Rear Wheel Issue

OK…..

The rear wheel is leaning in towards the top… and the car looks like its been hit.

One possible answer is that the rear axle needs replacing… however, it doesn't look bent.

Is it possible that it could be the rear plate?

Reason for asking is that someone pointed out that the rear plates are designed to bend, in order to save the rear axle from bending.

The rear plate would be four bolts… hub on top of that, wheel on top of that.

Sound reasonable?

.

What is a rear plate?

It could be the rear beam, or the stub axle, or the body itself (so the mounting points…) bent. Have you had it looked at by a garage yet?

can't get it down to a garage until i get the fuel pump sorted!

the rear plate is what the hub goes onto.

allegedly, they are designed to fold, in an attempt to stop the rear axle from bending.

it's been hit on the passenger side, and the wheel leans in at the top.

.

Can you clarify what you mean as "hub", in the context of Mk1 Golf rear suspension? There's the beam (sometimes called axle), a stub axle, 2x taper roller bearings then the rear drum. The wheel is bolted to the drum.

SORRY… MEANT DRUM.

caps ;lock.

long day…..  

the wheel goes onto the drum, but the drum comes off to do the brakes.

the rear axle connects to the car with four bolts, and the legs connect to that.

what is the unit that the drum connects to, as i've been told that it is designed to fold, as a way of damage limitation to stop the rear axle bending

i'll take a few photos in about ten minutes and put them up for you to look at.

.

Answered above!

THE DRIVERS SIDE LOOKS LIKE THIS…
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/3718/driversside.jpg


PASSENGER SIDE….
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/2851/passengerside.jpg


POSSIBLY THE BACKING PLATE…
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/4520/backingplate.jpg


PICTURE 1
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/7241/84888633.jpg


PICTURE 2
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/7330/99612883.jpg


PICTURE 3
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/4546/36961407.jpg


I don't think the axle is bent… i'm more inclined to agree that the backing plate is defective… by which i mean the unit that the rear cylinder, brakes etc bolt onto.

Have you checked the stub axles? I doubt it's the back plate as these wouldn't just bend and would be extreamly hard to damage. I take it you've checked the wheel bearing? Jack up wheel and grab wheel top and bottom wriggle for play? The most probable. May be the stub axle or axle, check for damage with a steel rule/straight edge.

ljw1980 said

Have you checked the stub axles? I doubt it's the back plate as these wouldn't just bend and would be extreamly hard to damage. I take it you've checked the wheel bearing? Jack up wheel and grab wheel top and bottom wriggle for play? The most probable. May be the stub axle or axle, check for damage with a steel rule/straight edge.

answer your phone !

this needs a conversation.

i'll bell you tomorrow

the back plate that the stub axle bolts to is an integral part of the beam and if damaged so is the beam. it isn't replaceable in the event of a collision.

the backing plate will not alter camber. if it's damaged the wheel will still be straight.

Sounds to me like the beam is twisted as from the photo's it all seems as it should be.  measure from the top back edge of the drum backing plate to the suspension strut, then to the same on the other side. they should be near enough the same, give or take a bit to allow for the crudeness of the measuring lol.

That'll tell you if it's just your eyes playing tricks as by the photo's i cant see much difference.

Jon.