Rear Beam Differences

[kman1600 0]

Hi,

 

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere before but:

 

My project 1600 205GTI, dating from around 85, is in need of a new rear beam, one side was perfect when I stripped it the other side was unfortunately completely knackered. 205GTIs are a rare sight on the road over here in Northern Ireland and an even rarer sight in a breakers yard so finding a suitable replacement locally is proving a little difficult. I have been offered a young(ish) base model 205 for parts, maybe around 92/93, my questions is around the differences between the beam in this car and the one from my GTI?

 

I have the torsion bars and ABR from my original beam, I assume they are different to the ones in the base model beam, will these fit this later beam?

 

Are there any differences beam the actual cross member tube between the GTI and the standard car, apart from the colour?

 

Thanks

 

Tim

[jackherer 543]

normally you'd be fine using a base model cross tube with GTI bars (the only difference between the tubes is a bulge in the middle of the GTI ones).

 

However I saw a post by Miles the other day where he mentioned differences with the very early beams.

 

http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/index.php?showtopic=61211 (scroll right down...)

[kman1600 0]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

I had a look at the post and Im now concerned about the fit of my torsion bars, anybody know how I would tell early splines from late ones?

 

I dont have the log book yet for this car so Im a little unsure of the year, reg. number wont help as its an NI car with a MXI reg and no date letter.

 

Thanks

 

Tim

[SimonJ 2]

'Early' is prior to chassis number 5895923.

[kman1600 0]

'Early' is prior to chassis number 5895923.

 

 

Thanks Simon

 

I'll check this when I get home.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

You can still use them as the trailing arm's will be fine, Just swap or replace the pin's iin them.

 

Not many people know about the splines, Cna't remeber when I found out but when a mate called me up after do his Neg Rear camber it made me laugh

[kman1600 0]

Hi,

 

Car is just after the chassis number Simon list so looks like I'm OK to use my own Bars.

 

Thanks for the help,

 

Tim

[eob 7]

Just to do a tasty thread hijack. I've been donated a '90 205 Junior with just 55k on the clock and a perfect rear beam. Can I dismantle, use the bits on my '92 GTi and end up with one hell of a rear beam?

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Just to do a tasty thread hijack. I've been donated a '90 205 Junior with just 55k on the clock and a perfect rear beam. Can I dismantle, use the bits on my '92 GTi and end up with one hell of a rear beam?

Basically yes, you'll have to lose the tank brace from the GTi beam but thats no great loss imo.

 

Graham.

[eob 7]

You the man...

 

Where's the difference in a GTi/nonGTi axle anyway? Is the track difference in the hubs, the arms, or the tube and torsion bars themselves?

[Anthony 1,003]

Where's the difference in a GTi/nonGTi axle anyway? Is the track difference in the hubs, the arms, or the tube and torsion bars themselves?

Main difference is the beam tube has a slimmer bulge in, the torsion + anti-roll bars are different; and the drums are different. Some of the trailing arm shafts are different on the base model beams as well.

 

Width of the tube and arms is the same - differences will be due to the different drums, namely that the base model ones are slimmer than the GTi ones by a few millimeters.

 

As for the tank brace, it doesn't seem to matter whether its there or not, but if you really want it and you're using a base model tube, then find a base model 3dr 205 in the scrappy and use the brace from that. 5dr models don't have a brace, nor do 309's.

[kman1600 0]

Just to do a tasty thread hijack. I've been donated a '90 205 Junior with just 55k on the clock and a perfect rear beam. Can I dismantle, use the bits on my '92 GTi and end up with one hell of a rear beam?

 

Hi,

 

While you have it apart I would go as far as regreasing the bearing and replacing the seals. the beam from my car almost certainly died for water ingress rather than mileage, afterall both sides did the same mileage and only one side failed!!!

 

Tim

[Anthony 1,003]

Replace the bearings and seals as a matter of course.

[Guest rick03054]

Main difference is the beam tube has a slimmer bulge in,

 

Is there any purpose to the bigger bulge, (sorry, I couldn't word that any different, roll on the silly comments )

 

 

will it make any difference at all?