Help, rear beam bushes shot/ brackets rotten.

[thefurryben]

Help, I thought i'd check the bushes on my 1986 mk2 scirocco gt while i had it up in the air, doing the breaks and the bushes at either end of the rear beam/ axle are shot as i expeted as it was stood for a while before i got it. what i wasnt expecting was the brackets that the bushes sit in are really quite rusty and the stud's and nuts holding them are so rusted that they are begining to break up and blow apart.
I take it i will need to cut the old nuts off try to drop the beam down and the cut the rest of the old studs off drill them out and re stud it, possibly having to weld in new plates for the studs. dose this sound about right? and where can i get new brackets from?

[The Autoad]

Soak the 17mm nuts securing the beam mounts to the body in penetrating fluid (proper fluid not WD40! ) over a few days and give them a good wire brush. Use an impact socket to remove them. If you work steadily and slowly the nuts should come undone. The captive bolts might be ok and require a wire brush, they are tough.

If you do snap a bolt, Haynes is actually quite helpful in describing how to renew them. Alternatively you can get some correct tensile bolts and refit them from above by cutting off and drilling through the captive bolts. Under the rear seat you will find some tape covered in seam sealer, remove this and it will reveal a small inspection slot to the top of the captive bolts. You can open up the metal work here to gain access.

[Tim_R]

I've found plus gas works well as a penetrating fluid, though it's not especially cheap, then as Ant says, a decent 6 sided impact socket after wire brushing and soaking.

[PeteGLi]

Use a breaker bar with the impact socket - not an air gun. Keep the socket square on the nut and use gentle steady pressure. Don't try to shock the nut loose. If it does not undo first go, soak it some more. Be patient.

[MacColl]

Hello, nice to see another red Rocco that paint should cut back pretty well by the way.

My rear beam brackets and bushes were like this when I bought my car last December and passed an M.O.T in February..


I still haven't done a rear beam swap with brackets and might not even get it done for the next M.O.T. I certainly hope that the studs are ok as these areas are high moisture and always look worse than they are because of the way the rust de-laminates away. As said new bolts from the dealer and careful removal should see you right.

My Scirocco is my only car so I have to plan to be off the road for more major work.

[Risocco]

You need these in your life...

[MacColl]

Yes good call, the Irwin bolt grip nut removers are a definitely an option if there is no way of getting purchase with standard sockets.

I was having a search myself, these are a good price if you have one of their stores near you..
http://www.screwfix.com/p/irwin-5-piece ... stid=28938

Or just a bit more with free delivery on Amazon..
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Irwin-Bolt-Grip ... d_sim_diy1

This is a good guide for the rear end re-build..
http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php ... c&start=15