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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: stainesy on 31 July 2011, 18:22

Title: how to replace a sill
Post by: stainesy on 31 July 2011, 18:22
Ok both my sills seem to be shot as front jacking points mangled totaly.
How do you remove and put on new sill?
I take it they are welded on?
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Wayne on 31 July 2011, 19:10
Yep they are welded on.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: stainesy on 31 July 2011, 20:25
whats the going rate to have these replaced?
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Jack3559 on 01 August 2011, 00:50
Very expensive.

To get mine done it came to £400 iirc.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: stainesy on 01 August 2011, 06:44
Very expensive.

To get mine done it came to £400 iirc.
:shocked:
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Seanl on 01 August 2011, 09:32
I had one done at the last MOT on the drivers side. Cost £80
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Jack3559 on 01 August 2011, 12:21
Mine was a bit more than a sill though, it was seatbelt anchor points and stuff...
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Wayne on 01 August 2011, 12:28
The problem comes after you cut the old sill off, you may get lucky and find nothing else but you may find the rust has spread.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: stainesy on 01 August 2011, 12:47
My sills are not rusty realy its just my front jacking points are mangled propper mangled.
And there is rust around front passenger side drainage hole thing. Got mot in a month.
Are they structural at all?
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Wayne on 01 August 2011, 12:56
Are they structural at all?

Yes they are  :smiley:
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: SoundillusioN on 01 August 2011, 13:03
Shame, the woes of mk3 ownership, rust!  :sad:
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Len on 01 August 2011, 13:13
Had to have mine done recently, both sides and nothing to do with rust! All down to clowns at tyre depots!
Mine were completely crushed and they had to put down the inner section.
That cost me £150.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: stainesy on 01 August 2011, 13:55
Yep mine are the same. Not rust just mangled. Like it when I got the car and got wors when iv had to jack up myself. Also the inner bit of mine is squashed to. Cost you £150 for what? Is that with you suplying new sills yourself?
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: SoundillusioN on 01 August 2011, 14:05
Had to have mine done recently, both sides and nothing to do with rust! All down to clowns at tyre depots!
Mine were completely crushed and they had to put down the inner section.
That cost me £150.

I was just responding to all the other comments.

Yes I do hate people that can't jack up a car nicely, it's not hard now is it!

Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Seanl on 01 August 2011, 15:00
Both mine are now crushed again tbf. Just gonna try banging them back out with a mallet to get them to a reasonable state as there is no rust, and then undersealing it. Never know, it might just pass and for a tenner for the underseal, its worth a shot... :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: SoundillusioN on 01 August 2011, 15:32
Both mine are now crushed again tbf. Just gonna try banging them back out with a mallet to get them to a reasonable state as there is no rust, and then undersealing it. Never know, it might just pass and for a tenner for the underseal, its worth a shot... :lipsrsealed:

I wonder why they buckle so easy, never had this trouble with a mk1, not bragging, just curious?
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: brett on 01 August 2011, 15:48
snap mine were crushed when i got it ,but being an amateur with cars and it being my first car (at the ripe age of 32 hahaha)last thing i looked at d'oh
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Seanl on 01 August 2011, 16:12
Both mine are now crushed again tbf. Just gonna try banging them back out with a mallet to get them to a reasonable state as there is no rust, and then undersealing it. Never know, it might just pass and for a tenner for the underseal, its worth a shot... :lipsrsealed:

I wonder why they buckle so easy, never had this trouble with a mk1, not bragging, just curious?

Dunno what they're like on mk1s and 2s, but on the 3s they are quite deep. People that dont really know much about the car use the sill as a jacking point instead of reinforced point a bit further in. The grooves on the jack be it either scissor or trolley are'nt deep enough so just push them up and crush them.  :sick:
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Wayne on 01 August 2011, 16:23
Both mine are now crushed again tbf. Just gonna try banging them back out with a mallet to get them to a reasonable state as there is no rust, and then undersealing it. Never know, it might just pass and for a tenner for the underseal, its worth a shot... :lipsrsealed:

I wonder why they buckle so easy, never had this trouble with a mk1, not bragging, just curious?

Dunno what they're like on mk1s and 2s, but on the 3s they are quite deep. People that dont really know much about the car use the sill as a jacking point instead of reinforced point a bit further in. The grooves on the jack be it either scissor or trolley are'nt deep enough so just push them up and crush them.  :sick:

Spot on, they really suffer being jacked in the wrong place.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: SoundillusioN on 01 August 2011, 16:33
Never jacked up on anything other than the correct points, and when I do I always use soft wood to separate the metal jack from the metal of the car.

I suppose you will always have previous owners who have at some point had a blow, performed a roadside wheel change jacking up the car any old where. The rest of is as said is usually sh*t, careless garages and tyre fitters!  :angry:
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Len on 01 August 2011, 16:46
I now use the standard scissor type jack to get it up high enough to get my 2T trolley jack onto a subframe mount or some other solid point.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: stainesy on 01 August 2011, 20:19
I now use the standard scissor type jack to get it up high enough to get my 2T trolley jack onto a subframe mount or some other solid point.

same as me. i have to use spare wheel jack to get it high enough to get a trolley under the subframe mount but its imposible to use it on my front sills.

anybody got any pics of there mangle sills so i can gudge how bad mine actuly is. plus just want to be nosey  :grin:
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 01 August 2011, 20:28
I discovered a pair of crushed sills on mine a couple of months ago when it was on the MOT ramp, luckily the nasty b@stard brown worm hasn't set in yet.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Len on 01 August 2011, 20:37
Thats the annoying thing! Mine didnt have any rust on them!
Had advisory note on the two previous MOT's so thought this year it had to be done before MOT!
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: dan_apps on 01 August 2011, 21:37
one of mine was slightly mangled on the jacking point. i straightened it out with a hammer in fairness, you may find they rip but all i did was weld it tidely in these places the undersealed it, it was no work of art but it was tidy and passed the mot without a comment! the mot by the way was end of june just gone :smiley:

Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: Wayne on 01 August 2011, 21:56
I always used to drive mine up onto blocks of wood then use a trolley jack.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: dan_apps on 01 August 2011, 22:00
theres a reinforced hump just beyond the sill too mind at the front!
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 01 August 2011, 23:56
Ive always jacked my mk3's up on the subframe fixing point without any issues.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: geeksteve on 02 August 2011, 09:52
theres a reinforced hump just beyond the sill too mind at the front!

Mine *looked* lovely until i tried to use it.. Then it started bending inwards.. Not using that again!
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: SoundillusioN on 02 August 2011, 11:27
I always used to drive mine up onto blocks of wood then use a trolley jack.

Same, but now I have a low level jack.  :cool:
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: vdubnut on 28 August 2011, 14:41
 reinforced hump on mine even lookign rough :(need to get a welder i think!! not sure can do this with stick weldeer LOL
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: tshirt2k on 28 August 2011, 15:51
reinforced hump on mine even lookign rough :(need to get a welder i think!! not sure can do this with stick weldeer LOL

You'll be blowing holes all Over the place.
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: tweed on 28 August 2011, 16:19
I made 3" step ramps so I can drive up then jack the car from the subframe, and the rear beam.

Hate to say but my sill are perfect  :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: birch on 29 August 2011, 09:14
i dont understand this properly, am i right in thinking that i should use the cars scissor jack under the four marked sections on the sills but these may crush and give way? or i could use a trolley jack with a block of soft wood under the front raised humps or rear raised humps but these also may crush? im not sure how to jack the car up using the front subframe or rear beam could someone clear up this for me please, thanks. i can see the front raised humps but im not sure where these raised humps are at the rear, any pics available? thanks
Title: Re: how to replace a sill
Post by: tweed on 29 August 2011, 10:36
i dont understand this properly, am i right in thinking that i should use the cars scissor jack under the four marked sections on the sills but these may crush and give way? or i could use a trolley jack with a block of soft wood under the front raised humps or rear raised humps but these also may crush? im not sure how to jack the car up using the front subframe or rear beam could someone clear up this for me please, thanks. i can see the front raised humps but im not sure where these raised humps are at the rear, any pics available? thanks


use a trolley jack on subframe and rear beam.

What I do is drive on my ramps first to get good clearance, as it's low. I then put the jack dead center of the car and either jack from the large flat peice of metal on the front which is the sub frame, or the rear beam. I then lower it down on axle stands. I put them under the subframe and rear beam too.