Hi guys

The old 25's just come back from a visit to the local AA Service Centre for
a checkover before going off on The Italian Job run at the end of October
and, amongst other things they've described the rear subframe as "heavily
corroded, dangerously thin and breaking up". All this less than 3 months
after passing it's MOT! (anyway that's another story).

My question is - how difficult is it to replace a rear subframe? Haynes
manual doesn't appear too daunting on the subject, with the usual proviso
that all the bolts actually undo :-)

Minispares have got subframes for about £90 inc vat. What would be the
likely cost of getting a garage to replace the subframe?

Anyone got any experiences to share on this that could help me?

Regards

Roy

Hi

First, soak all bolts, fixings etc etc in WD40 for as long as you can before
removal and all should come undone easily!!!
I replaced my subframe not so long back, it took me a weekend but thats only
because while i had the old one off i cleaned back the underside of the boot
floor, the rear valance, the heel board and battery box and coated with
several coats of hammerite and then underseal.
In itself it is not such a daunting task, the haynes manual combined with
some common sense should see you through.
Whatever you replace it with should however be painted with some decent
paint, personally i used hammerite spray cans and gave the new subframe a
couple of good coats.
I cleaned up all the parts that came off the old subframe to ease refitting
and checked them for wear and i replace most (not suspension or brake
components) fixings with stainless steel you can get this from
www.gtc-direct.com
You will need an assistant to support the subframe while removing/refitting,
and i would replace the subframe mounting kit too.
If you are doing a quick job, like for like then you could get it done in
about 4 hours.

Hope that helps
Andy
"rajah" <rajah (AT) home (DOT) net> wrote

In message <3f4d1180$0$12150$7b0f0fd3 (AT) reader (DOT) news.newnet.co.uk>, Andrew
Davenport <adavenport (AT) focus-technology (DOT) co.uk> writes
The rear subframe (with the suspension attached) is always heavier than
you think it would be as well!
--
Chris Morriss