What Should I Do With My Rear Beam? Advice Needed.

[Atari Boy 11]

I have a 160k mile 1.6 GTi. I am no expert but I think my rear beam has little if any life left in it.

I have bought a 1.9 beam and have stripped it, the trailing arm shafts are knackered but I have a set of replacements.

I am gradually getting better with mechanics but don’t fancy tackling the rebuild and swap it myself.

In terms of parts, I will need at least new bearings and seals, solid mounts, hand brake cables, possible new brake pipes as well as one of the 1.9 callipers re-tapping as the bleed nipple has sheared off. I have new pads and decent disks as well as Koni adjustable dampers. Does £150 to £200 sound about right?

I have been avoiding the job for a good few months now but I want to get the car properly sorted.

I know of local independent Peugeot specialists, should I take it there? What sort of money might they charge?

What other option do I have?

 

Opinions and advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Jonny

[Tom Fenton 1,539]

I'd split it into 2 jobs, (1) fully refurb the beam and (2) fit it to the car.

 

Refurbing the beam is probably best left to someone who knows their stuff if you are not too sure. In addition jobs like getting the inner bearings out and in is tricky and needs special tools. I'm sure there are plenty people on here who can do it for you. I could for one, but I'd guess there are loads of others much closer to you.

 

Actually fitting it to the car shouldn't be too hard, the only part that may be tricky are brake lines, but otherwise it is a bolt off/on job.

[welshpug 1,651]

personally I'd leave it on drums myself.

 

as for how much a garage would charge I have no idea, not many have experience of pug suspension in this respect.

 

as for a Pug specialist in your area try;

 

C.M.CHAMBERS CARS

Peugeot Specialist

Tel; 01379 586203 daytime or 01379 586101 after 6.30 or 07889 082466 anytime.

 

Carl Chambers, PSOOC Norfolk & Suffolk Group leader

[Atari Boy 11]

Thanks for the useful advice chaps, just what I was after. I will speak to Carl Chambers.

 

personally I'd leave it on drums myself.

I am not questioning your suggestion, but why stick with drums? I use the car for weekend/track use if that is relevant.

Edited July 7, 2008 by Atari Boy

[MrG 3]

I'm game for doing as much as I can on mine, but that beam looks like something I couldn't tackle either Jonny, so I'd use someone who knows them.

 

I think if you want discs, put them on, but I expect as the car is light anyhow drums would be adequate?

 

Oh and if you want any help just yell, it was a real pain in the arris to get mine fitted whilst doing it on my own.

Edited July 7, 2008 by MrG

[Atari Boy 11]

I'm game for doing as much as I can on mine, but that beam looks like something I couldn't tackle either Jonny, so I'd use someone who knows them.

 

I think if you want discs, put them on, but I expect as the car is light anyhow drums would be adequate?

 

Oh and if you want any help just yell, it was a real pain in the arris to get mine fitted whilst doing it on my own.

 

 

I think you are right Andrew, I will leave it alone.

Re brakes, I was always of the view that the better brakes the better, light or not.

Am I wrong?

[MrG 3]

well the way I see it is, Peugeot fitted discs all round to the 1.9 for a reason, so now yours is sporting a 1.9 you might as well upgrade the rest whilst the beam is off!

[welshpug 1,651]

the rear brakes of a 205 (and most tame hot hatches for that matter) hardly do any work, and drums have far more braking power than discs, especially on the handbrake.

 

I would even hazard a guess that the drum setup is lighter!

[Baz 421]

Put simply, drums work. Not as easy to service, but when you want them to work they will, and the handrake will work too. Depends what you want to do with the car, and in some respects how you drive it.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Don't be put off by the rear beam rebuild, its not as hard as you think.

 

Getting the inner bearings out is easy enough if you simply knock them both into the middle of the tube & then both back out one side.

 

You can use a ~35mm socket on an extension to push them back in, they don't need much force ust take it easy & keep measuring how deep they are. They need to be 20cm in iirc. I use an old radius arm shaft to push them back in on any beam I do.

 

Graham.

[Foltan 0]

I'm by no means an expert but have had my beam on and off a few times now so if you want some help with fitting, i'm not far away from you!!

[Atari Boy 11]

I'm by no means an expert but have had my beam on and off a few times now so if you want some help with fitting, i'm not far away from you!!

 

I may just take you up on thanks.

 

Jonny

[MrG 3]

same here, I'll bring the beers!

[Atari Boy 11]

You are making almost sound fun, thanks chaps.

My plan is to get Carl Chambers to rebuild it for me.

I am rebuilding the brakes and either painting or powder coating the various parts.

Once I have everything back I will let you chaps know, it may be bit of a slow one though.