Center beam wont go back on?

Post by **Merlin** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 10:59 am

Does anyone have any ideas why my lower center beam will not go back on? It is as if it is too long

I cant get the bolt holes to line up. The car is up on jack stands on the jack mounting points.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:21 pm

No? That's weird! Didn't have that problem when I took mine off/on (and the front of the lude I was working on was bent, too!)

How far out are we talking here?

If the front cross member had dropped slightly, that would tend to move it backwards (because it's supported from above). Could try jacking that up slightly (with a block of wood under) to see if that helps? It shouldn't move though! Have you modified any of the engine bay chassis at all?

Post by **Merlin** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:24 pm

No modifications. It is out about half a cm. I wonder if I have bent something using the front lower beam as a jacking point

I/we have done this before with no issues though

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:32 pm

Did you do it with the jack under the front of the centre beam (where the tow point is)?
I've always jacked my ludes there and no problems. Once they're up, I support them under the rear suspension mounting points rather than the jacking points though (take a look at the exhaust update in the JDM profile thread, think some pics there)

It's probably just a bit of chassis flex as a result of being jacked up, gearbox off/on and where it's supported on the stands.

Could try lowering the car onto its wheels slightly and see if that shifts the chassis a bit to get it to line the centre beam up?

BMCC · Post by **BMCC** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:35 pm

The centre beam is the trolley jack point I thought. Thats what the little loop is for?

I'd try what Wurly said and see if you can raise the front end a bit.

Post by **Merlin** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:01 pm

Thinking back (spent the last 4 days under the car) a heavy load was never put on to the lower beam itself, only as an extra support just in case the jack stands wobbled while we worked under the car. The car was jacked up on the little loop of the center beam.

I am baffled

But yeah I will let the car down (Vanzep did suggest this at the time) and try and see it if lines up.

Post by **Merlin** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:41 am

I found out that I bent the center beam somehow. It will be persuaded back into shape

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 1:23 pm

You're just so strong!

Post by **Merlin** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 1:28 pm

I think it was a nit rusty and the jack bent it.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Tue Feb 25, 2014 5:11 pm

Merlin wrote:I found out that I bent the center beam somehow.

Compared it against the beam on your 5th/vanzeps 4th?