radius arm - MOT fail - help needed!

28th August 2012, 20:43

Right,

My car has failed on a few things, but the one I need help with is this.

It's described on the MOT sheet as follows;

Nearside rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing [2.4.G.2] **DANGEROUS**

It failed at the end of July and I bought a 307 2.0 hdi 90 for cheap but I fucking hate it more than anything else in the world, and I want my Saxo back.

I've had a look and used the search feature but there doesn't seem to be anything specific to this. My mate is a mechanic and has said you can get a kit for this - but another mechanic has said I need a new rear beam. Obviously the latter will be more expensive, so I want a rough price and what's involved if possible.

Many thanks.

28th August 2012, 21:01

Is there no way to fix it without getting it refurbed?

£500 is a lot of money for me right now.

28th August 2012, 21:11

What am I looking at in terms of price? And is there a kit for the stub pins too or would I need a whole new beam if they're buggered?

ninjaedit: Thanks for the link.

28th August 2012, 21:23

Right, so if I was to buy a bearing and seal kit, and an outer stub pin, and have them both fitted, would that sort it?

~£100 compared to the £500 for a new beam would be a hell of a lot more ideal, I really am skint.

28th August 2012, 21:44

Might do for a while but if where the bearing runs is all pitted and corroded it needs a new beam. What you can do though is strip down your old beam, get new bearings and find a good condition beam from a low spec model thats not corroded and swap everything over. Might be a pain though, its hard to find one thats not knackered already.

28th August 2012, 21:58

Thank you mate I really appreciate this advice, I just want it back on the road, it may not be the quickest car on the road but I love it and I've never had as much fun driving a car as I have my Saxo!

28th August 2012, 23:27

Some good motivation there

28th August 2012, 23:35

You have 4 options as stated.

1. Buy a second hand beam for around £100 and pay £80 to have it fitted, to then find out you need another one as thats nackered too, and so on and so on, or you may be lucky, or it may only last a week or possibly months.

2. £360 for a refurb irc and then £80 to fit, along with a warranty and peace of mind that its perfect and the longevity of years, not a questions of days, weeks or months.

3. Buy the bearing kit and replace just the bearings and seals. May solve the problem, but as said the pin may be scored and therefore this option wont solve the problem.

4. Replace the pin and seal, however very very few places, maybe only 5 in the UK have the equipment and knowhow on replacing the pins. So many few places that, Europe and even worldwide approach IM Axles for refurbished beams.

29th August 2012, 00:05

Pay sensible price for a donor beam, i.e 30-40, not the 100 people seem to want on here for unknown ones.

Get a billy basic one, more chance of getting mint bearing surfaces, fit pug/citroen brgs to your trailung arms, re-assemble.

Job done, roughly £100 if you do it yourself

31st August 2012, 13:04

Sorry to be a pain but to confirm;

I just need the REAR BEAM? Rather than the rear axle?

My torsion bar and trailing arms will be fine?

31st August 2012, 13:08

i bought an axle 2nd hand, £50 and £60 to fit, its spot on but i got lucky, if i had the funds and liked my car as much as you do, IMaxles is probs best idea.

31st August 2012, 13:13

well when i'm bored of it and i want some jap action i'm still gonna keep it as a track car and supercharge it. so i figure it's worth the £££

but will i be ok with just the beam?

31st August 2012, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by xscottxx

Sorry to be a pain but to confirm;

I just need the REAR BEAM? Rather than the rear axle?

My torsion bar and trailing arms will be fine?

same thing.

31st August 2012, 20:50

i could refurbish axles 2 with new stub pins/bearings and seals etc, only problem is your miles away you would have to pay postage, could re-furbish a beam with just new pins if you wanted to do the rest yourself?

31st August 2012, 21:21

Where are you from? I can rebuild your rear beam for you if you like pm me

31st August 2012, 23:26

How do you guys get the pins out of the beam?

31st August 2012, 23:31

I don't, I just get a donor beam as its cheaper and easier.

31st August 2012, 23:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshpug

I don't, I just get a donor beam as its cheaper and easier.

Reason im asking the other guys is because it isn't something the home mechanic can take on, unless they have created a a piece of equipment which is larger than just something for the shed so I doubt the home mechanic has spent near on £500-600 at the minimum to refurbish their own beam lol

1st September 2012, 00:02

given a donor beam is £30-40, its a no brainer, and you can dump the bits you don't need as scrap and get a few quid back as well.

yes in a few years when its harder to find good donor beams then it'll be worth getting the pins swapped, but till then, naah.