Torsion bar lowering

[Phil Gti 9]

Is there anyone/garage in Kent that can help to or lower the torsion bar on my 205?

 

Cheers 

 

Phil

[Duroc 2 1 Cars]

Got this sorted yet?

[Phil Gti 9]

No, atill waiting for rellies offering help / suggestions.

[Duroc 2 1 Cars]

Ok. Well let me know if I can help.

[pug_ham 240 3 Cars]

If you know your beam is in good condition after a relatively recent rebuild / refurb and isn't likely to be rusted together, it's not that difficult to do yourself.

 

There are a few topics on here that cover the how to do it the factory way.

 

g

[Phil Gti 9]

My car is parked in a narrow garage and nowhere outside suitable to do it. I don't have a puller for the arms either. I am in the auto trade and it has all the hall marks of the type of job where bolts snap, things go wrong or take longer than expected  due to a lack of experience or special tool needed.   It doesn't have a M.O.T yet, so I will get it transported to where ever I need to. Elite in Rainham Essex do it but charge a fortune, much more than the last time my previous 205 was lowered.

All I want is a recommendation to a garage or someone from the Forum who can do it for a lots less than Elite. 

[Tom Fenton 1,526]

If it isn't known to have been rebuilt at some time in recent history, then in 95% of cases it will be opening a can of worms sadly, that is from experience into probably the hundreds of Peugeot rear beam assemblies.

[welshpug 1,623]

I can do it, like tom says as an unknown unit I wouldn't entertain just lowering it, I would advise at the least a set of bearings and seals which is not a great deal of money, worst case it will need trailing arm shafts and crossmember.

 

based in Bridgend, South Wales.

[Phil Gti 9]

Thanks for the offer but Iive in Kent, south of London so a bit too far away lol. 

Maybe I should restate need to be in the Kent or Surrey area 

[Tom Fenton 1,526]

Put simply there isn't anyone, or not that I know of. Either remove the beam or take the car somewhere look like the options.

[welshpug 1,623]

Have to agree, the only option is to travel to one of the known guys on here that offer to help, or get on google and take the risk with a local independent.

 

A citroen specialist may be easier to find that is capable of taking it on, the tool kit I have myself is a Citroen xsara boxed dealer set!

 

As youre in the trade surely you would just take it to work??

[Phil Gti 9]

I used to manage automotive garages, now Im A VDA and the bodyshop only has one ramp in constant use. I din't have the tools for the job. I would rather pay and help someone to do the job but don't anyone on the forum local to me, which is the reason why I posted my question. If you can help or tell me who can please let me know.

[jord294 87]

Travel is your only option for a decent job

[welshpug 1,623]

I'd say there's 3 that replied here that can help.

[Gohn 62]

that's not an island ! (joking), if its on your mainland it is local 

just quietly, you've hit the 205 jackpot

they're nearby, highly skilled, straight ahead and charge decent rates

 

 

 

 

 

[welshpug 1,623]

Get the beam off and on a Pallet, easy to do in a single car garage,  thats exactly how I did my first one about 18 years ago, one of the very first jobs I ever did on it!

 

2 handbrake cables, 2 brake hoses, 6x 16mm nuts and the 18mm on the tank strap.

 

I also did the steering rack in the same garage, turned round after doing the beam and poked the nose out far enough to get the rack out sideways.

 

Or get it towed, I'm about 200 miles away, an easy shot round the m25 and down the m4.

 

Andy (Jord294)  is in north wales near Mold, Tom is near Rotherham, Stef Golesworthy is down in Devon.

[petert 553]

58 minutes ago, Gohn said:

that's not an island ! (joking), if its on your mainland it is local 

just quietly, you've hit the 205 jackpot

they're nearby, highly skilled, straight ahead and charge decent rates

 

 

 

 

 

They don’t like to travel the same distances as us. 

[welshpug 1,623]

Well we dont have to go as far as you guys down under usually

[Phil Gti 9]

If  I was in the workshop I used to manage with all the equipment and tools I would do it myself, although having the experience of someone who has done it before would help. 

 If there is anyone or a company within 50 miles of maidstone that can do it let me know. I have to factor in the cost of transportation there and back. It may be that Elite in Rainham Essex is the closest and I will just have to pay a lot more than I wanted to.

Edited September 13, 2023 by Phil Gti

[jord294 87]

20 hours ago, Phil Gti said:

If  I was in the workshop I used to manage with all the equipment and tools I would do it myself, although having the experience of someone who has done it before would help. 

 If there is anyone or a company within 50 miles of maidstone that can do it let me know. I have to factor in the cost of transportation there and back. It may be that Elite in Rainham Essex is the closest and I will just have to pay a lot more than I wanted to.

But do elite know what they're doing? 

 

Just drop axle off car, get on pallet, and send to whoever of us experienced builders, you want to use. Simples

[Phil Gti 9]

Yes they do, have done it for other 205's in the past.

The cost of sending a rear beam some where in the UK and returning to me is going to be very expensive. Combined with paying someone to do it will be more expensive that £250. I would rather have my mate transport it somewhere fairly local and put the cost of lowering it in someones pocket, and still cost me a lot less. 

[welshpug 1,623]

They'll be more than £250.

[pug_ham 240 3 Cars]

On 9/14/2023 at 8:32 PM, Phil Gti said:

I would rather have my mate transport it somewhere fairly local and put the cost of lowering it in someones pocket

This won't take into account that with a beam of unknown history it could become a much more expensive job in the long run if done by people that just intend to "lower" the beam for you, possibly by the notch method I suspect too, remembering the Elite name from bitd Max Power days.

 

On 9/14/2023 at 8:32 PM, Phil Gti said:

still cost me a lot less. 

Maybe not in the long run.

 

g

[Phil Gti 9]

I have no personal previous experience of this job. IWhat is considered the correct method for lowering the rear beam?

 

[welshpug 1,623]

For yours as an unknown unit, strip down and assess, fit new bearings and seals as a minimum, reassemble at desired height.

 

 

For a known unit with recent history of rebuild:

remove dampers.

measure damper bolt centres,

  remove arb bolts,

Remove torsion bar, 

set dummy damper to appropriate setting,

repeat on the other side, 

refit the anti roll  bar bolts,

refit dampers