Georgeblade

Active Member

• Mar 22, 2018

• #1

Hi, I live in the Bristol/Bath area an wondered if anyone would recommend someone local with experience of replacing the rear cross member on a S3 who is reliable.
I will probably go to the rear quarter - just not confident enough with a welder to do it myself.

Thanks

 

Jimsky Korsokov

Active Member

• Mar 22, 2018

• #2

If you are confident with sourcing the part and cutting out the old one so all you need is for a man with a welder to turn up and run the welds on the new section clamped into place you can save a lot of money (lots on youtube on howto). I did this and the mobile welding man quoted £120. It would have been a better experience if removing the tow hitch and dropping the fuel tank out wasn't such a pig of a job and the whether wasn't so cold - on balance though better than forking out £800 (only just) and of course you can do some chassis tidying up whilst all the bits are out.

 

R

rob1miles

Well-Known Member

• Mar 22, 2018

• #3

seconded, there's a big saving in doing the prep yourself and if you use a mobile welder you can do it all at home which means you can take time to clean up the weld areas and jig the new section into the right place. I've seen several where the new section has been welded out of true and there's not really anything you can do once that's happend so its worth spending time lining it all up. In my expreince welding done by repair shops can be very varieble compared to professional welders who always get a nice weld. I take my Series to a local fabricator rather than a garage.

 

Georgeblade

Active Member

• Mar 22, 2018

• #4

Many thanks Jimsky and Rob. A question tho' how do they get on welding over the top of the chassis section with the tub still in place?

 

Jimsky Korsokov

Active Member

• Mar 22, 2018

• #5

They seem to manage. I did a short arm replacement rather than the full 1/4 (means you don’t have to touch the electrics). In my 90 TD5 a previous owner had cut a hole in the tub over the fuel sender - presumably to replace it without dropping the tank - this hole provided great access for me. Not sure on 1/4 chassis but there’s some good close up stuff on YouTube.

 

Georgeblade

Active Member

• Mar 23, 2018

• #6

Cheers me dears.
I know a very good fabricator locally - just need to convince him to do it (he usually makes gates).

 

S

suburban

Well-Known Member

• Mar 24, 2018

• #7

https://www.aandd4x4.co.uk/

excellent chap did me an lpg system years ago, near sidcot

 

Georgeblade

Active Member

• Mar 25, 2018

• #8

Many thanks Suburban - checked out their website - I will give them a call tomorrow.

 

flat

Well-Known Member

• Mar 25, 2018

• #9

rob1miles said:

seconded, there's a big saving in doing the prep yourself and if you use a mobile welder you can do it all at home which means you can take time to clean up the weld areas and jig the new section into the right place. I've seen several where the new section has been welded out of true and there's not really anything you can do once that's happend so its worth spending time lining it all up. In my expreince welding done by repair shops can be very varieble compared to professional welders who always get a nice weld. I take my Series to a local fabricator rather than a garage.

Click to expand...

Good advice to the fabricator - most garages round my way are mechanics who can weld, but a fabricator is in a whole different league