Knackered Rear Beam

[Guest damian almond]

hello all,

right.. today ive discovered that my rear beam/handbrake cables/rear discs and pads are shot.

the latter im not to concerned about at this satge...ive been offered a good quality second hand beam minus discs callipers etc for £125 the lad thats doing the job wants £100 to remove the old beam and fit the new one. in total im going to be well into £300 new discs pads £30 (halfords trade) new handbrake cables approx £20. rear beam £125 and then £100 labour, how long of a job is it to remove/re fit a rear beam?

[Ricardo 0]

I've just done mine (for the first time) and the most time was spent trying to split the exhaust! So I left it attached, just lying on the floor, also I removed the drums so I didn't have to mess about with fluid everywhere!!

 

Took me an hour to get the beam off. Took me 15 minutes to put back on with the help of the missus! (another 15 mins to get brakes and drums back assembled.

[boombang 2]

If all the brakes are off, it's only a matter of removing the exhaust and undoing a few nuts.

 

The rear of the car will have to be off the floor (if you can get it a foot or so high that's ideal) with rear wheels off. Get a jack under the middle of the tube, undo nuts from above, lower entire assembley off the car.

 

Then pull out the way and fit new beam, reserve of above. If you've got a nice flat area with plenty of space, and a willing mate, then probably on and off within a couple of hours (allowing time for any fiddly bits like swapping over mounts, making sure it lines back up ok as there is a little room for adjustment in them).

 

Worth checking what ride height, what diamter t-bars & arb, and the state of the beam axles. TBH if someone was selling a good beam for £125, I'd want to see it apart.

 

EDIT - yet again splitting my cats up from fighting meant been beaten to it!

Edited January 3, 2009 by boombang

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

As above, a beam swap isn't that hard to do & can be done in under two hours all being well.

 

If the good beam has no history of a rebuild in the last two years I'd strip it to fit new bearings & seals etc before putting it on a car but I agree for £125 I'd want to see it apart to check the condition of the bearings, seals & radius arm shafts but if you got it apart then fitting new bearings etc ony adds a couple of hours onto the job & will give you a beam that'll last five years easily for the sake of a few more hours & an extra £80 for the bits.

 

Graham.

[Guest damian almond]

As above, a beam swap isn't that hard to do & can be done in under two hours all being well.

 

If the good beam has no history of a rebuild in the last two years I'd strip it to fit new bearings & seals etc before putting it on a car but I agree for £125 I'd want to see it apart to check the condition of the bearings, seals & radius arm shafts but if you got it apart then fitting new bearings etc ony adds a couple of hours onto the job & will give you a beam that'll last five years easily for the sake of a few more hours & an extra £80 for the bits.

 

Graham.

The problem with my beam from what i could see was with the wheels off and the car in the air,there was up and down play and side to side play. after speaking to my mechanic he reckons it would be easier to source a second hand beam and stick it on. but judging off what all you guys are saying i could be back to square 1. so how much would it cost if i take my rear beam off and deliver it too one of you guys to rebuild for me? am i better to do this? im puzzled as to exactly what to do and unfortunatley i dont have pots of money!

[jord294 92]

The problem with my beam from what i could see was with the wheels off and the car in the air,there was up and down play and side to side play. after speaking to my mechanic he reckons it would be easier to source a second hand beam and stick it on. but judging off what all you guys are saying i could be back to square 1. so how much would it cost if i take my rear beam off and deliver it too one of you guys to rebuild for me? am i better to do this? im puzzled as to exactly what to do and unfortunatley i dont have pots of money!

 

if you need a rebuild on a beam or service exchange i can help, whether it's 205 or 309

 

although i think tom fenton would happily oblige, and is closer to you

[Guest damian almond]

if you need a rebuild on a beam or service exchange i can help, whether it's 205 or 309

 

although i think tom fenton would happily oblige, and is closer to you

At what price please? is it car to you or beam to you.

[boombang 2]

The problem with my beam from what i could see was with the wheels off and the car in the air,there was up and down play and side to side play.

 

If there is that much play I'd expect it to need new beam tube and shafts. You say back to square one with another used beam, but so long as the tube and shafts are ok you're in the clear.

 

A new tube and arms will set you back hundreds and hundreds, where as a rebuild on a beam that's not knackered a fraction of that. You'd have to make sure thought that whatever used beam you bought was ok though, and as Pugtorque said spend the money now to save in the long run.

 

Take apart a worn beam and put back together with same bits you risk premature failure - but on the flip side if you just fit a worn beam it could end up wearing components beyond a simple refurb and get pricey again.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

I agree, if there is that much play then you are more likely to be in need of a new beam tube & at least one radius arm.

 

I'm the closest to you (approx 30 miles away) of those mentioned on here for beam rebuilds & can help out but price depends on exactly what is needed for the refurb & how much a scrapyard charges for decent bits when we find them.

 

Cost is hard to calculate until you know exactly what bits are needed above the normal bearings & seals which used to cost approx £80 from Peugeot but I haven't bought any for almost a year & prices have gone up recently afaik but the drop in VAT might balance the increase out.

 

A straight refurb / rebuld with just new seals & bearings is about £200 including them.

 

Graham.

[Guest damian almond]

Right guys,

ill tell you what im going to do- im going over to the scrappy in the morning (monday) ill inspect the rear beam myself,and then to save on the £100 mechanic bill im going to have a go at fitting it myself.

ill keep you all posted.

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Inspecting the rear beam properly is by taking it apart, you can't tell the condition of the trailing arm shafts when its still built up.

 

IMO any beam you buy unless its got a receipt with it saying its been refurbished in the last two years will need stripping to check the condition & if you take it apart you might as well fit new bearings & seals anyway.

 

I used to be lucky at my local scrapyard because they'd let me strip beams to find all the bits I needed in good conditon, often meaning i was stripping three beams to make one.

 

Graham.

[Guest damian almond]

TBH,when i bought this 205 i didnt plan on keeping it too long and the more i read the posts on this forum the more i then learn on the weaknesses of these cars and what to check when buying one.

the plan is,is to get this current one in a decent mechanical condition and then sell it on. its fun to drive but a little on the slow side,ideally im wanting an mi16 s16 converted one. what i dont want to do is throw piles of money at it and then end up loosing out.

from what i can gather im looking at the best part of £300 to rebuild the beam.

im puzzled as to whats best to do. but by the same token i suppose selling one with a recentley rebuilt beam would make the car more attractive to any potential punter.

ill keep you updated.