[misc_work] Embarking On A Beam Refurbishment Project! Pics Progre

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

As per title, i have embarked on a little project and am refurbishing a beam ready to swop over on my 1.9 GTi.

Have a radius arm bearing with excess play (MOT failure) so now is the time to get the job done!

Firstly, HUGE thanks to 'James_pug' for all the help, advice and guidance so far....and when its all done, for the help in fitting it!

So...i picked up the 'donor' beam last week, so that i could give it all a good rub down and paint.

This is what it looked like when i picked it up.

 

 

So armed with a power drill, some wire brushes and a file i set to work. Plenty of rust was soon flying off along with old paint and general grime. A particle mask and goggles a must!

All rubbed down ready to be paint prepped.

All surface rust removed. Bare metal showing...

Ready to paint. Used a Zinc based primer to prevent and protect from rust.

Help from a tree!

All dried and ready to be sprayed a nice Hammerite Yellow later this week. :-)

Next stop....torsion bars.

One bar rubbed down and prepped, other still to do.

Painted and prepped ready for spraying. The rest will be done during the week.

 

So far so good! Looking forward to bolting it all together! Further pic updates to follow.

Happy days.

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

What i'll be doing on mine soon I think.

Are both ends of the tube ok? If play in the bearing is that bad, it may of worn right through the bearing and into the tube rendering it useless.

 

Also what are you painting the bars in?

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

Ends of this tube is fine. Its a donor one....my beam is still on my car.

I don't think its that bad anyway, its just minor play in the bearing according to Peugeot. Just using the opportunity for a little project.

The undercoat is a zinc based paint, and then will be spraying it in Hammerite yellow and black (smooth)

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

Ok, just if the beam tube is worn the new bearing will deform.

 

Let me know how it goes as I was going to do the same, but people say the paint will crack as the bars will twist. Apparently you need to use poly vinyl paint as it can cope with flex.

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

Ah! Good tip. Will look into that. Will still Hammerite the beam then, but will look at other paint for the bars.

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

This stuff looks ok.

http://www.plastidip.co.uk/eStore/index.cfm?Plastidip_Aerosol_Spray_-_311g&stage=3&colour=Black,Blue,Clear,Red,White,Yellow&pid=PDL-0009

[james_pug 26 1 Cars]

Could just use some heatshrink on the bars?

[pugpete1108 62 1 Cars]

i painted mine and they are fine?

 

have you painted the splines on the end? or masked them off

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

The splines are all masked off. As are all the threads, holes etc on the main beam.

I have the Hammerite so may just see how it goes.

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

Final bits all painted and complete ready for the weekend to put together. Am very happy with the finish!

 

So the torsion bars and the ends of the beam were finished in a hammered finish, the rest of the black bits in a smooth finish.

Plenty of elbow grease and some perseverance....job jobbed!

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

All done!

Firstly a massive thanks to James_Pug for his help, advice, guidance and patience with me for all the questions I asked both prior and during the job! ha ha! You are a credit to the forum mate.

Spent all day last Saturday removing my shot beam and replacing with the one that I had cleaned up and painted. Only minor drama was realising that I only had 2 of the required 4 mounting buses...but a quick call and dash to Folkestone and two more were procured! Phew!

The swap over went relatively well, hardest part was getting the old shafts out of the trailing arms, and refitting the new ones in situ....arms felt in next day with all that club hammering!

Also fitted new rear discs and pads in the process. Top job! Now its MOT time....

Old beam coming off.

Old shafts

Old and new!

New beam in place!

...and all done up.

 

Job jobbed!

Am tempted to get under the car now and give it a bit of detailing treatment to compliment the new shiny beam!

Am sure I have noticed a difference in it. Rear suspension does feel a bit tighter, less squeaking and a firmer ride.

Restoration project coming on nicely. Next stop, brake lines!

[welshpug 1,655]

caught just in time by the looks of it, just bearings and two arm shafts required.

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

MOT passed with flying colours.... woohoo!

[CosKev 16]

Looking good,did the same to my 306 Rallye beam

 

Paint is fine on my torsion bars too.

 

 

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

Looking good! The underside of yours, how did you prep it before painting red? Am guessing a damn good clean, primer and spray red?

[CosKev 16]

Looking good! The underside of yours, how did you prep it before painting red? Am guessing a damn good clean, primer and spray red?

 

Cheers.

Good cleaning off session to remove dirt/dust,any orig Pug sealer that was loose/lifting removed with a sharp scraper,anywhere showing surface rust taken back to bare metal with rust removal discs/wire wheels,areas that were rusty/bare metal treated with Metal Blast,then painted with Rust Bullet,all seams sealed with Tiger Seal,then about three coats of brushed on gloss red

 

 

 

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

Another job added to my to-do list!

Thanks

[CosKev 16]

Another job added to my to-do list!

Thanks

 

If you like a clean underside you might like my Evo I'm currently doing

 

 

 

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

Thats epic you must be a lottery winner to be able to afford all the new stuff excellent

[johnaldridge101 0]

The evo looks real pretty, almost a shame to drive down all the old dusty B roads, but they're the most fun!!!

[Arwing 3 1 Cars]

Nice. Will use this as a guide for when i do mine in a few weeks.

[Mac Crash 78 1 Cars]

If you like a clean underside you might like my Evo I'm currently doing

 

 

nice, though, let's see some photos of it in another 20 years

 

 

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

"Slightly" belated question, but what exactly did you use to rub it all down?

 

I wouldn't have though such badly looking rear beam could end up looking so good *without* sandblasting .

[scottbarton 34 1 Cars]

Was quite easy using a 240v power drill and various wire cup brush attachments (goggles and a dust mask strongly advised). Once all the grot was off then used some emery paper/red oxide paper to get a nice smooth finish and to score the surface ready for the zinc based undercoat to be applied.