[Steering & Suspension] Rear axle US

[jamesf]

It seems our old Mk1 car is starting to die. It is having a new front spring fitted at this very moment as the old one had just snapped and was about to penetrate the tyre :eek:, but more worrying is the news that the mechanic thinks one of the bearings in the rear beam axle is shot and we will need a new one (or rather one from a scrappy). He has rebuilt one before but isn't keen to repeat the experience and said it didn't work for long anyway as the actual casing is usually shot not just the needle roller bearings.

Anyone done this job / got any experience with this problem?

The car's done 125000 miles now and has numerous scrapes and signs of age and many bits no longer work, but has had about £2000 spent on it over the past couple of years keeping it on the road.

I'm getting to the end of my tether with it tbh....

[Landmark]

Hi Jamesf,
Had the same with the spring on our 02 1.4. They did have a recall to fit a bracket to the suspension top to stop the spring damaging the tyre. Has yours been done?
My attitude to vehicles is as long as a new bit can be "bolted" on it's worth keeping. However, if serious chassis rust starts then time to move on.
Griff

[jamesf]

Hi Griff

I agree that the thing that normally kills the car is the need for extensive welding, and it seems Berlingos are pretty well sorted from a rust point of view.

The spring actually snapped and is in two pieces, doubt any sort of cover would have helped unless it covered the whole thing?

Ta, James

[Rustscrat]

Hi, if you search on't titnernet you can find recon'd axle's with a 2 year g'tee for about £400. A cheeper alternative would be to get a decent condition one of ebay. Don't get the bearings replaced as the stub shaft will be shot as well. tudy::thumbsup: