rear beam removal

[duforus]

hi .iguys, said it wouldnt be long befor i needed advice. Ive got a 84 1.8 inj,have done the usual renewal of the front end susp. etc. am now moving to the back.i'd like to know the best way to take off the rear beam etc. is it best to get pieces off first or leave it till i can get it onto a bench,then strip it down? I also have found a hole in the back b ox of the exhaust system, so i want to replace the whole system including that manifold with the crappy clip system. All comments and guidence welcome. Regards Pete.

[fonzooorooo]

1st thing to do is a liberal dose of WD40/plusgas/whatever to the 4 mounting studs/nuts... and use a 6 flat socket to remove them!

The only things you need to undo to remove it whole are: (as i remember)

Brake pipes (remove flexis)
Either top or bottom of the shocks (repeat 1st advice about the bolts through the bottom of the shocks!) - top'll be easiest.
Handbrake cables.


If you're replacing the exhaust with stock parts, just a heads up that back boxes are relatively dear. (certainly were when I went for one!)
The clips on the exhaust aren't that much of a pain really - it's not as though you're taking them on and off a lot (hopefully!) (I wangled them with a couple of screwdrivers - though it's probably worth sorting a tool out to re-fit them.)

[duforus]

Thanks for that,Bolts dont look to bad. have to do it on drive, not got the benifit of a garage,so will await an improvement in weather. regards exhaust,want to go down complete replacement route.Seems most members are jetex fans.Do they do manifolds as well? regards Pete.

[Nate]

soak the bolts in a decent penetrating oil like plusgas. clean the exposed threads on the with a wire brush to remove the corrosion. soak with plusgas again. remove the handbrake cables and rear brake lines. soak with plusgas again. have a cup of tea / a beer and then undo them with a 6 sided snug fitting socket.

a little paranoia is worthwhile compared to replacing the fixed bolts!

[Birdy]

Did this myself on Saturday and all i can say is be prepared to bleed, swear and take your time

The beam on mine has been on the car for 26 years, needless to say its never taken me so long to remove 4 nuts! One took nearly an hour by the time i'd cleaned the thread and gone through nearly a tin of freeze spray, well worth taking it slowly

I did pretty much the same as above tho, cables out, suspension undone (i did top and bottom as im stripping the whole car down to renew everything i can get off!) I left the flexi brake lines on until i got the beam off its mounting studs, found it made it easier to get my hands in properly!

[duforus]

thnks for the advice guys, been up to sainsburys, stocked up on ale, got myself a six sided socket,cant get any plus gas. bloke in halfordsnever even erd of it. has it under gone a name change?. Pete, down in brummie land.

[Old Mac Rocco]

Print this and take it into the "genius" behind the counter.
http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/det ... duct=30700
Or go to your local pound shop and get 10 gallon for the same price.
Look forward to your progress report as that is my next bit to strip off my breaker so I can get into the tank to see what it is like.
Good Luck

[duforus]

thanks for that rocco, got to wait for some decent weather now. pete.

[ChrisPears]

Its not as scary a job as it sounds. Just takes some muscle to undo the nuts. Make sure you're properly on the nuts and you're not putting sideways pressure on the studs though. With the amount of force being applied, if you're applying sideways as well as rotational force, the stud can snap. Its not the end of the world if this happens, but its not pleasant.

Probably best to try and avoid using an extension. If you can, use impact tools, makes getting the axle off a total breeze.

Another thing...stick a trolley jack under the beam before you undo the nuts, then you can lower the beam slowly (kicking it as it goes to free it from the studs) and use the jack as a dolly to get the beam out from under the car.

[stu.gtx]

I applied a bit of heat as well - seemed to do the trick.

[ellzilcho]

Hi
I am about to embark on this attempt to replace my rear axle beam and was wondering whats the best thing to rust protect the new beam im putting on? any advice would be appreciated.

Sam

[Funky Diver]

WaxOyl / Bilt Hamber anything of that nature. I'd be using a more liquid on to get IN to the nooks and crannies internally myself, with powdercoating the way forward on the beam.

[steve]

soak the bolts in a decent penetrating oil like plusgas. clean the exposed threads on the with a wire brush to remove the corrosion. soak with plusgas again. remove the handbrake cables and rear brake lines. soak with plusgas again. have a cup of tea / a beer and then undo them with a 6 sided snug fitting socket.

a little paranoia is worthwhile compared to replacing the fixed bolts!

I'm glad someone else has sense, everyone I know looks at me like I'm weird for spraying bolts up a week in advance and never, ever using 12 sided sockets.

[ellzilcho]

WaxOyl / Bilt Hamber anything of that nature. I'd be using a more liquid on to get IN to the nooks and crannies internally myself, with powdercoating the way forward on the beam.

Cheers buddie ill get on it and let you know how it all turns out.

Sam