Wheeler dealers subframe strengthening

[Gregt909]

For those interested, tonight wheeler dealers is working on a 99 M coupe, including strengthening the subframe.

[s8ilver]

Watched that last week. I found their repair "interesting."

[TexaZ3]

Half-ass (if that) "repair".

[workhurts]

That diff mount. Did they say how many miles that car had? Watching it now and missed the first few minutes.

[s8ilver]

That diff mount. Did they say how many miles that car had? Watching it now and missed the first few minutes.

They chopped up a perfectly good car. Should have just done bushings.

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[ProductUser]

Ant's subframe repair, after going through the RF fix myself, is not what I consider a long term fix. I'm afraid more of that kind of repair will be performed now that this episode has aired.

[mpire]

This is why I stopped watching Wheeler Dealers when Edd left.

Its not the same show.

[Kram71]

While not an ideal repair I think anything we see about our cars and various repairs is a plus for me. The more the better for me.

[BladeRunner919]

This is why I stopped watching Wheeler Dealers when Edd left.

Its not the same show.

The next series is back in the UK with Mark 'Elvis' Priestly as the mechanic. He's an ex-F1 mechanic and really down-to-earth - he did a series called Wheeler Dealers Dream Cars. Could be an improvement on the current series.

[pine1000]

Half-ass (if that) "repair".

I'm not gonna pay to watch this show. So, what did he do?

I'm guessing just re-welding some pulled spot welds?

[magnetchief]

I'm not gonna pay to watch this show. So, what did he do?

I'm guessing just re-welding some pulled spot welds?

No. He had a fair crack at it.
All from underneath.
Removed existing mount.
Them plated the U channel both sides in 1/8 steel. Manufactured a new diff mount in 1/8 plate.

Primed, seam sealed and painted.
I thought it was a good effort.
But only time will tell.

He did not replace any bushings. That I think was the biggest error.


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[ToastAutoX]

What exactly about the fabricated diff hanger was so sketch? I'm not too read-up on what the typical fix entails.

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[PhilPhil]

What exactly about the fabricated diff hanger was so sketch? I'm not too read-up on what the typical fix entails.

I think it's not just the hanger, but also the larger area of the trunk floor that the hanger is welded to. Ant replaced the hanger, and the crossmember, but the trunk floor was left as it was. Randy's kit also has plates that strengthen the floor of the trunk.

[s8ilver]

but the trunk floor was left as it was.

That was the big error. The interface between the xmbr and floor was left untouched, doing nothing for the factory spot welds. Had he L-shaped the plating and added welds to the floor, one could argue that any load would be more distributed, but he didn't and they weren't.

[ProductUser]

That was the big error. The interface between the xmbr and floor was left untouched, doing nothing for the factory spot welds. Had he L-shaped the plating and added welds to the floor, one could argue that any load would be more distributed, but he didn't and they weren't.

Ant added more weight (1/8" plates) to the floor cavity so the spot welds can fail sooner than later

[BUCK57]

As is life, there is the right way to do things and the other way.

I had the RF fix completed on my roadster by a shop that has completed approaching 100 RF kits which is a proven fix!

Like everything else on the idiot box (TV/internet), be careful what you chose to believe. There is a reason they call them useful idiots!

[s8ilver]

The other way:

20210113_132133.jpg20210113_131951.jpg

And there was nothing wrong with the mount he cut off. The diff bushing looks a bit cracked and worn though:

20210113_132918.jpg

[BUCK57]

Thank you for the pic's. I didn't see the tv show. When I dropped off my car at VT Motorworks they had another M roadster (basket case) that had MAJOR!!! subframe issues. Mine was in the early stages of separations. Like I said, VT is approaching 100 RF fixes. When I pulled into VT early in the AM to pick my car up, the shop doors were open with my car still high on the rack. I pulled in behind it and walked under the car looking at the repair with double ear dif cover. It looked OEM!! I looked inside the trunk and seen a clean job. I was happy!!

I look at the two pictures of the TV show fix, I've could have done that!!! Then in the future I'd have sent it to a qualified shop like VT to have it done right at greater expense. If and when I decide to sell the car, the future buyer will pay for the RF fix VS hammer me on the asking $$$ cause they'll be fixing it again ...... look at that hack job and you want how much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ VS I have a well sorted S54 and if you want it, PAY UP SUCKER!!!!

Funny how being a car guy, I always pay up??????

Enjoy your toy

[bk94si]

I watched this and I was wondering how this fixed anything beyond strengthening a part that doesn't need it. After reading this thread, I now see that it doesn't. Poor unsuspecting buyer. Hopefully she doesn't drive it too hard. At least she got it fairly cheap.

[PhilPhil]

I watched this and I was wondering how this fixed anything beyond strengthening a part that doesn't need it.

Well, I have seen photos posted by Randy Forbes of diff hanger ears that did tear in half, so they are prone to failure. My mechanic was initially very skeptical of the need for the RF subframe kit, but once he got into the process of taking apart the rear end on my car, he called me and said "Yeah, this diff hanger is chicken sh1t. I get it now".

But yeah, the Wheeler Dealer repair doesn't seem to go quite far enough.

[mpire]

What episode number is it? Says the Coupe episode airs in 10 days.

[bk94si]

Well, I have seen photos posted by Randy Forbes of diff hanger ears that did tear in half, so they are prone to failure. My mechanic was initially very skeptical of the need for the RF subframe kit, but once he got into the process of taking apart the rear end on my car, he called me and said "Yeah, this diff hanger is chicken sh1t. I get it now".

But yeah, the Wheeler Dealer repair doesn't seem to go quite far enough.

I was more referring to the crossbeam brace that didn't look like it was helping anything. The diff hanger did look a little stronger.

[BimmerBreaker]

So that reinforced bar spanning the width of the trunk isn't connected to the frame rails?

I'll have to watch this myself sometime. I don't have anywhere to watch it currently and all my normal pirate ships don't sail towards obscure car-oriented TV shows like this

[PhilPhil]

So that reinforced bar spanning the width of the trunk isn't connected to the frame rails?

Some pictures of the more catastrophic subframe failures tend to show the trunk floor tearing loose from the car, like so:

[s8ilver]

So that reinforced bar spanning the width of the trunk isn't connected to the frame rails?

They did not. They just sandwiched the OE u-channel and didn't tie it to the frame rails nor the floor. They just made sure the cross member would fail as one piece when it separates from the floor.

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What episode number is it? Says the Coupe episode airs in 10 days.

I watched it last week (gifted Motor Trend subscription). Season 23, Episode 4 according to the app, titled "Send in the Clown Shoe" and originally aired on Jan 4.