My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

[BHP]

After a phonecall from my dad a few weeks ago, saying he'd had a "Slight Off" in the Smart due to foolishly going out in the snow, and managed to spin out and hit the back end of the car on a high kerb, my mission had started to put the Smart back into A1 condition as it had been previously.

Initially it just looked like a cracked rear bumper quarter, which I placed a thread on here looking for a replacement but no luck, so ordered a new item and had it colour coded Lite White

Initially I thought this was the only damage.....



Until I drove the car, and found it steered and handled like a blancmange

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

It ceraintly wasn't as planted on the road as it was before, and also had a slight rubbing / dull noise from the nearside rear wheel.....

After just looking at the rear of the car square on, the near side wheel had more camber than the offside wheel, and after having a look under the car hoping there was a bent wish bone or similar, it became apparent the banana swinging arm thing, which I now know as the De Dion Tube was slightly out of shape.



Another picture of nearside wheel.....



Luckily, a friend of a friend knew of a Brand new De Dion Tube and rear subframe at a semi sensible price, so after work one day this week, I did a 4 hour round trip to collect these......

Brand New De Dion Tube



Brand New Rear Subframe



Together !!

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

To be honest, I didn't think I'd need the subframe before I bought it, but after travelling for 4 hours in total to collect the De Dion Tube, thought better to have it than not have it.

Even now, don't think I'll fit the subframe as there is no issue with the structure as the De dion Tube only connects to it at the front mount, and the only other common connections are the shock absorbers and the drop links.

As I started taking the car apart this evening, I span the nearside wheel, and its egg shaped... literally. It has a sideways and up and down throw, so the besides the De Dion Tube being bent, the rear wheel is scrap too, so I'll be on the look out for one or a pair of these type alloy wheels next week :frown:

There is a fair bit of disassembly to be done to strip the De dion Tube from the Subframe. After having a good look at the build up, I decided to keep the roll bar connected to the De-Dion and just disconnect the drop links from the subframe.

I removed the drum assemblies before I removed the De Dion from the subframe. I couldn't get the drive shafts out without dropping the De Dion right down after the hub / drum assembles were removed.

Naturally at 77000 miles, I didn't expect things to look too pretty inside the drums. Despite the brakes working very well including the handbrake, when I removed the drums I noted that both wheel cylinders were leaking, so will look for replacement wheel cylinders and replacements brake shoes seems that I'm in there



The rear brake line flexy hose was clamped, and I disassebled the brake lines on the connecor block to free it from the De dion Tube.

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Old De Dion Tube finally removed, without too much fuss to be honest, so it was time to have a quick coffee and update my progress on here......



Just need to transfer some bits over from the old to the new, but think thats a job for tomorrow !!



So on my additions list I need:-

* Starline rear alloy wheel

* 2 Rear wheel cylinders

* New rear brake shoes

* Rear brake shoe fitting kit (Springs etc...)

* Rear wheel bearings if possible (Taken them apart already, race and roller type)

[heinkeljb]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Just read your thread! What a palavour just for a quick drive in the snow!

Got to the last entry, last item on the list _ rear wheel hubs, I am afraid you will have to buy complete items as there is nothing there you can replace. The races the ball bearing runon are part of either the bit which bolts the the de dion tube or the bit the hub bolts to.
THey are not particularlly expensive , but copouled with all the other things you are having to replace, this is going to an expensive rebuild job.....
I looked in to doing a rebuild on my hubs when I need to repalce mine and could not find any cheap way of doing it, cheapest way is to buy new ones!

Regards,

John

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Just read your thread! What a palavour just for a quick drive in the snow!

Got to the last entry, last item on the list _ rear wheel hubs, I am afraid you will have to buy complete items as there is nothing there you can replace. The races the ball bearing runon are part of either the bit which bolts the the de dion tube or the bit the hub bolts to.
THey are not particularlly expensive , but copouled with all the other things you are having to replace, this is going to an expensive rebuild job.....
I looked in to doing a rebuild on my hubs when I need to repalce mine and could not find any cheap way of doing it, cheapest way is to buy new ones!

Regards,

John

Thanks for the update on the rear bearings John.

Will these be a Genuine Smart item, or is there an alternative available ?

I'm thinking as a rough guess £30 to £40 per side would that be right ?

Cheers

Ken

[lalli_d1]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

you could try your local motor factors but they might say dealers only, plus you might find that mercedes prices may surprise you

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

you could try your local motor factors but they might say dealers only, plus you might find that mercedes prices may surprise you

True lalli,

I've found some Merc prices cheaper than expected, but have also seen the other side of the coin. Will try the factors first for the rear wheel bearings, rear wheel cylinders and rear shoes and see where I go from there ....

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Finally came in from the garage around midnight last night, as I started to clean and paint some parts, seems I had good access



I also painted the shock absorbers and driveshafts the same colour...

I forgot how much of a bombsite I left the garage in last night, but it was getting late ...











But an hour sorting things this morning and all is calm again .....



And I can find the tools I used last night !!

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

De dion Tube all built up and ready for refit, once I've procured the new wheel bearings and rear brake components....

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

I had to post this picture !!

After the accident, the rear tyre deflated overnight, so my dad had a local tyre place to fit a new tyre.

Now call me old fashioned, but if you have to use 340grms to balance a wheel tyre combination, then there is either a problem with the wheel or the replacement tyre......

Was pretty shocked when I saw all the weights going around the rim !!



Best I source a replacement wheel then

[heinkeljb]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

WOW!!!

I thought there was limit as to how much weight you could put on a wheel at one of those places?
I know if you were at home and had the equipment you could put whatever you liked on, but a garage open to the public?

Bet it felt like a shopping trolley with a wonky wheel to drive.....

Regards,

John

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

WOW!!!

I thought there was limit as to how much weight you could put on a wheel at one of those places?
I know if you were at home and had the equipment you could put whatever you liked on, but a garage open to the public?

Bet it felt like a shopping trolley with a wonky wheel to drive.....

Regards,

John

To be honest, there was no vibration at all from the rear wheel, seems the tyre bay had done such a good job of balancing it !!

There was a dull drone from the rear, which could be a combination of the rear tyre scrubbing and the worn rear wheel bearing.

Luckily enough I've just sourced a replacement rear Starline alloy wheel, and the seller says he'll have it dispatched by Wednesday, so getting there slowly with another needed part off my "Want" list. (Just hope its straight as I paid strongish money for it and I've bought it blind from a picture).

Tomorrows mission is to source wheel bearings, wheel cylinders and replacement brake shoes with springs......

[Ferrina]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

That's amazing!!

[BHP]

Re: My De Dion Tube Replacement Is Underway !!

Thread Update, Parts procurement in work, all genuine Smart prices below....


Rear wheel bearings = £73 + vat (Each)

Rear wheel brake cylinders = £55.50 + vat (Come as a pair)

Rear brake shoes = £66 + vat

Rear brake shoe spring kit = £36 + vat


Motor factors don't list the wheel bearings which is no surprise, however they didn't list the rear brake shoes or wheel cylinders ??

Looks like I'll be digging deeper in my pocket than first expected !!