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ohiowesty Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2016 Posts: 42
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 6:14 pm Post subject: Beam rust |
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How much rust is too much? Should I replace the beam? Weld that completely rusted through hole? The other areas are flaking. I drove it like this for about 1k miles. Thank you
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babysnakes Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2008 Posts: 7104
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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That beam is shot! You need another one. Lets just say you can weld up the holes. There is far more rust on the inside you can not see that is ready to complicate matters more. Please be safe and get another beam. |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13386 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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babysnakes wrote: |
That beam is shot! You need another one. Lets just say you can weld up the holes. There is far more rust on the inside you can not see that is ready to complicate matters more. Please be safe and get another beam. |
X2
I would NOT drive that bus with that beam. There's still lots of good, non-rusted ones out there for sale in the dry SW USA. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22573 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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Yeah , it's done. The problem is it has to come off to be de rusted and evaluated and once it's off, it's cheaper to put a dry one on.
Have a good look at the attachment for the swing lever. If that goes, your steering goes INOP.
It's dangerously rusted. Remove from service. _________________ .ssS! |
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Hoody Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007 Posts: 1948
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 2:13 am Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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That beam is totally shot. You need to find one covered in oil or one from a wrecked Bus. Do not waste your time on that beam. It's toast and will cost you or someone else their life WHEN it fails. |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50265
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:00 am Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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You need to call Busted Bus, Avery's or some other southwest or west coast wrecking yard and order yourself a replacement beam. |
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ToolBox Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 3439 Location: Detroit, where they don't jack parts off my ride in the parking lot of the 7-11
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 11:17 am Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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That beam is toast. Better call Chuck and see what is in his yard with a good beam. |
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1967250s Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2007 Posts: 2137
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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Question- could those new cnc steel plates be used to replace the old side mountings if the tubes are ok? It is getting harder to find a good front beam. _________________ '72 Elm Green Deluxe |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 10:12 pm Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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Almost anything is possible with enough money and time. How much money and time do you have? _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22573 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 4:01 am Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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There is a parts Bus that recently burned in the classifieds. _________________ .ssS! |
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alman72 Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2014 Posts: 2573 Location: MICHIGAN
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 8:06 am Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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Abscate wrote: |
There is a parts Bus that recently burned in the classifieds. |
Erb has a how to video on how to do the swap |
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ajochum Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2017 Posts: 16 Location: WNY
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 10:02 am Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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Have any of you changed out a beam? Any idea how long it takes and how much a replacement costs? Are they being reproduced? |
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babysnakes Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2008 Posts: 7104
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ajochum Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2017 Posts: 16 Location: WNY
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2017 11:50 am Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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Wow! - Guess before I make the final commitment on this bus I really need to make sure the beam is solid. I have fully restored an older frame car, but one of the sites I visited makes it pretty clear to watch for rust in specific places.
Sure affects the final purchase price, |
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dasdachshund Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010 Posts: 728 Location: Vancouver, WA USA
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:28 pm Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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ajochum wrote: |
Have any of you changed out a beam? Any idea how long it takes and how much a replacement costs? Are they being reproduced? |
For a novice like me (never done it before) it took me a good weekend to change my beam to a WW one. The hardest part is the spindles/arms and getting them off. There are various pieces that go through the beam to deal with(cables, hoses, shift rod) I don't know what year your Bus is, '71 and above have the brake booster to fiddle with, too. I did mine after searching "beam replacement" on the Bay forum. Wasn't THAT hard.
Cost...when I did my beam I also needed new ball joints ($15/each + $80 to press out/in)and a Harbor Freight joint separator ($8 ). Oh, and I also needed new shortened steering arms (I believe ~$35 each + I shortened them myself so $20 for the tap). Other than that it's just the cost of the beam. (My adjustable beam from WW was $700 and I'm sorry, I don't recommend dealing with Nate)
Good luck with whatever you do. Personally, I'd just change the beam out with a good used one.
-dasdachshund |
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ohiowesty Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2016 Posts: 42
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 10:06 pm Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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Well a fellow LEAKOIL member has a complete beam off a California parts bus, and will even install it so I am in good hands. Truthfully, after perusing the split bus threads and marveling at hoopty ride frames being welded back together, I think that my beam is salvageable, but it's not worth the effort. |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50265
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2017 6:12 am Post subject: Re: Beam rust |
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Just to throw out another option there is a place in England that makes replacement suspension systems for these old rigs. They are twin wishbone setups IIRC. Never heard any feedback on them though. |
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