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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Diamond Hell on 14 December 2013, 01:07

Title: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 14 December 2013, 01:07
I have what can only be described as an erratic clonking coming from what I *think* is the back of the Golf.

It's definitely not my front indicator flapping around in the wind.

I replaced the rear struts, thinking it might have been them knocking... and to be fair they had thrown up down themselves, too.

The clonking died down a bit, but has come back again, after only a few weeks.

How likely is it that it's the beam bushes?  The car's done 185k.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 14 December 2013, 02:05
Im definitely going with rear bushes especially at that mileage. I've replaced them on two different mk3's...one with 120k (16v) which knocked occasionally and another with 180k (TDI estate) which was literally snaking down the road and pretty f**king scary tbh.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: VW BUSH on 14 December 2013, 11:47
Snaking in extreme cases like thai said and major clonking over bumps particularly tight bumpy corners with the unloaded end of the beam flapping about.
Did you do the rear top mounts with the struts? They also knock like a woodpecker.
PU bushes are easiest to fit but I doubt the effectiveness of them over time, can get paten ones for 8 a side.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Bellend on 14 December 2013, 12:28
Stick it on a ramp and get a bar in between the axle and the mounting plate. Soon see if there's play there. The MK4 was knocking at random intervals before I swapped them.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: tweed on 14 December 2013, 15:56
As said you'll know when it snakes going round a long bend around 60mph
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 14 December 2013, 19:30
Sounds like a quick swap out of the top mounts before getting into beam bushes, as that'll be bloody brake pipes too.  :angry:
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Screech16v on 14 December 2013, 19:52
Can be done without splitting the brake pipes  :whistle:
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: VW BUSH on 14 December 2013, 20:42
Sounds like a quick swap out of the top mounts before getting into beam bushes, as that'll be bloody brake pipes too.  :angry:
Exactly, cutting out the old bush and sleeves is not for cold days or cold fingers :grin:
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 14 December 2013, 20:57
Never touched anything brake related when i swapped mine out.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Screech16v on 14 December 2013, 22:08
Sounds like a quick swap out of the top mounts before getting into beam bushes, as that'll be bloody brake pipes too.  :angry:
Exactly, cutting out the old bush and sleeves is not for cold days or cold fingers :grin:

Its exactly for cold days as youll get a sweat on knocking them out. 
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 14 December 2013, 22:47
A reciprocating saw comes in very handy with the removal of these buggers.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 14 December 2013, 22:48
Never touched anything brake related when i swapped mine out.

Any pointers on this avoidance of touching the brake lines would be ideal. (http://www.northloop.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/thumb.gif)
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 14 December 2013, 22:57
The rear beam was left in situ and i simply dropped one side of the beam to body mounts at a time whilst the beam was still connected to the rear struts. There is just enough clearance to get the bush pivot bolt out and let it lower down and sit on a trolley jack whilst you bring the fury to the deceased bushes in question.

At no point did the removal of the brake hoses or lines cross my mind.

Drill, burn, cut and swear at offending items until they exist no more.

It's worth knocking up a bush installation tool as it saved me sh!t loads of time, effort and sanity.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Len on 15 December 2013, 11:14
A very, very experienced mechanic friend of mine did the rear bushes on my car and he said it was the worst job he had done on any car in his life!

As thai says burn em, hit em, etc. etc.
They are a right pig to get out!
Apparently! :whistle:
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Dave_IOW on 15 December 2013, 11:29
I can always bring some air chisels back from work to assist us, I've already got mine to do, double rear beam bush night, sounds fun :afro:
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Bellend on 15 December 2013, 11:33
Pssst pussy.

Whack the old middle sections out, usually they fall apart. Inside is two sleeves. Knock the inner one out by getting a chissle in the smaller edge. Hard to explain but it's about 8mm thick then just ram a bar through it and it will slide out.

Then comes the harder part which is the outer sleeve. Get a small chisle and ram it in between flat, it's tough but keep going and going. Then just get a sharp chisle and use it to cut it.

Done a few now and it takes about an hour a side. An installation tool is easier, threaded bar, a plate and a 65mm socket is my choice and works better than a bought one.

Clean up before installing new and use fairly liquid. Impact tool makes easy work of installing with a tool, to wind it up.

Lemforder one's fit easiest and will probably last the longest.

Goes without saying but line them up properly and don't tighten them until car is level.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: gazareth on 15 December 2013, 11:45
or you could just inject them with sikaflex :wink:. done it to my old golf and it lasted 3 years until car was put off road.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 16 December 2013, 11:39
I'm fully up to speed with how to remove shells of bushes, thanks.  TBH once the inner is out I generally get the air hacksaw in there and cut a slot in the shell, which releases it with much less hammering and aggravation.

Clean up before installing new and use fairly liquid. Impact tool makes easy work of installing with a tool, to wind it up.

Don't use 'fairly liquid'.  It has various things in it, many of which are corrosive if left hanging around between two metal surfaces.  Using copper slip would be much more sensible, empirically better and less pikey.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: JC on 16 December 2013, 22:03
or just dont bother and use the Rado  :whistle:

(http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp359/chuffs69/fingers.gif)
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 16 December 2013, 23:49
It's my POS Golf3 and I'll be as nice as I want to it.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 20 December 2013, 01:42
Rear beam bushes were shot.  Now on deck, ready for new ones tomorrow.

Had probably 5-7cm horizontal movement on it when I finally stuck it on the ramp to look.
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: boneybradley on 20 December 2013, 11:24
mine was like that when I bought it!!! (how the last owner coped with the rear steer beats me!)
Title: Re: What are the symptoms of shot rear beam bushes?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 23 December 2013, 07:29
Did the bushes, there is STILL a bit of a clonk there.

New top mounts ordered.