Do I Need A New Axle?

[lard 0]

I have recently fitted 14" pepperpots on my 205D but the nearside rear wheel is rubbing on the top of the inside wheel arch. It is so close to the inside arch that I can't slide my fingers between the arch and the tyre whereas I can on the offside. Additionally the nearside wheel is closer to the front of the arch ie about 1 fingers width whereas the offside is about 2 fingers (no Joan Collins jokes please).

Do I need a new axle?

[pug_ham 243 3 Cars]

It certainly sounds like your rear beam is dead, if you stand a bit behind the car on level ground is there lots more camber on the nearside compared to offside?

 

g

[lard 0]

Thanks for responding pug-ham

There is no appreciable camber difference but there is a clunk when I jump on the rear end.

If it is the beam does any one know of a company that will fit a recon in the south east that does not charge the earth?

[pug_ham 243 3 Cars]

TBH, without stripping the beam down it is impossible to say what condition it is in, with it as you describe it could be uneconomical to repair.

 

There are a few people on here that offer a refurb service but most will have GTI spec beams & price it on an exchange with a beam that can be refurbished afterwards.

 

Changing the beam isn't very difficult, its only held on by six nuts through the boot floor & can be swapped in a few hours usually.

 

Even for a refurb you are looking at ~£350+ but that is just for a basic refurb with new bearings & seals as required, if you need new radius arm shafts etc then that will instantly bump the price to over £500.

 

g

[Vz_ace 0]

I'll borrow this topic.

Are rear beam arm shafts for 205 GTi and base (1.1,1.4) models, the same?

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

These people are reasonably priced and offer delivery:

 

http://www.sspengineering.co.uk/

[stef205 92 1 Cars]

I'll borrow this topic.

Are rear beam arm shafts for 205 GTi and base (1.1,1.4) models, the same?

Yes they are all the same.

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

These people are reasonably priced and offer delivery:http://www.sspengineering.co.uk/

I've had a beam built by them and they certainly know what they are doing!

[Anthony 1,002]

Yes they are all the same.

Not strictly speaking true.

 

Original OE shafts can differ and thus you need to be careful if (for example) stripping a base model beam to refurb a GTi item. The difference is with the inner diameter of the shafts, which on some base models without an ARB is too small to accept the ARB endplate and bush.

 

I've only seen it a few times, but it is worth keeping in mind.

 

All models with an ARB should have interchangeable shafts though, assuming you're running a standard(ish) size ARB. If you've a significantly uprated ARB (ie bigger than around 25mm) then you need to check the inner diameter as it can vary significantly, both on OE and aftermarket shafts. Some OE ones will take 30mm for exaample, but most are more like 25-26mm or so.

[Alan77 78 1 Cars]

These people are reasonably priced and offer delivery: http://www.sspengineering.co.uk/

 

+1, my beam came from these guys.

[Vz_ace 0]

thanks, Anthony.

[lard 0]

Well I bit the bullet - not being a very competent mechanic ,I took the car to IM Axle Specialists in a place called Strathern in Liecestershire. They took out the old beam and replaced it with a new one whilst I waited and at a very competetive price. I would seriously recommend these people (who are also very personable) to do the job if you cannot or do not want to do the job yourself.

I will point out that I have no connection with this company. I am just writing this because they provided an excellent and competetive service.

[stef205 92 1 Cars]

Out of interest what beam and price was it?