Should I laugh or cry?

[Loach1]

I was messing about with my fuel delivery problem when something caught my eye on a trailing arm. I prodded about with a screwdriver and couldn't believe my eyes! Same on the other side. Happy that I found this while safely in the drive, sad at the prospect of getting them fixed in the USA, or shipping to UK. I was hoping to be able to re-home this car (silver) this Spring, but this will delay things a bit.

If anyone has a spare pair of trailing arms, or knows the tube size, please let me know....

[greymrj]

I am afraid that is a problem we have to face with every S, and a very regular issue on PH. See
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I suppose you have a choice, fork out for the freight costs for sending them to and from Adrian Venn, or find a good engineering shop who are prepared to make a jig and then restore them with new tube. The tube itself isnt much of a problem, but making the jig isnt an easy job. If you are selling the car then it should be possible to replace the one tube without doing the rubber bushes as they may well be OK, you would need to check with the arms off.

[Griffinr]

They look repairable, one of mine was like that, I ground out the corrosion to good metal and welded a piece in. All done from underneath whilst still on the car. Not a big challenge for most welders.
Rob

[Loach1]

Griffinr said:

They look repairable, one of mine was like that, I ground out the corrosion to good metal and welded a piece in. All done from underneath whilst still on the car. Not a big challenge for most welders.
Rob

Now that I have calmed down, I think you are right. The hole isn't too big, so providing I don't find any other holes in other areas, I think I will cut out the rot and weld a nice looking patch over the top of the hole. It would be a good time to put a small pipe thread bung in the patch so I can squirt Wayoxl or similar inside. My welding isn't too shabby so it'll be a good, solid repair. Replacing the tube would be beyond the abilities of my tools.

[Griffinr]

Loach1 said:

Now that I have calmed down, I think you are right. The hole isn't too big, so providing I don't find any other holes in other areas, I think I will cut out the rot and weld a nice looking patch over the top of the hole. It would be a good time to put a small pipe thread bung in the patch so I can squirt Wayoxl or similar inside. My welding isn't too shabby so it'll be a good, solid repair. Replacing the tube would be beyond the abilities of my tools.

The rear end of the tube is open, thats how the water/corrosion gets in.

[unicorn77]

I had one go about 4 years ago (the garage said the other was fine). I got them to replace it and then it cost about £330 for the part and another £800 for their labour. It's only money.....

[mikel003003]

unicorn77 said:

I had one go about 4 years ago (the garage said the other was fine). I got them to replace it and then it cost about £330 for the part and another £800 for their labour. It's only money.....

?????.?????? 1100 quid for a trailing arm ?

[unicorn77]

Ooops! Lots of mistypes there. It was actually £363 parts (inc. a bush) and £382 labour. Still a lot more than chaps on here could do though, I expect.