Leon FR mk2 same as Golf rear beam?

[Foo56]

Hi Guys,

I've managed (like the tool I am) to bugger up the Nearside Rear wheel/suspension on my '56 plate Leon FR by bending it out of place after a "misshap" on a roundabout, causing my car to crab when driving.

I can't go thru insurance for a number of reasons and Seat won't give me a solid/competitive quote to sort it, so I've rang around some breakers and done a bit of reading up and found out that it's better to replace the whole rear beam as opposed to the rear hub assembly due to the control arms being difficult (I'm no mechanic so this is all stuff I've read/heard!) - I can get a nearly new whole rear beam from a Golf (gti I believe) from a breakers for £200.

My question is, although they're obviously the same basic cars will this definately go onto my car? Or do I need a specific golf model or do I need to get it from another Leon FR? Cost is an issue - credit crunch and all that jazz so I need to take the most cost effective option just to get me back on the road so I can still work!

Thanks in advance for any help!!

Cheers,
Ryan

 

[m0rk]

Not forgetting the Mk4 golf had a rear beam, and yours has independent rear suspension. they won't be the same

 

[Foo56]

it wud be off a mk5 golf, which the breaker assured me is also independant rear suspension - I know the chassis and engines are pretty much the same as they're all VAG group..

 

[m0rk]

it's probably just the tie rods though... ebay's got them @ £20

 

[Daffy]

I did something similar earlier in the year. Slide on ice into a high kerb and bent both front and rear suspension and two new wheels. The insurance paid out £2500 to their approved repair centre. Just to give you an idea of how much it can cost with new parts and labour.

 

[Foo56]

I've got a high excess and need to use insurance as a last resort. But I'm no mechanic and don't know if just he tie rods will do it, the 2 garages I've taken it too have said that the wheel/bearing hub is bent and needs replacing though so I think it's more than jus that!

 

[Foo56]

Just wanted to clarify (as I have no real idea) before I order the wrong bits - A rear beam off an 07 plate golf won't fit on my 56 plate leon FR?

Cheers.

 

[DanGB]

dont know, need to compare the part numbers in ETKA (parts catalogue)

 

[Foo56]

Thought I'd just give an update incase it ever helps anyone.

So after I slid the back out on a roundabout and smacked a curb (like the pro I am lol) I denting the rear wheel hub/housing I took it to Seat who gave me a quote of "atleast £950 as we may find more damage as we open it up". Having a look at the quote they'd put in to replace everything in that section - replacing the perfectly good (if somewhat recently scratched up) alloy wheel.

So I rang around and did a bit of research and in the end ordered a whole new rear beam off of a mk 5 golf from a breakers - All in was £265 and got it the next day, had the bits I needed swapped over (everything but calipers etc) and now it's fine again. At 1st it was a bit odd as the warning lights stayed on and traction control would kick in randomly but it seems to have re-configured itself and is back to driving the same as before with no warning lights anymore. So in the end it cost me £390 all in to repair which was cheaper than the insurance excess I had! Pretty happy with it really and it's made me want to learn more about my car!

 

[bobmcgod]

This i suppose is an upshot of have multipul cars on the same platform. I would of thought it would've been slightly different as seats susspension tends to be more rock like.

 

[SEATgod]

As the rear end is adjustable I recommend you get you 4 wheel alignment set to the latest specifications according to your PR codes from ELSA!

Please make sure you used the original springs and shock absorbers as they are vehicle (PR code) specific and will differ model to model.

Hence the FR being stiffer thatn a Sport!

The only conclusive way is to supply a list of parts you changed and they can be compared on ETKA!!

But definetely get a 4WA

 

[Foo56]

yeah I'll be getting the allignment this weekend, only the wheel/bearing housing was replaced as the shocks and calipers and few other bits were different. I tried to get hold of the ETKA but couldn't seem to find the parts I needed on the ones I found. I did a fair bit of research on this too as I was concerned about swapping them straight out. It's driving exactly the same as before now though, but yeah definately getting the allignment!

 

[dandan1987]

i done the same as you crashed at a round a bout. i repaired all the damages myself an dont think its as bad as urs but i got a louc clunking noise coming from the rear of my car, i the accident which involved changina few parts under the car. nearside wishbone an other neccasary components, i still have a loud noise when going over rough rough roads. driving is not affected an the ride is still so smooth just really noisy, an sumtimes wen going at some speed my car slides out to the right puttin me once into a 90mph drift on the m4! any ideas to resolve this? thanks

 

[Foo56]

i done the same as you crashed at a round a bout. i repaired all the damages myself an dont think its as bad as urs but i got a louc clunking noise coming from the rear of my car, i the accident which involved changina few parts under the car. nearside wishbone an other neccasary components, i still have a loud noise when going over rough rough roads. driving is not affected an the ride is still so smooth just really noisy, an sumtimes wen going at some speed my car slides out to the right puttin me once into a 90mph drift on the m4! any ideas to resolve this? thanks

Yeah - I found out that it's better to replace the whole section as the configuration of the control arms can be fiddly. and just swap over the model specific parts. I bought the entire rear beam for £265 all in (£200 ex VAT & delivery), the mechanics just swapped over the bent bits after measuring them and finding out if they were out. Rear beam came the next day, all in good nick. I don't think it took long and it didn't look too hard but I'm not a mechanic and definately don't have the time to learn!

I spoke to a guy called Danny from Hills Motor's after ringing around he was the most helpful and the cheapest option by far! He seems to know what he's on about too.. I'd give him a call and see what he can do.. I reckon u may be able to knock him down on that price too

http://www.hills-motors.co.uk

Hope this helps!

 

[dandan1987]

thanks alot, il give danny a try cos the dealership dont know whats wrong with it. il knock the price down lol he got the same name as me, haha. thanks.