Truck Frame Rust Repair

[rhamersley]

My stepson just phoned and said that while chasing a brake fluid leak, he found that the frame of his 2014 Sierra has a large hole in it under the cab drivers side (see photo). He said that he found another weak spot on the passenger side, also. He and his wife live up around the Anderson area, and I was wondering if there was any recommendations on frame repair shops up around there. There was evidently a recall for frame corrosion, so he's going to talk to the dealer about that, but I'd like to have some places to give him if it's not covered. Thanks.

 

[AllenM]

Hate to be the barer of bad news but... There is no safe repair for that

 

[Brad69]

@AllenM,

Question on a flat pick up frame not boxed can you grind out the rust and fishplate?
This one is not rusted though.

 

[AllenM]

@AllenM,

Question on a flat pick up frame not boxed can you grind out the rust and fishplate?
This one is not rusted though.

Technically yes that can be done but usually rust isn't isolated to one area...Usually. I wont do it just because of the liability issue. Its more of a back yard repair

 

[Brad69]

Technically yes that can be done but usually rust isn't isolated to one area...Usually. I wont do it just because of the liability issue. Its more of a back yard repair

Yeah a backyard project on my old tundra junk hauler fishing hunting truck.

Frame has surface rust deep in a few spots was gonna fish plate the worst areas and coat the rest.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Bugzilla]

Time to trade.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Find a frame, pick a part.

 

[MrSmitty]

That'll buff out.....If you have it plated, and welded, that will at least last longer than the rest of the frame..........

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

Search replacement GM truck frames.

Good luck.

 

[JTKelly]

Better check it close back near the shocks and where water drips between the bed and cab.

 

[Brian Ski]

10 years old, ouch!! I agree with Allen, any patch will be a patch and there will be other spots that will be weak. Best may be to part ways.

 

[ws6guy]

ouch and only 10 years old! Looks like GM's wax coating strikes again. My '13 had a lot of surface rust and most of the coating was gone when I got rid it a year ago but nothing like this though.

 

[Lpherr]

 

[Brian Ski]

Is that one of the new Toyota Flex??

 

[d.kaufman]

I've posted it before. No longer have the Pic. Had a dodge ram 1500 fold like that on the rack before.

 

[Leo]

This problem, on Chevy's and toyota's just baffles me. Trucks that still have shiny sheet metal have no frames left.

Granted, the 1970's was a long time ago, but when I used to consider the Junk yard as a good source of parts, the place was full of frames. Cars that were so rusty that you could pull the rotten quarter panels off with a couple kicks of your boot and your bare hands, still had sturdy frames. The UNibody cars had no structure left, but anything with a frame was in one piece. What has gone wrong with our cars?

 

[Ingomike]

This problem, on Chevy's and toyota's just baffles me. Trucks that still have shiny sheet metal have no frames left.

Granted, the 1970's was a long time ago, but when I used to consider the Junk yard as a good source of parts, the place was full of frames. Cars that were so rusty that you could pull the rotten quarter panels off with a couple kicks of your boot and your bare hands, still had sturdy frames. The UNibody cars had no structure left, but anything with a frame was in one piece. What has gone wrong with our cars?

Cheap steel for frames and modern chemical coatings that keep bodies corrosion down.

 

[Robert Richardson]

View attachment 374505

Had this to a happen to a GMC that a Marine had just bought in Michigan. This one had a transmission leak that I was looking for when it folded up. He was on his way to Paris Island. Dealer that sold it to him told him, "it wasn't his problem ". Brad Hubler took it in on trade, gave him full price and took 10k off the price of a new one to help him out. The Marine turned it into JAG, they got his money back and he gave it to Brad.
It matters where the vehicle comes from. They use lots of road salt in Michigan.

 

[firecadet613]

It matters where the vehicle comes from. They use lots of road salt in Michigan.

And that to the worthless wax coating GM puts on the frames and you get trucks with frames that rust out.

All of a sudden, my '19 Ram doesn't seem so bad...

 

[Brian Ski]

Some of these newer trucks, the ones with problems are using thinner metal with box frames. They hold in water and moisture and rot out from the inside. They are making the metal thin and light so the vehicle can get better acceleration and mileage.

Many of these cars look great until you look under them. Plastic fenders, plastic door skins. Plastic trim over the rockers. Then when the rust is so bad the plastic trim is falling off it goes from looking excellent to trash.