The rear beam bushings

[ABV-VR6 12]

Hi all,

 Well, since I removed the rear axle and stripped it ready for powder coating now I've been thinking about when it will be time to put it back together...
The only thing that I see problematic is reinstalling those bushings... All you can read online is how much of a pain in the arse they are to install. And all I can find for the installation on youtube, they have special tools to make it happen. 
Is it possible to do it yourself with home tools, who's done it, tips? Any help would be appreciated! Cheers

[tonedef 9]

This was my method, tooling was supplied by Messrs Heath & Robinson!

Getting the first side done took a couple of hours as I was trying every piece of packing for size to pull it in straight. Second one took a few minutes.

Edited December 29, 2020 by tonedef

[Stone0311 0]

Timely thread, I have this to do myself in the next few weeks - useful photo 👍👍

[seanl82 23]

I tried this method. Unfortunately the threaded bar sheared twice! (It was long enough to begin with to have a second attempt). Had to take it to a VW specialist in the end. The only bit of work I've ever had to pay for aside from MOT & geometry on my car.

[tonedef 9]

11 minutes ago, seanl82 said:

I tried this method. Unfortunately the threaded bar sheared twice! (It was long enough to begin with to have a second attempt). Had to take it to a VW specialist in the end. The only bit of work I've ever had to pay for aside from MOT & geometry on my car.

I took it to the VW specialist first, they scratched their heads for a day and phoned me to come collect it still in pieces!

I believe it was M12 threaded bar I used, I cleaned the beam out with the flap wheel first and put plenty of grease in there but no breakages.

[fendervg 33]

There's a special VAG tool for doing them in situ, pretty similar to the DIY versions - a lot of garages will just drop the whole beam and use a bearing/bench press. The tools can still be bought, and also come up on the secondary market relatively frequently, but hardly worth it considering how often you will be doing the job. Might be worth having a "tool library" organised by the club for things like that.

The tool is VAG 3111:

https://vw.snapon.com/SpecialToolsDetail.aspx?itemid=27660108

or here, but sit down securely before you see the list price:

https://www.dieselkontor.de/product_info.php?products_id=1104

I know I bought a small bench press to do my rear bearings a few years back, and have only used it once or twice since. Someone talented like daves16v on here could have a nice sideline making the DIY version and selling it on here and the Mk2/3 forums.

[Cressa 44]

I saw somewhere that someone did it with some threaded bars and a couple of plates. Genius.  

I did mine with the brother in law and a small 3T press. Not easy and hilarious having to hold the axle up. Make sure you get the ears back in the correct placing. As you will never get them out again 😩

[ABV-VR6 12]

Thanks to all of you, really appreciated it!
Tonedef, that picture is great thank you. It's giving some direction to make something up. I don't have a welder or metal plate scraps but I'll start looking for something down that line.
I too like seanl82 was thinking of bringing it to the garage ( would be one of the rare things I would get a garage to do for me as well ) but I live in a remote area and not sure they would have the proper equipment to do it... I have a few weeks to figure this out!
Cheers!
 

[Bruno 4]

May I return to this question again - but for different reasons?

Took off my rear beam to replace the rear brake lines and regulator - but in the process realised the beam needed a good cleanup. Now the bushes are original - the car has done about 150K miles, so some questions - you will no doubt have guessed where I am going:

1. As the darn thing is off, is it best to stick a clothes peg on my nose, burn the old bushes, fit new ones?

2. Would you use poly bushes, or OEM bushes? I ask because - they dont seem to be around now - IIRC there were comments about polybushes being harsher and more noisy than OEM ones. However it seems that fitting polybushes could be a tad easier.

I dont want to race my car. I like it a a cruiser.

Edited January 14, 2021 by Bruno

[ABV-VR6 12]

Well, here's what I've done and it was simple and took less than 5 minutes per side. I drilled through the bushing 6 or 7 time with a 1/4" bit around the center sleeve. Then I used my reciprocating saw with a long demolition blade and "connected the dots" lol. Once the center removed, I used a metal blade on my recep saw to cut the outer metal ring, finished by hand to not damage the beam. I squeezed the outer ring with a vise, cold chisel and hammer a few time it fell off super easy. Yes you can burn it but what a stench and mess... 

This is a one time thing, while it's in your hands, powder coat or hammerite paint would be worth it... 

I would never install poly bushings for the reasons you mentioned. I ordered mine on ebay, I went with Lemforder but I'm sure Meyle or Febi would be good too. I would change that bolt and nut too... All available on ebay and I even saw kit (bushing + nut + bolt) , and while you wait to get them, get the rear beam powder coated 😉. 

Let me know if you more questions happy to help, cheers

[Bruno 4]

Very useful -  will get some OEM bushes.  Still trying to find the right tool - nobody seems to rent the VAG 3111 set. The wiki seems adamant that that's what one uses.  Did you find any fleabay or Heath Robinson solution? 

FYI. Did look at powder coating. Decided on hand painting with epoxy high build primer, then 2K black final coat sprayed. Need something that is stronger in handling damage from my unmade road. Too much gravel.

Edited January 13, 2021 by Bruno

[ABV-VR6 12]

My rear beam is at the powder coating shop right now so I haven't fitted the bushings yet. Here's my setup and what I'll be attempting : bought a 7/16" threaded rod, heavy washers, 2" long nuts. Shimming with some box set. I'll check if I have a picture. 

I think what you're doing, primer and epoxy paint is a very good alternative and solid option. 

[ABV-VR6 12]

Only picture I have (to show my friend) I'll try something like this with tape around to hold... So it's a bearing ring from my bearing kit, 3 box on one side and a piece of metal to shim, fits perfect that way

[ABV-VR6 12]

One last thing I'll be putting the bushings in the freezer for a couple of days before doing it, can't hurt! 

[fendervg 33]

Be careful with the powder coating as at can be a micro layer thicker than the original coating, even if sand blasted before hand and this might make it more snug when trying to fit a new bearing bush - I think that's why a lot of people go for poly ones, as they just go straight in.

I've had to sand down powder finish on bicycle frames before when it came to refitting some parts.

[1xshaunx1 27]

2 hours ago, fendervg said:

Be careful with the powder coating as at can be a micro layer thicker than the original coating, even if sand blasted before hand and this might make it more snug when trying to fit a new bearing bush - I think that's why a lot of people go for poly ones, as they just go straight in.

I've had to sand down powder finish on bicycle frames before when it came to refitting some parts.

When I had mine done I blanked off areas Ann’s threads so they didn’t get coated. You can just see the plate and bolts where the hub fits. 

[Bruno 4]

Saw this on Ebay last week and contacted the guy. REAR AXLE BUSH REMOVAL INSTALLER TOOL VW GOLF III MK3 PASSAT 35i VENTO PULLER | eBay. He confirmed that it definately works but since the 31 Dec 2020, he cannot send anything to the UK without having a counterpart importer. Still trying to work out what that means. The product does look strong enough.

Does anybody watching this understand what went south regarding importing from the EU? PM me please.

[ABV-VR6 12]

Same for me, I'm getting pretty much everything under the car powder coated and where the bushings or bolts go, it's been blanked off so should be the same as before. 

That tool is nice, don't know the answer to your question though! 

[1xshaunx1 27]

5 hours ago, Bruno said:

Saw this on Ebay last week and contacted the guy. REAR AXLE BUSH REMOVAL INSTALLER TOOL VW GOLF III MK3 PASSAT 35i VENTO PULLER | eBay. He confirmed that it definately works but since the 31 Dec 2020, he cannot send anything to the UK without having a counterpart importer. Still trying to work out what that means. The product does look strong enough.

Does anybody watching this understand what went south regarding importing from the EU? PM me please.

It should be the same or easier than ordering item from America, Australia, China etc. 
Have to pick it up and pay Vat import duty at worst. 
Did you notice it was £500 delivery 

[1xshaunx1 27]

1 hour ago, ABV-VR6 said:

Same for me, I'm getting pretty much everything under the car powder coated and where the bushings or bolts go, it's been blanked off so should be the same as before. 

That tool is nice, don't know the answer to your question though! 

Hey JP. Why don’t you message the guy out of curiosity to see how much and if it could be shipped to Canada. 

[ABV-VR6 12]

11 minutes ago, 1xshaunx1 said:

Hey JP. Why don’t you message the guy out of curiosity to see how much and if it could be shipped to Canada. 

Yes mate, I guess it's free to ask! I'll message him and see. Thing is though, shipping takes likes 6 to 8 weeks right now! Cheers 

[Bruno 4]

 

1 hour ago, 1xshaunx1 said:

t should be the same or easier than ordering item from America, Australia, China etc. 
Have to pick it up and pay Vat import duty at worst. 
Did you notice it was £500 delivery

Yep doesnt make sense. If I reassign its destination to the Netherlands - it charges £10. Then if I reassign it again to the UK, with my postcode, its £10 again! But when I hit BUY, it charges me £500. Wierd. Phoning Ebay for their take on it.

[1xshaunx1 27]

11 minutes ago, Bruno said:

 

Yep doesnt make sense. If I reassign its destination to the Netherlands - it charges £10. Then if I reassign it again to the UK, with my postcode, its £10 again! But when I hit BUY, it charges me £500. Wierd. Phoning Ebay for their take on it.

Another good idea. Can’t wait to see how much to Canada as well as your feedback. 
👍👍😂😂😂

[fla 9]

Postage is strange on that one!  If we can get dimensions i can look to getting it made

[ABV-VR6 12]

40 minutes ago, fla said:

Postage is strange on that one!  If we can get dimensions i can look to getting it made

Oh Hasan could you? That would be amazing!