Topic: Thats not good... frame rust

[Tr00b]

I know these pics are terrible but I was very disappointed to find that behind the  suspension arm bracket in front of the rear tire has some bad rust damage.



I had been hoping it wasnt this bad but i saw daylight through it today and started picking and got sicker and sicker the more that came off. I am not real sure what to do about it. I need this thing to haul firewood for this winter. I had an F150 frame rail split in half on me while going down the road....

[oldjeep]

Nothing to do but cut it out and start welding in new metal

[sharpxmen]

I would get a replacement frame from j/y, there's probably more runst in other places. late 95 had a galvanized frame

[Tr00b]

Its a 1997 TJ. The verdict is on other forums that patch frame pieces are available and OK but usually a new used frame is the best solution because its usually so screwed up all over if its rusted out in one spot.

[Jeffy]

The cheapest option would be to cut patch and plate the area.  If it's worse then just that one area then a frame replacement might be in order.  It would probably be cheaper to buy a new Jeep at that point.

[Tr00b]

I guess if it stops raining I'll poke around for more rust. As far as I know this is the worst/ only bad spot and I have someone who has a steel shop who can do it. How bad are those trailing arms to get off?

[Jeffy]

I guess if it stops raining I'll poke around for more rust. As far as I know this is the worst/ only bad spot and I have someone who has a steel shop who can do it. How bad are those trailing arms to get off?

Well seeing all that rust, they might be hard to remove if it's rusty as well.  Shouldn't be too hard if you soak everything in penetrating oil for a while before hand.

[Tr00b]

I had real bad luck with the upper shock mount bolts they snapped off like twigs.

Might I need to rebush the radius arms? ie you can't usually remove leaf spring bolts because the the bolts and sleeves rust and expand inside the bushings around here. You end up cutting the bolts dropping the spring out and then melting the whole works out with a torch.

[Tr00b]

Not only is the frame bad on that side, both rearmost frame sections have big holes in them both drivers and passengers... the drivers side is real bad. No more towing the trailer anymore... my dad was so helpful... took a look at it and said "that's a jeep for ya" and walked away.

 I'm essentially screwed because now that ive been poking around its real fing obvious there are problems. I won't be able to get jack crap selling it or trading it and I'm broke as it is, now I can't haul stuff for the farm.

Well sorry for the rant... trying to find a way out of this without losing my ass and no good ideas are surfacing.

[neale_rs]

Nothing has really changed just because you have more information about it.  It can still be used just like the last time you used it.  Just calmly start fixing what you can.

[sharpxmen]

find a donor vehicle for cheap and get it to your farm (blown engine, rolled, etc).

[Tr00b]

Couple problems with digging in and fixing it... there are frames around for sale.in the 4 to 900 range and I still love.this.thing and am not out that much money to get it and get it on the road maybe $4000 and I've used the heck out of it since 2008.... but.

... My house is half torn down and while yes I am putting in a garage with a heated floor it has sky above it right now. Its not going to be use able for maybe 6 months?

 The body is also in rough. I'll have to repair the body mount rail in two places and under the inner rear fenders rot is starting.

Usually when you take it apart that far you takecare of the might as well fixes.. which add up to months of time and at least $2000. The brakes are shot. Transfer case needs reseal and maybe output bearing might as well rebuild it. Should replace the ujoints on the drive shafts. Pinion seal on rear axle but might as well replace... The drivers side fender is rotted out and has accident damage...

Neale you are.probably right I could just use it like I knew nothing but the jeep has been there for me after 3 Ford trucks rusted out and failed. Now my failsafe is failing..

Last ditch effort a friend of mine has done some pretty wild frame fixes on YJs that look really good he may be able to buy me a few years by patching it up but he swore he would never do it again. Hoping he comes through...

[Jeffy]

I still think it would be a whole lot easier to get a donor Jeep, running or not.  A 4.0L would be a nice upgrade. Then swap your good stuff to the runner or else mix and match till you get one good Jeep.  Unless you're doing the labor for free because you want to learn, I don't think it's worth it.  You could cut out the whole rear and build a new one like what thy do with multi-link rears.

[Tr00b]

What would one expect to pay for a donor jeep and how do you find one? All the rebuilder websites want 5k for them and extremely far and few between

[neale_rs]

This might help:  http://autorust.com/store/jeep

You can locate Jeeps on craiglist and eBay.

Maybe look on the internet for flood damaged TJs.