front cross member bent

  1. L-plater Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 83
    #1
    I had a deer run out in the road the other day and it smashed the bumper, radiator and completely bent the front cross member.

    I think the cross member is beyond repair as it seems to have folded up like paper and has a split in it. As the radiator mounts on this, I can't fit another radiator, so must replace the cross member first.

    Problem is I don't have a welder, so was thinking of riveting one on. The existing one seems to be welded, does anyone have a guide on how to remove it? The local scrappy to me has a Saxo so I could take the cross member off that, but how do I get it off cleanly? Whats involved to get it off? Any way to do it without power tools as I don't have a cordless grinder and the scrappy won't get involved taking bits of cars.

    Alternatively if anyone knows of anybody who could come and sort this for me on my drive, without costing a fortune - it would save me a lot of hassle. The vehicle is based in Oxford at the moment.
  2. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #2
    Get a pic up mate,the cross member needs to be cut out & a new one welded in,you can't rivet it in.Unless your getting confused with the slam panel which bolts on.
  3. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #3
    needs welding won't be safe if you rivet it. you aren't going to get it done without an angle grinder and a welder really..
  4. L-plater Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 83
    #4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Get a pic up mate,the cross member needs to be cut out & a new one welded in,you can't rivet it in.Unless your getting confused with the slam panel which bolts on.
    It's the piece that the radiator sits on. It does not look like it's crucial to safety. In any case, even if it needs welding, I need to be able to patch things up enough to drive it to someone who can weld it. Surely rivets would be okay for this?
  5. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #5
    No they would not,get a mobile welder to come to you.You have a front end smash and rivets won't save you.
  6. Newbie Joined: Apr 2016 Livingston,Scotland Posts: 25 Mk2 Mazda 3 MPs,106 gti, Kawasaki Z1000
    #6
    I'm sure the front cross member is spot welded on. You can get a drill bit to remove spot welds then it's a case of using a chisel to tease it off. You will need a welder as said above to make it safe although they are made of very thin steel so aren't safe cars anyway.
  7. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #7
    I can see what you're saying about fixing temporarily and I guess that would be ok for a short journey to a welder but please don't leave it bodged with rivets get it sorted properly