Rusted Rear Subframe

[shibby_cbs]

so the rear subframe on my 97 xlt is shot. it is literally falling apart. the sway bar is detached and the is almost no support for my shocks that bolt into it. would you guys know where i could get a bolt in replacement for this. i wouldnt imagine it would be that hard to find as it just seems to be a stamped hunk of metal but i cant find it for the life of me. the front sway bar needs replaced too so its like im ridin in a boat in choppy waters goin down the highway...pretty scary at 70mph. thanks guys!!!

 

[Electrohacker]

dunno if you're going to find frames short of going to a junkyard, but heres an idea

http://www.lmctruck.com/features/fex/FEX.htm

 

[shibby_cbs]

the problem is that i would need to bring out a drill and drill it out...something i dont have

 

[Electrohacker]

a good cordless drill is a must for any home shop or really any type of do it yourself work.

maybe you should work one into your budget

you might be able to borrow one for now, but you really should think about getting a 14-18V niMH or Li-ion drill, something with a name and a reputation and a warranty

 

[Xplorer82]

i feel your pain. ohio winters have been brutal on my X as well. mine isn't as bad as yours tho from the sounds of it. i wire wheeled some of my frame and it is not too bad some spots worse than others, so after the weather breaks i plan to get as much of it off the whole underneath and treat the left over rust spots then hit it with undercoating and hope it helps.

luckily my rear shock mounts were not bad at all really (just replaced shocks). i do need to find out what the hell is on the driver side in the very back "next to the spare tire". whatever it is, it is rusted the hell out and looks like it will not last much longer, it houses something fuel related. looks like lines are running into it. never noticed it till i did the shocks but im glad i did. looks like its time to hit pull-a-part and break out the welder

good luck w/your X.

 

[Electrohacker]

I just think its funny... my whole underside is nothing but rust and I've never had a part fall off

then again I will be separating the body from the frame and tearing out the entire interior when I make my mods to clean out the rust and fix anything I just cant see.

 

[96eb96]

I just think its funny... my whole underside is nothing but rust and I've never had a part fall off

then again I will be separating the body from the frame and tearing out the entire interior when I make my mods to clean out the rust and fix anything I just cant see.

Brake lines tend to rust out and leak!

 

[Carguy3J]

i feel your pain. ohio winters have been brutal on my X as well. mine isn't as bad as yours tho from the sounds of it. i wire wheeled some of my frame and it is not too bad some spots worse than others, so after the weather breaks i plan to get as much of it off the whole underneath and treat the left over rust spots then hit it with undercoating and hope it helps.

luckily my rear shock mounts were not bad at all really (just replaced shocks). i do need to find out what the hell is on the driver side in the very back "next to the spare tire". whatever it is, it is rusted the hell out and looks like it will not last much longer, it houses something fuel related. looks like lines are running into it. never noticed it till i did the shocks but im glad i did. looks like its time to hit pull-a-part and break out the welder

good luck w/your X.

Your EVAP/CHARCOAL CANISTER is above that plate.

Get the loose stuff off, but don't take off all the rust, degrease very good (brake cleaner or paint prep), POR15, THEN undercoat.

 

[Electrohacker]

Brake lines tend to rust out and leak!

or in the case of a 94 saturn SC2 i once drove... explode while on a freeway on ramp leaving me with no brakes (the exhaust also fell off at the same time)

 

[Xplorer82]

Your EVAP/CHARCOAL CANISTER is above that plate.

Get the loose stuff off, but don't take off all the rust, degrease very good (brake cleaner or paint prep), POR15, THEN undercoat.

thanks for that info and your tips. im definitely hitting it with Ospho before i do anything (Por15, ect). looks like im going to have to replace that plate tho. its the only spot that is that bad luckily.

thanks again for the info..

 

[Carguy3J]

thanks for that info and your tips. im definitely hitting it with Ospho before i do anything (Por15, ect). looks like im going to have to replace that plate tho. its the only spot that is that bad luckily.

thanks again for the info..

If you are going to use POR15, don't use anything else first, other then just cleaning/degreasing. I'm not sure what Ospho is, but it sounds like some kind of rust converter product or something. They don't wwork very well, and POR15 doesn't like to stick to any other coatings. It works best with clean, but rusty metal. (just knock off the loose stuff, don't grind it down to shiny/bare metal.)