DeDion corrosion

W

Willy Eckerslyke

Well-Known Member
If anyone needs to know what to check for, my project P6's DeDion elbows were a bit dodgy:
UEY_elbow_1.jpg

This one didn't actually look too bad until I removed the opposite side and the weight of the tube showed up this weakness.

UEY_elbow_3.jpg


One side had been massively welded. Seeing the condition of the lower link, the elbow had clearly given way at some point and dragged the link along the road. So they just welded it back together and left the remains of the link to cope:
UEY_elbow_2.jpg

There's a thick metal sleeve at that point, supporting the rubber bush. It wouldn't have rusted through like that on its own. Have to say I find this deeply scary!

I'll be replacing both elbows and links with galvanised ones.
 
Many threads on this topic in one case reporting fatal consequences.

You need to find good ones (maybe imports from drier climes) and galvanize them. Others have reinfored them also.
 
It's certainly worth checking their condition thoroughly and often.
While the right side on this car was clearly faulty, I have a horrible feeling that some MOT testers wouldn't have spotted the left one until it gave way.

I should add that this car had been off the road for 15 years, but stored in a reasonably dry looking garage. While the corrosion wouldn't have been this bad when it was last driven, that lower link with the rubber bush showing through must have been pretty obvious. The whole link was twisted so anyone could have seen there was something amiss.
 
Galv is a good way to go.

I did this years ago after a failure. I got a P5 subframe done last year and a about a week later was working in a differenct place that does colour galv. I wish I had known and would have got them to do it black instead of looking like a lampost.

Colin
 
Way to go is shot blasting, acid etch, zinc plate / galv then powder coating. After blast and etch you'll probably find you need ro do some welding! When you've finished don't forget the dinitrol inside the elbows and lower links.
 
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