Bianca Ratlye

[C2K]

Cheers ears.

So, post trackday I started to take a look at the car last night. It was so windy though I just pushed it out on the drive and had a look at the spare beam instead. This is an 80k Phase 2 Xsara VTS beam off my mates care with 21mm TB's and previously lowered by a "reputable garage". It sat with me since I was away in South Africa so it's been loitering for a while.

First torsion bar came out with 3 taps of a slide hammer. Remnants of copper grease on the splines, so we're off to a good start. Other side was stuck fast, the front (naturally) and was not up for budging. Decided to knock the whole trailings arm out such as to get some purchase on the torsion bar and rebuild the beam properly if required.

First side came out, all looked fantastic, lots of grease and clean as a whistle, things looking in good shape:




Second side looked..well.. not so good really. Looks like some twat put it back together with a damaged seal on the end of the cross member tube.



Not an ideal start to a beam refurb, granted it's been sat around a while which might explain the amount of rust, but not it's presence. On the good side the bearings are fine and so is the shaft, on the other side the inner race is fine but the outer race is badly corroded/missing needles. Hopefully the races have protected the tube on the bearing lands at least.

Once I can confirm if the tube is recoverable I shall be off to buy them bits off the fella in Poland I think as his prices seem excellent.