replacing a rear beam

1. deanomx206 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2007 Rugby,Midlands,CV21 Posts: 3244 MK2 VTS

   #1 21st January 2009, 21:26

   how difficult is it to change a rear beam?
   iv had my car lowered and im going to be selling soon so was wondering if i found a standard beam would it be easy enough to change?
   how long would it take? is there a guide? its a mk2 saxo
2. melky2008 Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 grimsby Posts: 188 saxo vtr

   #2 22nd January 2009, 00:02

   peace ov piss m8 iff u are handy with a spanner
   just 4 big bolts and feww bits like brake hoses
   deffo 2 man job tho hard to hold up and bolt at the same time.
   i did myn on me own took me a bout 3 hours to take 1 off and put 1 on.
   have a bash m8y
3. VTRs4xo Newbie Joined: Dec 2007 ramsgate Posts: 18 Saxo vtr

   #3 22nd January 2009, 00:51

   it dont take that long mate, i had to replace mine after i had a accident with lift of oversteer and hit a kerb, im not machanicly minded but i even done it in just over 5 hours, just go for it
4. deanomx206 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2007 Rugby,Midlands,CV21 Posts: 3244 MK2 VTS

   #4 22nd January 2009, 11:19

   its a mk2 vts... would a mk2 vtr beam be ok as obv theyv got rear discs aswell..
   what would need doing?
5. gavin_t Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 Southend, essex Posts: 2079 1999 mk2 VTS EP3 2004 civic type r

   #5 29th September 2010, 20:42

   difference will be in the abs mate as the vtr probably wont have it
   
   Looking at changing mine myself anyone got any pics of the bolts etc that need to be removed.
   The one I am hoping to get comes with hubs etc on so I should just be able to transfer over my brakes etc
6. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

   #6 29th September 2010, 21:01

   wheels off
   exhaust off *middle and rear*
   handbrake cables off!
   brake pipes off.
   
   lift up rear bench and rear carpet, 4 bolts, undo them and the axle will fall off!
   
   took me 15 minutes to get mine off, and i just unbolted it all, with the car on a 2 poster ramp and left the thing fall off!
   
   putting it back on, aslong as the beam is like for like, disc for disc, drums for drums, then it will take you about an hour / half to fit and bleed the brakes again!
   a little longer if its drums to disc as ou will need to change some brake pipes.
7. gavin_t Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 Southend, essex Posts: 2079 1999 mk2 VTS EP3 2004 civic type r

   #7 29th September 2010, 21:13

   ah didnt realise the bolts can through to the inside of the car
   
   Do the brakes need rebleeding then? I thought I may be able to get away with just removing the calipers and then putting them back on the new one
8. user_10418 Saxperience Addict Joined: Jun 2006 Wirral Posts: 13584 Wickerd red VTS MK2, Two tone VTS MK2,vvc Metro..

   #8 29th September 2010, 21:25

   easy swop over!! done this many times over.......
9. gavin_t Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 Southend, essex Posts: 2079 1999 mk2 VTS EP3 2004 civic type r

   #9 29th September 2010, 22:20

   anything paticular to watch out for?
10. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

    #10 29th September 2010, 22:34

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by gavin_t anything paticular to watch out for?

    not really... just have a good look at everything before you touch it, and a clear mind.
    
    then again i say that about every job, its just good practice!
11. user_10418 Saxperience Addict Joined: Jun 2006 Wirral Posts: 13584 Wickerd red VTS MK2, Two tone VTS MK2,vvc Metro..

    #11 29th September 2010, 22:36

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by gavin_t anything paticular to watch out for?

    take care removen brake lines out the way!! and use plenty of wd40 on rusted bolts ect...........
12. nikrh1990 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2009 huddersfield Posts: 404 SAXO VTaahhrr posi blue

    #12 29th September 2010, 22:38

    watch when you drop the beam u dont cath the back of the tank, ive done loads at work and thats the only awkard bit sometimes threading the new beam in on your own.
    
    also if uv never bled brakes before then you might struggle with that.
13. gavin_t Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 Southend, essex Posts: 2079 1999 mk2 VTS EP3 2004 civic type r

    #13 30th September 2010, 21:41

    So its not possible to do without rebleeding the brakes?
    
    I thought I could just remove the calipers with the brake lines attached?
14. citroen_saxo_vtr Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2006 Norwich Posts: 2823 Vectra sri 2.6 v6

    #14 30th September 2010, 21:50

    Nope as you will need to undo the brake lines at the compensator and in most cases the union is rusted in, i tried to undo mine after having new ones 2 months ago and they just rung off. took me 3 hours to get mine off and new one on and that was with changing hubs, discs, calipers, flaring the brake lines again. its not hard if you have the tools and time.