The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

2006 Fiat Panda:
Near side:

Off side:

It looks like the seat itself is fine, only the bit in the middle has gone. Obviously I wouldn't know for sure until I'd got the axle off. Is a repair permitted here?

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1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.

From the test manual:

"Welded repairs to highly stressed components such as steering/suspension
arms, rods, levers etc are not normally acceptable, other than where the
component is made up of sections that are welded together. In these cases
the repair should appear to be as strong as the original design.
7. Thin gauge steel pressings
It is common to use thin gauge pressings for certain steering and
suspension components, mountings, s
ub-frames and cross members.
These are designed to have minimal material usage with maximum
strength, resulting in hollow or open sections or ‘up facing’ areas in which
road dirt impregnated with salt or other chemicals collects causing serious
but often very localised corrosion.
These types of components require extra vigilance as there may be little
evidence of corrosion on initial inspection, but may reveal severe material
failure when looked at more closely. "

Personally I'd ask why you'd want to take the risks associated with welding it when it probably isn't a very common problem and a good secondhand one could be bought for reasonable money.

Just my 2 cents worth.

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Currently over 35 years worth of fixing 35 boxes.
Hoping to reach 65 years worth of fixing 65 boxes.

Its a common fault - Our 2008 Panda is getting rusty here and ive waxoyled it to hold it back (hopefully)

I agree with Harvey though - i wouldn't weld it, replace the axle instead.

Replace is preferred obviously but at this point I'm checking what my options are.

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1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.

Your option is replace it....
Ive just checked with my new boss, whos an MOT Tester.
His answer:

"You can't repair that. The only way that that would be allowed is if the spring pan is a seperate part that is welded on - then you could, if you could get a replacement pan, remove the old one completely and weld the new one into place. It was common at one point to do that to Mk1 & 2 Fiestas, you could buy just the pan from Ford and weld it into place.
Certainly patching is out... Sorry."

If its any consolation i'll be in the same boat at some point in the next couple of years, ours is starting to scab up nicely.

Cheers Matt, I've booked it in for a replacement to be fitted - CBA myself. With one exception this is heading for my most expensive MOT ever. Had a quote of £322 approx for the axle and one strut top. Eight hundred and forty ouch for a new one from Fiat so 2nd hand it is. I've done the strut top myself but I always do pairs and the other side was overtightened, the hex socket in the top of the strut burst - that'll be a pair of struts needed by next year then. At least the TREs (advisory) were easy. Even without the strut top I'll bet the axle exceeds the quote. Then there's the pair of tyres, tracking and set of wipers (surprisingly only advised cos they're fooked).

Mounts, TREs and wipers, £122
Tyres, £100 for something decent by the time they're on.
Tracking?
Axle, I think they'll push it to £400 but bottle asking more than that.

I hate moderns.

The exception is the MOT that failed Mrs Weevils mini. Many, many thousands later it now lives a cosseted life and still I came home with a long list of things to attend to after it's last outing.

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1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.

Cheers for posting this tinweevil.
My wife has a 2007 model and I did spend a fair while de-rusting the back axle area in the summer, so I will make sure I keep a close eye on this.

In general it has been a good car so far, but I don't think the Italians made much effort on paint protection on the extremities. The oil sump is also very rusty on ours.

Regards

MC

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Matt Cotton

TDC Oxfordshire Area Organiser.
TDC/TSSC group meeting - 3rd Tuesday of the month


1980 1500HL - OPD
1976 Sprint - SWU

I was wrong and quite happy in the end. Bill of just over 400 including the two tyres and 4 wheel trash compactor style* tracking

*Laser bolts pinging around all over the place

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1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.