Rust repairs

  1. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #1
    Hi all, been having a look under the saxo earlier and its looking quite crusty underneath the boot, surprisingly the rear arches look quite solid from what I can tell but the two beams in the middle of the boot floor look very crusty I haven't yet had chance to have a proper look but wanted to know are these structural and can they be welded if I do have any holes in them? its not the bits that the axle bolts to its the two box section bits which are above where the spare wheel mounts.

    Cheers
  2. Newbie Joined: Apr 2016 Livingston,Scotland Posts: 25 Mk2 Mazda 3 MPs,106 gti, Kawasaki Z1000
    #2
    Will they not be the rear chassis legs mate.
  3. Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2016 Oxfordshire, bicester Posts: 152 Saxo Vtr in black 53 plate Silvertop with a few mo
    #3
    They are in fact rear chassis studs, would be better off getting some stainless box section the same size and cutting the old boxes out and welding the new on
  4. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #4
    So they can be repaired then, I've just been under the car and jabbed a screwdriver at it.. Went straight through on one side. I'm guessing there's no repair parts available from citroen? I'd really like to save the car if I can. Glad it's not my daily!
  5. Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2016 Oxfordshire, bicester Posts: 152 Saxo Vtr in black 53 plate Silvertop with a few mo
    #5
    Yeh it's easy enough to do if you've got a welder to hand.... So they're pretty rusty then haha, and no if I remember rightly they were mig welded on when the chassis were factory built so only thing you could do apart from what I mentioned is get another chassis... What saxo is it mate?
  6. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #6
    I have got a welder yeah, i'm not the best welder in the world as I only started welding this year but I'm happy to have a go at it. Its an 02 plate saxo vtr. The rest of the boot floor isn't too bad really a bit of surface rust. Its just those bits that have rotted through. So if I chopped them out and replaced them with box section of the same size will it go through an MOT ok as long as its a similar repair?
  7. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jun 2006 Wirral Posts: 13584 Wickerd red VTS MK2, Two tone VTS MK2,vvc Metro..
    #7
    Ive just welded plates under the ecu on my mates 53 reg vts,was very rotten through..
  8. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #8


    Just thought i'd upload this for reference to make sure everyone knows what part I'm talking about. So would there be any problems with me chopping these bits out and fabricating some new ones out of sheet metal?

    P.s that's not my car just for reference
  9. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #9
    You'll be fine,although i'd try to source some box section and weld that in mate.
  10. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #10
    I was thinking box section but then I had a look how the original attaches to the car and its like the one on the right (sorry for the shit paint drawing) i can't really tell with all the rust on it but I'm guessing its spot welded along the edges and theres small tabs each end. So I'm thinking maybe it would be easier to just get some good sheet metal and bend it into shape making the tabs and then put a few strengnthening pieces in the centre

  11. Newbie Joined: Apr 2016 Livingston,Scotland Posts: 25 Mk2 Mazda 3 MPs,106 gti, Kawasaki Z1000
    #11
    Find a local sheet metal company and get them to knock you a pair up.
  12. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #12
    That's not a bad idea I guess if I could get them off the car still in tact I could take them with me see if they could replicate them
  13. Newbie Joined: Apr 2016 Livingston,Scotland Posts: 25 Mk2 Mazda 3 MPs,106 gti, Kawasaki Z1000
    #13
    Just drill out the spot welds mate then carefully pry them off.
    I will be doing the exact same with mine mate when I get to the underside resto, working on the front end then making my way to the back.
    I know a great couple of coach builder guys that can make all sorts for me. They build ice cream vans for a living.
  14. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #14
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Stevos106 View Post
    Just drill out the spot welds mate then carefully pry them off.
    I will be doing the exact same with mine mate when I get to the underside resto, working on the front end then making my way to the back.
    I know a great couple of coach builder guys that can make all sorts for me. They build ice cream vans for a living.
    Cheers mate will have a go at it when I've got a bit of spare time, lol I'm doing the opposite.. back to front. I know i'll be ok sorting out the front end so getting the more difficult bits out of the way first
  15. Newbie Joined: Apr 2016 Livingston,Scotland Posts: 25 Mk2 Mazda 3 MPs,106 gti, Kawasaki Z1000
    #15
    The front is the worst on mine. Passanger inner arch is rotten but that's about the worst part hopefully everything after that is easier. Trying to source a passanger inner arch however is proving to be tough.
  16. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #16
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Stevos106 View Post
    The front is the worst on mine. Passanger inner arch is rotten but that's about the worst part hopefully everything after that is easier. Trying to source a passanger inner arch however is proving to be tough.
    Don't think the front is too bad on mine I know theres a hole under the ecu and it needs some new bumper mounts but you don't really know the extent until you start poking around. They did have the inner arch on 106parts.com but it says out of stock now.. they are a bit on the steep side though!
  17. Newbie Joined: Apr 2016 Livingston,Scotland Posts: 25 Mk2 Mazda 3 MPs,106 gti, Kawasaki Z1000
    #17
    I know mate I just bought drivers side and bumper brackets from them. I don't want to just plate it. I want to do it rite as it is a one owner low milage car but unfortunately driven in Scotland's crap weather for 18 years has eaten the inner wings but to be fair the rest of the car looks solid.
  18. L-plater Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 80 2001 Saxo VTR
    #18
    I would check under the ECU tray as well mate, nice place to rust is that.
  19. L-plater Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 80 2001 Saxo VTR
    #19
    Another place two of my Saxo's have rusted was behind the rear arches there are two vents into the wheel arch from the boot both of mine went there.
  20. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #20
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Stevos106 View Post
    I know mate I just bought drivers side and bumper brackets from them. I don't want to just plate it. I want to do it rite as it is a one owner low milage car but unfortunately driven in Scotland's crap weather for 18 years has eaten the inner wings but to be fair the rest of the car looks solid.
    Not quite as bothered on mine I've owned the car for 5-6years used to be my daily runner. Still want to make a tidy job of it though. Plan is to get it back on the road and running as a second car and hopefully go and try out a track day or two once it's all sorted. I'll let you know if I see any passenger inner wings come up
  21. Newbie Joined: Apr 2016 Livingston,Scotland Posts: 25 Mk2 Mazda 3 MPs,106 gti, Kawasaki Z1000
    #21
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ben_SaxoForte View Post
    Not quite as bothered on mine I've owned the car for 5-6years used to be my daily runner. Still want to make a tidy job of it though. Plan is to get it back on the road and running as a second car and hopefully go and try out a track day or two once it's all sorted. I'll let you know if I see any passenger inner wings come up
    Thanks mate I would appreciate that.
  22. L-plater Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 47
    #22
    mine looked "rusty" but spend 10mins with a wire brush and they where solid underneath the loose stuff... wire brush them down and see what there like..
  23. Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2014 Surrey Posts: 275 '57 Vauxhall Vectra CDTI - Daily '02 Saxo VTS - Tu
    #23
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ben_SaxoForte View Post
    Not quite as bothered on mine I've owned the car for 5-6years used to be my daily runner. Still want to make a tidy job of it though. Plan is to get it back on the road and running as a second car and hopefully go and try out a track day or two once it's all sorted. I'll let you know if I see any passenger inner wings come up
    pmsl the inner wings on my vts project are fucking ROTTEN
    i took the front bumper off etc to have a poke around, expected some rust, but the outer side of it completely fell to bits!
    Best solution other than getting new front wings? Can it be sheeted? bit of a funny shape
    It's not like it would be easy to find one from another saxo either, they're all rotboxes

    Any ideas would be appreciated!
  24. Established Member Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 2009 Saxò VTS 16v
    #24
    Well,protection from factory for UK weather is less than adequate in some places it's inevitable it's going to cause problem if not taken care of early,other EU countries corrosion from what I saw isn't remotely as bad as here.
  25. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #25
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by smokeandpoke View Post
    pmsl the inner wings on my vts project are fucking ROTTEN
    i took the front bumper off etc to have a poke around, expected some rust, but the outer side of it completely fell to bits!
    Best solution other than getting new front wings? Can it be sheeted? bit of a funny shape
    It's not like it would be easy to find one from another saxo either, they're all rotboxes

    Any ideas would be appreciated!
    can patch them with sheet metal if the rust patches aren't too huge obviously you need some good metal left to weld to, I plan to cut out the rust and patch them then grind the welds back to hopefully make it invisible but will see how it goes..
  26. Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2014 Surrey Posts: 275 '57 Vauxhall Vectra CDTI - Daily '02 Saxo VTS - Tu
    #26
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ben_SaxoForte View Post
    can patch them with sheet metal if the rust patches aren't too huge obviously you need some good metal left to weld to, I plan to cut out the rust and patch them then grind the welds back to hopefully make it invisible but will see how it goes..
    Well i cant weld for shit but if its doable il give it to someone capable... The bottom slam panel bit under the radiator on mine is rotten aswell but i think that but just unbolts.
    Get sime pics up when youre done let us see how you got on, do you weld much or just at home on your own bits like?

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