Re: 505 sedan rear body flex with big trailer
From: davemcbean (davemcbean@yahoo.com.au)
Date: Tue 05 Mar 2002 - 17:45:22 EST
--- In peugeot-L@y..., gayneshall@a... wrote:
> As some of you will remember I have been towing a big caravan
(trailer)
> behind a 505 V6 sedan during the last couple of years. On my last
2 trips I
> have used 2 different V6 cars and been a bit more ambitious about
where I've
> gone but have had a similar problem with both of them (though to
different
> degrees):-
>
> Vertical dents have appeared in the rear wing panels immediately
behind the
> back end of the C pillars
Chris,
Because on RWD Peugeots the rear guards/fenders/wings serve as a
major part of the structure that holds the boot/trunk up, it is
common for them to crack or bend at the base of the C pillar when
overloaded or subjected to extreme vibration. In Africa it is common
for 404s and 505s to develop stress cracks at the base of the C
pillar. 504s can also develop cracks in this area, although it is
less common, due to the fillet radius buttresses at the bottom of the
C pillar (they also have 4 inches less boot/trunk hanging out the
back). I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of the reasons why 504
sedan/saloon production continued in extreme environments such as
Africa and South America, long after 505 sedan production ceased.
I used to have a 1973 South African built 404 which developed quite
serious cracks at the base of the C pillar. I've heard of one
particular 404 that was used for rallying here in Australia where the
cracks were so bad that the boot/trunk ended up detaching completely
from the rest of the car. Alot of rally competitiors avoid this
problem by mounting the fuel tank above the rear axle and the spare
wheels in the rear seat area, so that there is very little stress on
the base of the C pillars. This change of weight distribution helps
the handling also.
I think the only solution to your problem would be to add extra
structural members inside your boot/trunk from the inner C pillar
area to the floor, to take some of the load off the outer skin.
Dave
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