While at annual, I wanted someone with experience to put in the PPonk landing gear attach mod on my 180. They actually pulled the gear to clean up the box and found corrosion in the outboard bracket on the right, exhaust side. I had previously took a flashlight and mirror to that area, but hadn't found any obvious signs of corrosion, likely because the delamination was taking place under the gear leg,





I ended up having both brackets replaced, even though the left one appeared to be ok. The PPonk brackets, although expensive (~$800 ea), weren't nearly as expensive as the Cessna brackets ($1730.70 ea at Yingling). They were attached with NAS close tolerance bolts in place of Huck fasteners, and access was achieved through the bottom skin. Anyway, expensive, but not as expensive as a failed gear bracket!

Another Marty(used to be on this forum) did that at Luverne Mn a couple of years ago. Wonder why they went from the bottom since it seems it would be easier to peel the heavy skin up that is just ahead of the seat tracks to gain access?

I wasn't there for the work, but apparently that's the method recommended by Beegles, and it supposedly allows for easier rivet access.

Holes in the floorboards make it reasonably possible to do the rivets/fasteners attaching the bottom skin, if you went through the bottom skin. You can look through those holes and see most of the rivets or fasteners holding the bottom skin.

If you went through the top (floorboard) skin, then when the time comes to put it back together you have to go through the same floorboard, make a 180 degree turn with your arms, to buck rivets or install nuts that you cannot see.