Rear Beam

[Pob 1]

Hi all,

 

I got my rear beam rebuilt about a month ago, I got round to putting the wheels on and taking it off the axle stands. Before I got the beam rebuilt the drivers side wheel seem to sit further back towards the back of the car and the car seemed lower that side. This is still the case with the rebuilt beam, I assumed it was due to the nackard bearings.

 

Drivers rear

 

Passenger rear

 

I read a post about this a while back but never did read the outcome and I carn't find the topic now. Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

Dan

[jonnie205 1]

thats normal mate, they always sit quite close to the arch

[Pob 1]

thats normal mate, they always sit quite close to the arch

 

The gap between the end of the sill and wheel differ, I've arrowed what is different between the drivers and passenger side.

 

 

Thanks,

Dan

[jonnie205 1]

yes it normal, most 205's do that.

[welshpug 1,655]

If you want to check that the beam is set to the same height on each side jack the rear up with the wheels off, unbolt the dampers at the bottom, and measure the distance from the top damper bolt to the bottom damper bolt, both sides should be identical to within a few mm.

 

(the trailing arms at standard height droop past the full extension point of std dampers)

[Pob 1]

If you want to check that the beam is set to the same height on each side jack the rear up with the wheels off, unbolt the dampers at the bottom, and measure the distance from the top damper bolt to the bottom damper bolt, both sides should be identical to within a few mm.

 

(the trailing arms at standard height droop past the full extension point of std dampers)

 

 

Thanks for the info. Is there any reason why this would be normal? When I fitted the beam you can see straight through both trailing arm damper mounting points/holes Plus Jonnie205 did it so I don't doubt his work.

 

Thanks again,

Dan

 

P.S Does anyone know the location/name of the topic that was discusssed a few months back about the same subject?

[mhyphenl 10 1 Cars]

Thanks for the info. Is there any reason why this would be normal? When I fitted the beam you can see straight through both trailing arm damper mounting points/holes Plus Jonnie205 did it so I don't doubt his work.

 

Thanks again,

Dan

 

P.S Does anyone know the location/name of the topic that was discusssed a few months back about the same subject?

 

I've just rebuilt my beam and noticed that the castings on the actual tube are twisted in relation to each other which has caused a similar problem so it seems. Its hard to tell wether the beam isn't quite mounted square or the rear bumper and valence isn't square or the slight twist is causing it! Check you cross tube to see if yours is the same as mine.

[Pob 1]

I've just rebuilt my beam and noticed that the castings on the actual tube are twisted in relation to each other which has caused a similar problem so it seems. Its hard to tell wether the beam isn't quite mounted square or the rear bumper and valence isn't square or the slight twist is causing it! Check you cross tube to see if yours is the same as mine.

 

How can I check the casting on the tube?

 

Thanks,

Dan

[RossD 44]

The front beam mounts (or 1 of the front mounts) could be on the wrong way. They are handed and marked for left and right. This could have the effect of what you are seeing, that is if the beam can actually be mounted with one mount the wrong way round!

[Bakes100 20 1 Cars]

I have this exact same problem on mine! interesting to know why it does it. does yours pull to the left at all?

[jonnie205 1]

you cant get the mount sworng way round, the beam would then not bolt to body

 

If the front 1.9 mounts are different then so must the rear mounts be different or the beam would not fit the car, so i am still suprised they are dfifferent, perhaps anthony can comment as he has done heaps of beams.

I personally have always used 1.6 and 1.9 beam tubes and have never noticed any differnces in mounts

[welshpug 1,655]

ohh but you can put them on the wrong way round, if its on the wrong side of the car.

 

also the holes for the sandwich mounts are slotted, hence there would be no difference the the brackets or rear bushes.

 

the mounts were offset due to the difference in diameter between 1.6 and 1.9 standard fitment tyres, 185 60 14" are 578mm in Dia, 185 55 15" are 585mm in diameter, hence the beam is located that little bit forward to stop it rubbing on the bumper/valence.

[Pob 1]

ohh but you can put them on the wrong way round, if its on the wrong side of the car.

 

also the holes for the sandwich mounts are slotted, hence there would be no difference the the brackets or rear bushes.

 

the mounts were offset due to the difference in diameter between 1.6 and 1.9 standard fitment tyres, 185 60 14" are 578mm in Dia, 185 55 15" are 585mm in diameter, hence the beam is located that little bit forward to stop it rubbing on the bumper/valence.

 

 

Thanks for the replies. Where about's are mounts marked? If it's the wrong way round, could you tell just by looking at it?

 

Many Thanks,

Dan

[Pob 1]

I have this exact same problem on mine! interesting to know why it does it. does yours pull to the left at all?

 

No it doesn't.... the tyres aren't wearing unevenly either on the rear

 

Dan

[welshpug 1,655]

this is a pic of the rear mounting prior to fitting the front mounts the right way round, you can see clearly that the stud is right up the front of the slot, meaning the beam was quite far back and too close to the bumper.

 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/wel...30-12-06-06.jpg

 

here's the marking on the front mount

 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/wel...30-12-06-09.jpg

[Pob 1]

this is a pic of the rear mounting prior to fitting the front mounts the right way round, you can see clearly that the stud is right up the front of the slot, meaning the beam was quite far back and too close to the bumper.

 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/wel...30-12-06-06.jpg

 

here's the marking on the front mount

 

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/wel...30-12-06-09.jpg

 

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for taking the time to add the pics, greatly appreciated. I'll have a look tomorrow and let you know the findings.

 

Many Thanks,

Dan

[RossD 44]

It will be interesting to know if this the cause - My idea was purely theory, I'll feel quite chuffed if its proved correct, lol!

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

I originally posted up about this.

 

Mine is exactly the same as the pics above, and there are a couple of things that I have checked.

 

I made sure that the car wasn't bent after its impact, by firstly taking it to a bodyshop for a jig check and secondly used a tape measure to check myself. Everything seemed to tally up evenly. Then the mounts can affect things too, my beams a 309 one so the top mounts are the same either side (Only 1.9 ones are unique to each side) but the rubber top hats under them were f***ed, so a new GrpA kit was ordered with the version 2 rear sandwich type mounts.

 

The beams been stripped too (the TB's refused to budge though from the arms, luckily I am using different arms and have a spare set of 309 TB's) and I shall rebuild it properly. I think if the beam has been lowered without completely pulling out the bars from the arms, they get twisted up and can affect the above problem.

 

Panel gaps on a 205 are notoriously pants too.

[Pob 1]

I originally posted up about this.

 

Mine is exactly the same as the pics above, and there are a couple of things that I have checked.

 

I made sure that the car wasn't bent after its impact, by firstly taking it to a bodyshop for a jig check and secondly used a tape measure to check myself. Everything seemed to tally up evenly. Then the mounts can affect things too, my beams a 309 one so the top mounts are the same either side (Only 1.9 ones are unique to each side) but the rubber top hats under them were f***ed, so a new GrpA kit was ordered with the version 2 rear sandwich type mounts.

 

The beams been stripped too (the TB's refused to budge though from the arms, luckily I am using different arms and have a spare set of 309 TB's) and I shall rebuild it properly. I think if the beam has been lowered without completely pulling out the bars from the arms, they get twisted up and can affect the above problem.

 

Panel gaps on a 205 are notoriously pants too.

 

Thanks for all the information. I removed the nut and took a pic of my findings... Does this mean the mount is wrong or the wrong way round??

 

 

Thanks,

Dan

[welshpug 1,655]

definitely looks to be too far back.

[Pob 1]

definitely looks to be too far back.

 

What could be the causes of this? It might be well for me to check that the other side is different to the side in the pic. Would I have to remove the whole beam again to sort the front mount out, or could I just lower it down?

 

Thanks,

Dan

[welshpug 1,655]

I just lowered mine down sufficiently to unbolt the front mountings, be careful of the brake hoses if you do.

 

worn front bushes can cause them to sit a bit odd, another thing you can try is to loosen the 6 bolts and see if the beam will move forwards at all.

[Pob 1]

I just lowered mine down sufficiently to unbolt the front mountings, be careful of the brake hoses if you do.

 

worn front bushes can cause them to sit a bit odd, another thing you can try is to loosen the 6 bolts and see if the beam will move forwards at all.

 

Thanks for the info, Glad I don't have to remove the whole beam again. Could it be that I have the wrong front mount? I.e one from a 1.6? Or is it possible the whole mount is the wrong way round? I had a look at the bushes and they seemed ok

 

I wouldn't of thought you could move it forwards, aren't the front mount holes, just holes not elongated?

 

Thanks,

Dan

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Could it be that I have the wrong front mount? I.e one from a 1.6? Or is it possible the whole mount is the wrong way round?

It could have the wrong mount on one side but you can't fit one the wrong way round without fitting the other one wrong as well.

 

Graham.

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

Thanks for the info, Glad I don't have to remove the whole beam again. Could it be that I have the wrong front mount? I.e one from a 1.6? Or is it possible the whole mount is the wrong way round? I had a look at the bushes and they seemed ok

 

I wouldn't of thought you could move it forwards, aren't the front mount holes, just holes not elongated?

 

Thanks,

Dan

 

There is only one hole with a slot in it and thats the passenger outer one, slotted from Left to Right.

 

I refitted my beam yesterday and it still sits pissed. The drivers side sits further back than the other by about 5mm. Taking measurements, the drivers side rear mount stud is 5mm further back than the other, but the box section it goes through is the same

 

Its blatantly not right, as the passenger side is toeing in more than the drivers. You can see the beams pissed.

 

Baffled!?!