Failed NCT due to rear axle side-slip allignment

redved

Hi,

Need some advise regarding a failed NCT on Citroen C4, the rear axle side-slip alignment was outside the limit.

19.2m/km vs 18m/km. The problem I have is the rear axle is not adjustable.
The garage has said that a new rear axle the only option.

Does anyone have any other possible workarounds or if not possible how much should this cost including labour.
Thanks,
Redved

sean1141

are these bolt on like the ones on the peugeots. was about 20 mins work to change the one on our 206

Mech1

What year 206?

autodata book time = 5.8hrs for rear axle complete r+i

do you want a new job?

I guess you mean stub axle Sean.

sean1141

no complete rear axle. 2002 206

Mech1

20 min, well done.

Nissan doctor

Mech1 wrote: »

20 min, well done.

Autodata is only a guide, many of the times are vastly under the actual time, many are over.

Removing a complete 206 rear axle as one piece can be done very quickly.

sean1141

wel i picked up a second hand one in a breakers. took out the old one and swapped in the new one. disconnect the handbrake cables at the back of the handbrake, take off the 2 wheels open the brake pipes, open the exhaust bracket, open the 4 studs. old alxe falls out. lift up the new one. put back the 4 studs. join up the brake pipes and exhaust shove in the handbrake cables and rejoin them. 20 mins work. and maybe another 10 to bleed the brakes and adjust the handbrake,put back on the wheels etc.
im guessing that is to fit torsion beams etc. no way a straight complete axle swap would take that long

Mech1

The op stated "new rear axle".
Of course a prebuilt, brakes and all axle would be much quicker but do you want him shouting at anyone who quotes him for what he is asking "I know it only takes about half an hour"?

sean1141

i dont think i would be going for a new rear axle in one of those! there has to be something worn to cause it to be out of alignment. possible bearings

Nissan doctor

Mech1 wrote: »

The op stated "new rear axle".
Of course a prebuilt, brakes and all axle would be much quicker but do you want him shouting at anyone who quotes him for what he is asking "I know it only takes about half an hour"?

The autodata time quoted is for 'rear axle remove and install' and includes what sean above said he did and it doesn't take anything like 5 odd hours.

The only thing that a brand new axle from citroen doesn't have on it is the brake assemblies and stub axles.

If a mechanic is not experienced then autodata is generally a good guide for pricing but with a bit of time spent in the game you know how long most jobs really take and can price accordingly.

Fishtits

Shaft wears, not the bearings. Piss poor manufacture quality.

Mech1

I totally agree Nissan, but if the job (new axle) was booked in at your day job how many hours would you quote?

Nissan doctor

Mech1 wrote: »

I totally agree Nissan, but if the job (new axle) was booked in at your day job how many hours would you quote?

For fitting a brand new axle? 3 at an absolute max and that allows for swopping over the few parts and for any(likely) seized and rusted parts that would give me grief.

Mech1

Exactly what I was getting at.

Absolutely no point in someone coming on here stating that the job (even a fully built axle) only takes 20 min to fit. Its giving the op false hope and the garage a disgruntled customer.

Nissan doctor

They can only be disgruntled if the garage tries to fleece them. A good garage can explain the job fully to the customer and agree a price before the job is started.


With the greatest of respect to sean1141, no smart person will assume that what someone does to their own car on their driveway has any relevance to bringing your car to a professional garage with skilled technicians, wage bills, overheads etc

redved

Thanks all for the replies.

The rear axle slip was caused by a crash I had about a year ago.

Another car crashed into the rear quarter panel as I was going through a junction.
This was repaired on my insurance but the rear axle wasn't as the garage felt that the axle wasn't too badly damaged.
If the rear axle cost was included the insurance comaplny would have written off the car as the cost of repairs were too clsoe to the replacement value of the car

Any idea what a new citroen axle would cost?

sean1141

Nissan doctor wrote: »

With the greatest of respect to sean1141, no smart person will assume that what someone does to their own car on their driveway has any relevance to bringing your car to a professional garage with skilled technicians, wage bills, overheads etc

well i had acess to a lift,air gun and a mechanic friend so that really helped! we set aside 2 hours to do it but luckly everything came apart easy enough. the new axle we got was took out with great care and the handbrake cables and brake pipes were intact. some of the breakers would cut the handbrake cables instead of spending 2 mins disconnecting them and as you know that would mean strippping down the brakes on either both axles or getting new ones

redved wrote: »

Any idea what a new citroen axle would cost?

i was quoted roughly 1200 for a brand new axle for the 206 :eek:. i did not have all the details of the car with me when i called so he just gave me a rough guide price. i paid 200 for a second hand one out of a automatic 206 with less than 40k miles that had been traded in on the scrappage scheme.

Mech1 wrote: »

Exactly what I was getting at.

Absolutely no point in someone coming on here stating that the job (even a fully built axle) only takes 20 min to fit. Its giving the op false hope and the garage a disgruntled customer.

im not saying every single one of them would take only 20 mins. we were lucky. if one of the 4 studs had to be stuck etc it could have taken another 20mins to get it out! i was just pointing out to the op that if they were the same as a 206 they are usually a quick job