87 GTS

[JDUB]

Thought it was time to put up a few pics as my long term 87 GTS has evolved from a daily to a bit of a project. Hoping that the pics will upload ok ?

Running with no bumper



The daily is now the Caddy

[JDUB]

First job was the fuel filler neck, it wasn't rusted through but pretty close.



Managed to get a good used one off the bay. Media blasted it, baked on paint and fitted new rubber and clips.



Next job, rear beam . .

[mark1gls]

That looks a very tidy and clean garage, nearly as clean as the wheel arch!

[JDUB]

Thanks Mark

Stripped off drums first, Wheel cylinders were leaking so linings trashed. Drums were ok (within limits) but plan was to replace all moving parts anyway.



Stubb axles were good but back plates looked like they'd come from the Mary Rose ! Handbrake cable springs were rusty/crusty too.




Beam itself not too bad (but going to be refinished anyway) Brake pipes ok but going to be replaced. Shocks, er shocking ? and ARB clamps also looked like they'd spent some time at the bottom of the sea.



So far everything was coming off ok and rear beam mount bolts were getting soaked in WD40 ready for removal. If they shear off it's a whole load of trouble !

[mark1gls]

You might already know this but when undoing the nuts on the rear axel mounts losen them off a little then do they back up, undo a little more then tighten back up and so on and so.. Just take it slowly and make sure your socket has a good grip on the nut.
Good luck

[JDUB]

Rear of beam supported and removed the shocks



Arches behind looked fine after a clean



Stripped shocks



More WD40 on pivot mount bolts . . .

[JDUB]

mark1 "You might already know this but when undoing the nuts on the rear axel mounts losen them off a little then do they back up, undo a little more then tighten back up and so on and so.. Just take it slowly and make sure your socket has a good grip on the nut.
Good luck"

Thanks for this. Yes method is to use plenty of WD40, A long socket, and remove the nuts like cutting a thread, i.e keep backing them off till they go loose then repeat. Obviously, support the beam so no weight is on the nuts too.

[JDUB]

Beam off ~ Nuts came off no problem. Will be replaced with new OEM nuts and washers for rebuild. Mounting points all good.





Needs stripping now. All wearing parts to be replaced. OEM where possible. Beam, brake backplates, strut cups, Pivots, to be media blasted and painted.

[JDUB]

Beam stripped apart from outer ARB clamps



They wanted a fight . . .



They lost !

[JDUB]

Old rubber bushes removed from pivots and new ones ready to push in, Not too difficult to remove the old ones once one end of the rubber was cut off.



Reusable parts wire brushed then media blasted prior to painting



Grey finish is bare metal, not paint. Important to get a coat of paint on asap or the surface starts to rust even in a dry garage.



All nuts and bolts to be replaced with new OEM (pivot bolts, Stubb axle bolts etc) so no need to finish them.

[JDUB]

Starting the rebuild. New OEM brake pipes bent to shape and fitted. Rubber bushes ready to be pressed into mounts.



Bushes pressed in quite easily using a press and proper lube.



Back plates and wheel cylinders fitted.



All back together and ready to go on. Handbrake cables still loose until they've been connected to the car. ARB bushes are Superpro, fitted easily with new outer clamps and clips using the "molegrip method".

[mark1gls]

Good idea holding the rear beam up like that with some wood.

[Nate]

Where did you get the rubber rear beam mounts?

[JDUB]

Yeh the "stands" made assembling the beam an easy job and saved the new paintwork.

The pivot bushes came from here

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Volkswage ... _424wt_904

They arrived promptly, looked good quaility and fitted easily enough using a press and the proper insertion lube. Obviously I haven't road tested them yet tho.

[JDUB]

Shocks built up



Beam back on