So then.. just had the dreaded call from the garage to say that the VRs has failed it's MOT for rear subframe corrosion.
I suppose the decision now is whether to cut my losses and scrap/break it, or stump up for the work.

 

I was told it's around four hours labour to replace everything, plus the cost of any ancillaries like bolts, brackets etc.
I imagine that a new rear subframe, even from TPS etc, will be around £300.. so can anyone confirm what other VAG items are the same if I was to go second hand? 

pick up a second hand subframe quiet easy tbh. scrapping a VRS for subframe probably a little ott buddy . did you see how bad yours is. most of the time it is just surface rust that can be cleaned up and a bit of paint added .

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I've never heard of an Octavia failing on a rear subframe (as it doesn't have one) it has a rear axle but if that was that badly corroded it would probably snap in two as there is so much load on it.

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pick up a second hand subframe quiet easy tbh. scrapping a VRS for subframe probably a little ott buddy . did you see how bad yours is. most of the time it is just surface rust that can be cleaned up and a bit of paint added .

I've not seen it yet, going to pop down after work.. but I trust the mechanic, I've used him for years and I quote "Sorry, but it's f**ked. I can put a screwdriver through it in about five places".

I think scrapping it's a bit knee jerk as well I guess, it just all depends on the money to sort it really..  when you can lease a brand new Yeti TFSI DSG for £109 a month, you do wonder about spending a grand or so to repair a fourteen year old Octy. :(

You can pick up second hand rear axles cheap if you look around. I managed to get one fully pollybushed for £25 it's then an 2 hours or so maximum to change it all over if you have access to a lift.

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isn't the rear beam the same across the Mk 1 range anyway? Only possible difference I can think of would be disc or drum braked may change (lack of calliper mounts on drum braked ones). Wouldn't be at all surprised if it was the same as a mk 4 golf (and other similar siblings) as they are based around the same floor plan.

Not worth scrapping the car over, 2nd hand axle, few members off here, tea and butties - job done

isn't the rear beam the same across the Mk 1 range anyway? Only possible difference I can think of would be disc or drum braked may change (lack of calliper mounts on drum braked ones). Wouldn't be at all surprised if it was the same as a mk 4 golf (and other similar siblings) as they are based around the same floor plan.

Not worth scrapping the car over, 2nd hand axle, few members off here, tea and butties - job done

The same across the mk4 platform range as long as it has rear discs and callipers its identical only back plates are different for vRS as it runs bigger discs. Plenty of Mk1 Octavia rear axles out there though.

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Rear beams are not all the same. There are a few options on bushes, ARB diameter and mass damper.

 

Ignore bushes as you'd want to change those anyway. But the ARB is welded into the beam so can't be changed. Mass damper can just be swapped over/removed depending on what you have already.

 

ARB is either 18mm or 21.7mm on the "sport" spec beam. Beetles all had the 18mm. TT's all had the 21.7mm. Octavia/Leon/Toledo/Golf/Bora/A3 all had 18mm and 21.7mm options.

 

An "L" on the end of the part number means it's 18mm and a "J" means 21.7mm.

Rear beams are not all the same. There are a few options on bushes, ARB diameter and mass damper.

Ignore bushes as you'd want to change those anyway. But the ARB is welded into the beam so can't be changed. Mass damper can just be swapped over/removed depending on what you have already.

ARB is either 18mm or 21.7mm on the "sport" spec beam. Beetles all had the 18mm. TT's all had the 21.7mm. Octavia/Leon/Toledo/Golf/Bora/A3 all had 18mm and 21.7mm options.

An "L" on the end of the part number means it's 18mm and a "J" means 21.7mm.

vRS doesn't come with a rear anti roll bar as standard. They are certainly not welded into it. The rear beam is exactly the same on all vRS hatchbacks. As are the Golf Gti Mk4, Seat Leon etc. I know loads of people that have swapped over rear axles from other makes and have had no problems at all!

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Edited 31 May, 201610 yr by Guest

Right, found a decent looking one with what appears to be powerflex bushes locally for £20.
I'll get that cleaned up, give it a coat of hammerite and get it swapped over.. does seem a bit daft to let the old girl down now.

Right, found a decent looking one with what appears to be powerflex bushes locally for £20.

I'll get that cleaned up, give it a coat of hammerite and get it swapped over.. does seem a bit daft to let the old girl down now.

That's the best outcome. Keep her rolling. [emoji1303][emoji1305][emoji4]

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vRS doesn't come with a rear anti roll bar as standard. They are certainly not welded into it. The rear beam is exactly the same on all vRS hatchbacks. As are the Golf Gti Mk4, Seat Leon etc. I know loads of people that have swapped over rear axles from other makes and have had no problems at all!

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Incorrect I'm afraid! There is an internal ARB on all the rear beams as standard. It's welded in. You will see it if you go look at one. It's within the sort of V-section of the beam, with a bush in the centre of it.

 

All rear beams will fit all cars, but they are not the same. Early vRS's didn't have the mass damper, but some later ones came with one for some reason.

 

Check VAGCAT if you don't believe me. If you look under your car with a torch you'll see the ARB.

 

So to the OP, just ask for the ARB diameter before buying (assuming you care).

 

This came up many years ago on the forum and we all researched it then.

http://workshop-manuals.com/volkswagen/golf-mk4/images/golf-mk4-492.png

 

Item 30 is the mass damper. You can clearly see the ARB and even the central bush in this image.

http://workshop-manuals.com/volkswagen/golf-mk4/images/golf-mk4-492.png

 

Item 30 is the mass damper. You can clearly see the ARB and even the central bush in this image.

No need to get your panties in a bunch! The OP has got himself anothe rear axle from a vRS so thats fine! It's not really going to make much difference anyway, unless you are trying to set it up for racing and he's not!

Even though it's deviating slightly off topic - I wouldn't exactly class that as an anti roll bar, more of a reinforcement, as it isn't attached to a part of the suspension that compresses, such as the damper. It resembles a torsion bar, rather than an anti roll bar, a bit like the rear suspension on PSA vehicles, designed to twist, strengthening what would otherwise be a rather weak rear beam, without adding to it's mass by making it a tube or solid.

 

Mass dampers are designed to absorb harmonic vibrations, they are used quite a bit, my Discovery had one on the front axle, and I have seen them used in FWD engine/transmissions to damp vibrations at a certain frequency.

You can pick up second hand rear axles cheap if you look around. I managed to get one fully pollybushed for £25 it's then an 2 hours or so maximum to change it all over if you have access to a lift.

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I was about to say jason was selling a polybushed rear axle dead cheap recently.... ^^^^^ is probably it no? lol...

I was about to say jason was selling a polybushed rear axle dead cheap recently.... ^^^^^ is probably it no? lol...

Yep certainly was. lol

Yep certainly was. lol

lol... I have the polybushed front wishbones in my octy

lol... I have the polybushed front wishbones in my octy

Got them here to do and an S3 subframe to polybush with lower brace too. :clap:

For what it's worth, TPS want over SIX HUNDRED quid for a new one (plus VAT).. plus the 'U' shaped brackets at another fifty odd quid each..
Then £26 each for the bushes, eight bolts at £4.28 a piece plus two longer bolts at £7.88. You're looking at nine hundred sheets for new or less than fifty quid for a decent used one. Unreal.

Shot blast and powder coat the replacement, definitely give it a coat of red oxide and some tuff paint.

There is a company on facebook called buzzweld that sell excellent rust primer etc a lot of the land rover bods swear by it for rust prevention

Are you sure the rear subframe is the rear beam? I've seen a few corroded in my time but to be able to poke a screwdriver through it? The freakin thing is a great thick lump of iron.

It's the only thing I can think of, it being the rear beam. I'm with you though I've never seen on that bad. The only subframe on the rear of an Octavia is on the 4x4's.

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Are you sure the rear subframe is the rear beam? I've seen a few corroded in my time but to be able to poke a screwdriver through it? The freakin thing is a great thick lump of iron.

Aye, rear beam.. iron or not, it's literally rotted through.

You can see from this pic (middle of the car on the ramp, looking at the OSR) just how rusted the whole thing is. The 'black' bit in the middle of the yellow paint just behind the brake clip in the image is a hole. We're not talking surface rust, it's crumbling!

 

Aye, rear beam.. iron or not, it's literally rotted through.

You can see from this pic (middle of the car on the ramp, looking at the OSR) just how rusted the whole thing is. The 'black' bit in the middle of the yellow paint just behind the brake clip in the image is a hole. We're not talking surface rust, it's crumbling!

Bloody hell has it been parked in the ocean? I've never seen one that bad before. [emoji15][emoji33]

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