Rusting Arches, best fix?

1. s555dan Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Bristol Posts: 493 16v'd Saxo VTR Mk1 Astra G Coupe 1.8

   #1 6th February 2011, 15:03

   Hi
   
   Started to do my ream beam today.
   
   Took the wheels off to find a bit of bubbling.
   
   Poked it and it went straight through.
   
   
   
   Pics from inside
   
   
   
   So is this an easy fix with a welder?
   
   Am i able to pop rivet metal over it, will that pass an mot?
   
   
   This is a pic of the other side.
   
   
   
   Is it heading the same way?
   
   
   Thanks
2. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #2 6th February 2011, 15:05

   other sides not far behind, to go through a proper MOT its got to be welded,leave it long enough and the boot floor starts to come up through the boot floor
3. s555dan Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Bristol Posts: 493 16v'd Saxo VTR Mk1 Astra G Coupe 1.8

   #3 6th February 2011, 15:07

   Ok thanks
   
   What will i need to fix it to an MOT standard?
4. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #4 6th February 2011, 15:14

   You`ll need to weld it pop riveting won`t pass an MOT,once its been welded then waxoyl over the top of it.Get it done soon before it gets to far gone.
   
   Steve.
5. s555dan Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Bristol Posts: 493 16v'd Saxo VTR Mk1 Astra G Coupe 1.8

   #5 6th February 2011, 15:15

   Thanks Steve
   
   What tools will i need to do this at home?
   
   Obviously a welder, but what specifically? Oxycetalene, mig -- I have no idea.
   
   Any metal plate will do?
6. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #6 6th February 2011, 15:19

   Well you`ll need tin snips & a ruler/straight edge to measure out the metal before you cut it.As for the grade metal or welding I can`t help you.
   
   Steve.
7. s555dan Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Bristol Posts: 493 16v'd Saxo VTR Mk1 Astra G Coupe 1.8

   #7 6th February 2011, 15:21

   Thanks again
   
   Anyone with welding experience able to point me in the right direction?
8. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #8 6th February 2011, 16:28

   Steve just about covered it really, MIG welder,some 1.5mm plate, angle grinder,clamps and thats about it. Pretty straightforward repair, done quite a lot of them a lot worse then this!
9. pepper953 Established Member Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1280

   #9 6th February 2011, 17:54

   And you need to weld all around plate
   not just tack it
10. s555dan Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Bristol Posts: 493 16v'd Saxo VTR Mk1 Astra G Coupe 1.8

    #10 6th February 2011, 18:16

    brilliant guys
    
    With the passenger arch (which doesnt have a hole in yet) would i cut it out and weld it, or are there ways to prevent it getting to the hole stage.
    
    Cheers
11. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #11 6th February 2011, 20:18

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by s555dan brilliant guys With the passenger arch (which doesnt have a hole in yet) would i cut it out and weld it, or are there ways to prevent it getting to the hole stage. Cheers

    You need to see how thin the metal is to judge if you need to cut it out & weld a plate in mate.
    
    
    Steve.
12. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #12 7th February 2011, 14:59

    how much does this cost to fix? drivers side looks to be a bit worse than this on mine i can weld but with something like that id rather take it to someone else to do.
13. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #13 7th February 2011, 15:49

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by LeeM how much does this cost to fix? drivers side looks to be a bit worse than this on mine i can weld but with something like that id rather take it to someone else to do.

    Not being rude,but how long is a piece of string?It reall depends on the garage/welder doing the job,best to get some quotes mate.
    
    Steve.
14. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #14 7th February 2011, 16:17

    just rang a bodyshop whos done a fe and hes said 50 ish
15. s555dan Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Bristol Posts: 493 16v'd Saxo VTR Mk1 Astra G Coupe 1.8

    #15 7th February 2011, 21:20

    £50 is not bad at all.
    
    
    My main problem is that the car is undrivable as it is missing many things such as harnesses, rocker cover, tax, mot the list goes on!!!
    
    
    Fortunately my mrs uncle has a welder and i can get hold of plate metal from the same place i bought my sunroof blanking panel. Paid £22 bargain!
    
    I was speaking about it yesterday and we are fairly confident we can do it on the drive. figures crossed!
    
    
    
    
    While i have access to the welder which other rust "hotspots" should i check out before fixing the arch?
16. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #16 7th February 2011, 21:31

    Take off the rear wheels & check around the arches for rust,also after you`ve welded the plate/s in let it cool down overnight before waxoyling it because waxoyl is highly flammeable.
    
    Steve.
17. s555dan Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Bristol Posts: 493 16v'd Saxo VTR Mk1 Astra G Coupe 1.8

    #17 7th February 2011, 21:38

    Thanks Steve
    
    I used hammerite on under all the arches which clearly hasnt worked.
    
    How good is this waxoly?
18. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #18 7th February 2011, 22:01

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by s555dan Thanks Steve I used hammerite on under all the arches which clearly hasnt worked. How good is this waxoly?

    Its good stuff messy to work with either buy it in a spray can or brush on I do my car once a year with it paying attention to high impact areas like wheel arches etc.
    
    
    Steve.
19. user_31412 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 ★ West / North Yorkshire ★ Posts: 1653

    #19 7th February 2011, 22:22

    
    
    
    
    ^^ Mine failed an MOT on "excessive corrosion" on both inner arches. Id be interested to see how you get on with the MIG welding - see if its easier enough to do
20. s555dan Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Bristol Posts: 493 16v'd Saxo VTR Mk1 Astra G Coupe 1.8

    #20 7th February 2011, 22:35

    Wow thats pretty bad.
    
    The patch i had was small but i could tell instantly that it was rotted through..
    
    I knew an MOT tester wouldnt think twice about exposing it so it needs to be done.
    
    
    
    From what i can work out it is a case of cuttin out the worse of the rust and use clamps to hold a piece of metal in place then basically draw around the edge of the plate with the welder..
    
    Sounds simple, i will take pictures and maybe do a guide. With the age on the saxos it may come in handy for more and more people as time goes on lol