Technical Help car failed MOT on front subframe

PuntoRich · Jan 24, 2015

Had my 2005 (55) punto jtd 1.9 in for its MOT today and it failed on a front subframe being weak and corroded.

They advised it would be better to replace rather than weld. I looked on ebay but not sure which one would fit the car. Do all mk2b and mk2 use the same subframes or are they different. Not sure if diesel and petrol models are different too?

Would appreciate any advice and gutted it has rusted already!

Cheers

HGTTRACKCAR · Jan 24, 2015

The sub frames are all the same

PuntoRich · Jan 24, 2015

Thanks for the quick reply and thats what i was hoping. Assume the mk1 subframes wont fit though?

AndyRKett · Jan 25, 2015

Mk1 frame won't fit very different cars.

I would argue that repairing/welding would be a safer route to go down as replacing could be opening a whole can of worms

PuntoRich · Jan 25, 2015

Thanks Andy, according to the garage the whole frame is pretty much shot so going to have to chance a replacement. They said it would take a couple of hours and sounds like i haven't got much choice

AndyRKett · Jan 25, 2015

Your car is newer than mine (certainly newer than almost all of the mk2/mk2bs on the forum)

Although I appreciate these do get a fair amount of surface rust, Unless it's spent its hole life parked in the sea I very much doubt it's 'completely shot'

Is the subframe all it failed on? I'd look at getting it MOT'd else where for £30 and see how it fairs

PuntoRich · Jan 25, 2015

That does sound like a plan. Can other garages see the previous MOT failure notice though?

AndyRKett · Jan 25, 2015

PuntoRich said:
That does sound like a plan. Can other garages see the previous MOT failure notice though?

It doesn't actually matter, they test what they see then load the results on the computer.

You could clean up the worst of the rust with a wire brush and paint it carefully with a tin of hamerite so it all looks nice and clean, unless there are holes in it or the metal is so weak it's breaking down it shouldn't be a fail anyway. They can't fail something because it looks a bit rusty.

PuntoRich · Jan 25, 2015

Thanks again for the reply and some good advice. Will take a look under the car and give it a clean up and take it to my mechanic friend for further inspection!

Cheers

oXRUSSXo · Jan 25, 2015

AndyRKett said:
They can't fail something because it looks a bit rusty.

The thing is if you take your car to a garage that doesn't have many cars in at the moment then it's likely they are just adding things then saying that they could fit the work in for you. A lot of garages do this is with older people. It's a shame really that honesty isn't always there

Ziggy122 · Jan 25, 2015

Subframe rotten punto....
does happen yes from time to time, but most actually fail on the floors rotting

If the car was lowered and scraping everywhere - yes subframe could be shot

I'd go to one of these places that just do MOT's
They will pass a car if it passes
or fail a car if it fails for obvious reasons

Ziggy

PuntoRich · Jan 25, 2015

Thanks Ziggy, car is completely standard and never parked in seaside areas.

Will let you know what i find on further inspection and will take some photos.

Cheers

PuntoRich · Feb 24, 2015

Hi guys

An update!

Looked under the car and sure enough there were 2 holes in the subframe and it looked pretty rusty. Seems a common issue on 55 plates (spare dodgy parts in the factory?!).

Anyway I sourced a 2nd hand subframe on eBay and my mechanic fitted it and after that the car sailed through the MOT...happy days I thought...however...the car is now makeing a clunking sound when turning sharply and going over pot holes on the passenger side.

All subframe bolts have been removed and tighned again but still the same issue

After further inspection the clunk noise feels just below the passenger footwell. I have looked under the car and starting to suspect the wishbone bush and wondering if disturbing this during the subframe change could have caused the problem. I'm not a mechanic so not sure if it is this but have taken a couple of pictures, any advice?

Thanks in advance.

oXRUSSXo · Feb 24, 2015

PuntoRich said:
Hi guys

An update!

Looked under the car and sure enough there were 2 holes in the subframe and it looked pretty rusty. Seems a common issue on 55 plates (spare dodgy parts in the factory?!).

Anyway I sourced a 2nd hand subframe on eBay and my mechanic fitted it and after that the car sailed through the MOT...happy days I thought...however...the car is now makeing a clunking sound when turning sharply and going over pot holes on the passenger side.

All subframe bolts have been removed and tighned again but still the same issue

After further inspection the clunk noise feels just below the passenger footwell. I have looked under the car and starting to suspect the wishbone bush and wondering if disturbing this during the subframe change could have caused the problem. I'm not a mechanic so not sure if it is this but have taken a couple of pictures, any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Knocking noise is normally either wishbone or droplinks. If you do replace them do both sides at the same time so you get equal wear

PuntoRich · Feb 24, 2015

Thanks Russ for the very quick reply, after some confusion my end I discovered the Punto Mk2's dont have droplinks so guessing it's more likely to be the wishbones. Are they easy enough to change over?

oXRUSSXo · Feb 24, 2015

PuntoRich said:
Thanks Russ for the very quick reply, after some confusion my end I discovered the Punto Mk2's dont have droplinks so guessing it's more likely to be the wishbones. Are they easy enough to change over?

They can take alot of effort to get it off and out to be honest i would only attempt it if it was up on ramps. So i would personally leave it to a garage. Shouldnt be too expensive and would easily be done in an hour-2 hours depending on how rusted the bolts are

PuntoRich · Feb 24, 2015

Cool, will take it to my mechanic. The bolts shouldn't be an issue hopefully as they were removed during the subframe change.

Thanks again for the advice

Ziggy122 · Feb 24, 2015

Punto how to - (andy youtube channel)
Has covered this

Ziggy

oXRUSSXo · Feb 24, 2015

Ziggy122 said:
Punto how to - (andy youtube channel)
Has covered this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6isUOoi3D0

Ziggy

Our resident Mr How To AndyRKett

PuntoRich · Feb 24, 2015

Thanks Ziggy, funny enough I discovered that channel on YouTube and have subscribed a few weeks ago. Didn't realise the creator was a member on here but passing on my thanks as the videos are brilliant.

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