Peugeot 206/ Citroen Saxo rear axle advice

[AndyStobbs]

Got a job in today on a 206 van 2006. I serviced it recently and picked up a load of play in n/s/r trailing arm bearing - where it is mounted to the cross member.
Rebuild kits (consisting of new needle rollers) are available and I have fitted one into the trailing arm. It was clear from the start that there was significant pitting on the axle tube and so the play is still present - not a shock.

Someone in poland is offering a rebuild kit including new axle tubes, which leads me to believe the tube must be removable from the cross member. So before I weigh in with removing the entire assy tomorrow, has anybody done this job and can offer some insight on how do-able it is?

Once the tube is out I will weld it up and turn it back down to size, but will it come out in one piece?

Thanks

 

[Shox Dr]

I can't help you with your dilemma.

Just a word of warning about buying "reconditioned" units. I know 3 people that have bought units for different makes, from someone in or around Oldham, all failed, bigtime. All were told they had been striped and rebuilt.

The seller wasn't interested unless you took it to them, still on the vehicle. While I understand where the seller is coming from, all were fitted by people I know well and don't doubt their abilities. It is just a torsion beam axle, take old one off fit "new" one, so I see little need to trailer a vehicle all the way to Oldham.

 

[PhillipM]

Usually come out in one piece, but expect a massive slide hammer or 10-20ton press job to crack it off, you can buy replacements from a few places. Dealers didn't use to be bad pricewise, don't know if they still offer them though.
The finish needs to be ground rather than lathed down really, otherwise the bearings don't last. And heeds Shox Dr's advice above, there's a couple of cowboy companies doing them as refurbs these days that don't know their backside from their elbow.

 

[AndyStobbs]

I spoke to the local dealer earlier today and priced a crossmember assy. Little bit eye watering, and they made no mention of a tube being available - and the parts guy knows my ways haha.

PhillipM you say I need a hefty slide hammer, how does it all separate? Does the tube act as a pin to hold the main outside tube to the mounting bracket arrangement? An interferance fit in both?

 

[PhillipM]

Yes, the stubs are just pressed into the crossmember.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Thanks, will strip it tomorrow.

 

[doubleboost]

No second hand units available

 

[AndyStobbs]

Yes plenty on ebay. Local scrappy rang out. If I draw a blank in 2 hours of trying to extract the tube it will become a scrappy job. Just never know if your going to find anything in better condition.

 

[doubleboost]

Make sure you "pop mark" the torsion bar ends
One spline makes a massive difference to the ride height

 

[AndyStobbs]

Done that bit yes. I hate these axles did a lowering job on a saxo many years ago and had to resort to a big hammer chasing the entire thing around the floor.

 

[doubleboost]

Plusgas is your friend (oxygen plus accetyline)

 

[AndyStobbs]

Took me a while to remember how it all came apart to be honest. Once I remembered the washer at the end of the torsion bar sits partly in a groove (and has to be removed), the slide hammer got to be more effective at pulling the torsion bar out.

Will get it sorted one way or another. I did wonder about doubling up on the needle rollers to move onto some of the good surface on the pin, dismissed that as a bit rough really.

 

[Wyn F]

Got a job in today on a 206 van 2006. I serviced it recently and picked up a load of play in n/s/r trailing arm bearing - So before I weigh in with removing the entire assy tomorrow, has anybody done this job and can offer some insight on how do-able it is?

Does this help ?

You should be able to drop the complete beam assem out reasonably easily
Other then dropping the exhaust and disconnecting the cables/brakes there's not a lot to them
Think by memory there's 4 main bolts holding it all in ?
If buying 2nds make sure you get the right type.
ie, drum type or discs type, none abs or with abs (as not interchangeable) and not from an estate as totally different to the hatch type

 

[nick205]

Search for 205 gti drivers on the web. On the sites homepage is a step by step guide to dismantling and rebuilding the beam.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Thanks, I have just had a look but its different to the 206 anyway.

 

[PhillipM]

Yeah, the 206 runs pins the beam, instead of the old pins in the arm design.

 

[Rocketman]

Try IM axles. They give a 2 year guarantee if I remember and have good reviews. The only thing I would ask of them is don't use oilite bearings and instead use the standard - which I believe they have no problem using instead. Have no idea why they go with oilite, IMO they are poo.