can do with it on the car just to check, or does camber = dead beam

 

When it comes to suspension I know very little! Thanks all in advance

 

Ben

[welshpug 1,655]

pull the trailing arm shaft out of the tube is the only way to check them properly, even if they move they may be shagged.

[benje 0]

Damn, looks like I'll have to trust the sellers word then! Oh well wish me luck

[jimistdt 1]

It's always a risk benje these days when it comes to buying bits secondhand for your car, especially Beams, unless you can see it's been rebuilt recently then realistically you're going to have to expect to have to rebuild some or at least all of it, otherwise it isn't a long term fix.

 

If you're buying a refurbed beam I'd want to see it stripped, that way you're not buying a beam with new cups and seals.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

You can;t trust the seller as said, even if the beam's move OK and don;t make any odd sounds they still can be beyond repair

If the seals on the end look worn or split then walk away

[benje 0]

Cheers Gents,

 

If I'm honest, I think the car may end up going to the big scrapyard in the sky. I think it's going to need too much doing to it for the MOT next month.

 

Out of interest, do beams fail catastrophically? I.e. is my trailing arm at risk of falling off along with the wheels?

 

Thanks all

 

Ben

[jimistdt 1]

Is your beam showing signs of camber now? If it is then it 95% chance of being dead. The trailing arm shaft would have worn away the inside of the tube, meaning that if you put new bearings in it they won't seat properly, in turn they will fail.

 

If your buying try to get one from someone with a good reputation, try to get one that has been in use until recently as IMO they deteriorate more when they are just sat.

 

I take it you need your everyday? If you can afford to be without it for a couple of days then get the beam off and get it dismantled, it really isn't that difficult, and it may still be salvageable, but either way it's going to cost.

[welshpug 1,655]

i wouldnt scrap it just because of the beam, there wouldn't be any left if everyone had that attitude!

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

As already made pefectly clear, its impossible to know the true condition of a beam without stripping it down.

 

Even if your beam is dead beyond repair they can't fail catastrophically imo because the radius armis held in by the torsion bar & ARB.

 

Graham.

[cRaig 273 1 Cars]

Mm, I recently bought a rear beam that "was ok, but prob just needed a rebuild" Needless to say it was pretty ruined, one trailing arm required the beam to be welded into a vice and hit with a rather large sledge hammer, as it was that rusted in! Shaft had worn into the tube etc. So next time It want to see a beam in bits before i bought one!

 

On a slightly different note, has anyone had any experience with fixing a worn tube by filling the worn area with weld and die grinding it back? The engineering shop ive taken it to are fairly confident it shoudl be ok..

Edited September 10, 2009 by cRaig

[jimistdt 1]

On a slightly different note, has anyone had any experience with fixing a worn tube by filling the worn area with weld and die grinding it back? The engineering shop ive taken it to are fairly confident it shoudl be ok..

 

I'm not qualified enough to answer that question, although it sounds like a good idea. I have heard of trailing arm shafts being repaired in this way, at least theoretically. It would be interesting to find out.

Edited September 10, 2009 by jimistdt

[benje 0]

Is your beam showing signs of camber now? If it is then it 95% chance of being dead. The trailing arm shaft would have worn away the inside of the tube, meaning that if you put new bearings in it they won't seat properly, in turn they will fail.

 

If your buying try to get one from someone with a good reputation, try to get one that has been in use until recently as IMO they deteriorate more when they are just sat.

 

I take it you need your everyday? If you can afford to be without it for a couple of days then get the beam off and get it dismantled, it really isn't that difficult, and it may still be salvageable, but either way it's going to cost.

 

Its showing quite a decent amount of camber on the driver side wheel, not so much on the passenger side. I've had a lot of issues with the rear suspension on this car. The wheel bearings collapsed leading to interesting handling, and one of the beam mounts also sheared off.

 

Cars covered 126000 now on a P Plate so I don't think it's done too bad. Probably would go on for a lot longer, however I refuse to through anymore money at it (Especially after my experience my my Fiat Coupé) It only gets used as my commuter up and down the motorway everyday, I have a GTV that I can use if I take it off the road and attempt a repair!

 

i wouldnt scrap it just because of the beam, there wouldn't be any left if everyone had that attitude!

 

It's *only* a 306 surely it has no real worth? If it were a 205 I'd be thinking differently!

[benje 0]

Mm, I recently bought a rear beam that "was ok, but prob just needed a rebuild" Needless to say it was pretty ruined, one trailing arm required the beam to be welded into a vice and hit with a rather large sledge hammer, as it was that rusted in! Shaft had worn into the tube etc. So next time It want to see a beam in bits before i bought one!

 

This is my exact worry, and the only source of parts I seem to be able to find is over on pug306, from cars of a similar age to mine. I'm thinking the only way is for a total refurb, but then a refurb > Value of the car!