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Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Undercarriage Rust

208 messages,  Last post on May 05, 2013 at 10:09 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Silverado & GMC Sierra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Truck

Messages Page 15 of 22

#132 of 208 Re: 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD [cookn1] by 2doorpost

Oct 27, 2011 (9:09 pm)

Replying to: cookn1 (Oct 27, 2011 6:14 am)
Have the rust issue on the rear rails of a 2008 Silverado.
 
I wire brushed the rails (at the rear bumper mounts) and applied a coat of sprayed flat enamel to cover the area. So far - its held up nearly a year.
The rest of the frame is mint- just the very rear of the rails where it caught the salt.

#133 of 208 rocker panels for 2001 1500 siera by jsweetguy320

Oct 30, 2011 (2:38 pm)

im looking to buy some rocker panels for my truck its a 2001 gmc siera 1500 with crew cab any ideas guys for places i live in ri thank you

#134 of 208 Re: 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD [hball01] by chevman828

Dec 05, 2011 (6:38 pm)

Replying to: hball01 (Oct 27, 2011 11:53 am)
Wow how did you clean up your frame so nice? Did you sandblast or just scrape it off? I really want to clean up the frame on my 1998 to have it last a long time. Did you spray the por15 or roll it? What did you do for primer? Does it last a long time and protects well? Thanks

#135 of 208 Re: 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD [chevman828] by hball01

Dec 06, 2011 (8:29 am)

Replying to: chevman828 (Dec 05, 2011 6:38 pm)
Lots of man hours and determination. I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart. I used mineral spirits, a rag, and a putty knife to scrape all the cheesy wax off the frame - down to the bare metal. Then I used a small hand grinder (4.5 to 5.5 inch) with knotted wire brushes to knock the rust off the best I could. They use POR-15 (google it), which is a 3 step process: grease/dirt cleaner, acid etch, POR-15 paint (2-coats, brush it on; it’s self leveling and looks like you sprayed it on). To do it right, I had to dissemble some parts: springs, shocks, some other small parts. On surfaces that are visible to light, which affects POR-15 discoloration, I sprayed with rustoleum flat black and/or rubberized undercoating to reduce chipping from rocks. I’ve also completed the entire underside of the truck box, disassembled and completed the inside of the rear bumper and trailer hitch. All that work, and I just completed the back half of the truck. I’ll do the front half next year because I need the truck now. The crying shame about all this is that GM could do this at the factory a lot easier than we can. I can understand cost and weight considerations on their part, but at least give us an option of paying for a top notch rust prevention system – not just a rubberized spray over of the wax cheese, which falls off anyway. Get it together GM! We can put a man on the moon, but we can’t make something that won’t rust out in a couple of years? I can do it, why can’t GM?

#136 of 208 2008 Escalade accelerated rust by katzoo

Dec 10, 2011 (8:17 am)

I have followed the posts and threads on the undercarraige rust issue with GM. I own 2 cadillac escalades. One I purchased brand new in 2007 and another purchased in 2008 which I traded my 2002 in for the brand new 2008. Within a year the brake roter rusted completely and peeled and warranty replaced. Again, within a year another set of rotors or rotors and brakes rusted out, now on third set of rotors were replaced, again under warranty as dealer said GM has had rotor issues. Each time escalade was taken to the dealer for all work. Now, for a year we have had a nightmare with undercarraige rust. Entire frame is rusted, ignition coils rusted out and were replaced, both manifolds rusted so bad the bolts busted when they tried to replace them. The lines have rusted out, all replaced under warranty but now eith 29,000 miles on this excalade the warranty ran out in November. I am fighting with GM, and due to go to court in January. Has anyone gone thru the court process and can weigh in what the result was. With only 29000 miles the vehicle is unsafe to drive. an expert looked at it and said it is the worst case of rusted undercarraige he has ever seen. I know this is a mealurgical issue with the 2008 frames as my 2002 and 2007 with 73000 miles has no rust. The 2008 frame, undercarraige, hinges, even the brackets under the hood are rusted and bubbling. I have a 2007 Toyota Tundra that has been in and out of strip jobs, off road in mine pits, sits next to the escalade in the driveway each night and not a bit of rush anywhere and it has 196000 miles. I am contacting the NHTSA and filing a complaint and holding my breath for what the outcome will be in court as the GM experts will testify that there are no rust history with GM undercarraiges. The Sierra is living proof that there is a metalurgical problem and GM should step in and do a recall. I have photos that tell the whole truth. Wife doesnt even drive it when the roads are bad, wont go on ice and minimal salt came in contact and it was always throughly washed. There must be an issue with the 2008 escalade frames and undercarraige. any thoughts?

#137 of 208 Re: 2008 Escalade accelerated rust [katzoo] by pattipie3

Dec 10, 2011 (8:30 am)

Replying to: katzoo (Dec 10, 2011 8:17 am)
I am so sorry to hear about your rusting problems... you are not alone. I have been fighting this issue for a couple of months now. Obviously, the first step is to put in a formal complaint to NHTSA. I have a blog set up with what I hope is some helpful information.
http://gmrustbuckets.blogspot.com/
This also has a link to a fellow GM victim, that is very helpful. I hope this helps a bit, and PLEASE let me know how you make out in court.
Best of luck.

#138 of 208 Re: 1999 GMC Sierra rusting frame [pattipie3] by chrisgfromva

Jan 22, 2012 (4:41 pm)

Replying to: pattipie3 (Oct 18, 2011 6:40 am)
I have a 1999 GMC Sierra and it is rusting too. Frame has completely rusted and had to have it repaired (some what) before the rear end falls out and the rocker panels are just as bad. I work on cars and i see this all the time. Even the insurance agent told me this was a problem on these trucks and that is not cover buy them. They need to recall them and fix them, other wise i will never buy another one! At least toyota fixed their problem.

#139 of 208 Re: 1999 GMC Sierra rusting frame [chrisgfromva] by gmrustbucket

Mar 14, 2012 (8:03 pm)

Replying to: chrisgfromva (Jan 22, 2012 4:41 pm)
Complain to NHTSA and GM and never buy from GM again. You will never hear from either but at least they will get the message (unless we bail them out again). I have been restoring my 2002 to fight rust with 45k miles. GM has turned their backs on their customers and chose profit over product. Send them a message back. I will be buying other trucks from now on. And to the GM CS's watching this site, stop responding, it is insulting to think you care. Maybe if GM let some dead weight go they could properly make trucks that are actually safe. (Oh and before anyone chimes in saying truck is 10 yrs old. Check my older posts. I have been fighting rust since 2004.)

#140 of 208 Re: 1999 GMC Sierra rusting frame [gmrustbucket] by pattipie3

Mar 15, 2012 (8:41 am)

Replying to: gmrustbucket (Mar 14, 2012 8:03 pm)
AMEN!!!!!

#141 of 208 Re: 1999 GMC Sierra rusting frame [gmrustbucket] by hball01

Mar 15, 2012 (9:27 am)

Replying to: gmrustbucket (Mar 14, 2012 8:03 pm)
> I have been restoring my 2002 to fight rust with 45k miles.
 
Same here, but mine only has 30K miles. Don't forget to look behind the rocker panels below the doors. I noticed the paint bubbling up with a moist oily feel underneath the paint chips I was breaking off. One area was rusted enough to knock out a hole. I ran a video camera probe behind to find the metal rusting out from the back. I'm going to wait until next fall to cut mine off, seal it up with POR-15, then put new ones on. For now I fiber glassed over, and sealed with POR-15 from the outside. Seems the designers left large channels open on the bottom, which allows salty water to spray up inside the closed channels from the wheels, and then forgot to apply any kind of a rust inhibitor. I better not meet one of these designers on the street.

Messages Page 15 of 22

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