chassis - how concerned should I be?
Discussion
The problem of course is if you can't see ALL of the outriggers then you just won't know. I agree with previous answers that it looks fairly superficial...
But so did mine.
The pic below is what the tops looked like when the body started to come off. Yes, the powder coat was lifting off in sheets and was pretty much separate from the metal, but after a very light sanding all looked ok and I really thought I'd got away with it.
Until I found the below. The piece of putty on the left of the hole is just larger than a £2 coin for sizing reference. I could almost get my hand in. There was also another hole at the front drivers side, but much much smaller. So in effect around 95% of my outriggers looked and appeared to come up perfect. Just a shame about that last 5%.
Its up to you of course how best to proceed. Just try and not get carried away thinking that because the bottoms look good, so will the rest.
But so did mine.
The pic below is what the tops looked like when the body started to come off. Yes, the powder coat was lifting off in sheets and was pretty much separate from the metal, but after a very light sanding all looked ok and I really thought I'd got away with it.
Until I found the below. The piece of putty on the left of the hole is just larger than a £2 coin for sizing reference. I could almost get my hand in. There was also another hole at the front drivers side, but much much smaller. So in effect around 95% of my outriggers looked and appeared to come up perfect. Just a shame about that last 5%.
Its up to you of course how best to proceed. Just try and not get carried away thinking that because the bottoms look good, so will the rest.
Wow. That certainly is an eye opener. What age was the car?
Is there any way of inspection these areas without doing a body lift?
I purchased my car off a reputable specialist near to me about a year ago, so I'm hoping I will be okay for the time being. I've not covered many miles and they've been in mostly dry conditions.
Is there any way of inspection these areas without doing a body lift?
I purchased my car off a reputable specialist near to me about a year ago, so I'm hoping I will be okay for the time being. I've not covered many miles and they've been in mostly dry conditions.
J4CKS said:
Wow. That certainly is an eye opener. What age was the car?
Is there any way of inspection these areas without doing a body lift?
I purchased my car off a reputable specialist near to me about a year ago, so I'm hoping I will be okay for the time being. I've not covered many miles and they've been in mostly dry conditions.
2000 W RegIs there any way of inspection these areas without doing a body lift?
I purchased my car off a reputable specialist near to me about a year ago, so I'm hoping I will be okay for the time being. I've not covered many miles and they've been in mostly dry conditions.
No way to inspect all the outriggers without a body lift I'm afraid.
My post wasn't intended to scare, far from it. Its just that I understand totally where your question is coming from and why you've asked it. I asked myself exactly the same, as have countless others. The trouble is there is no way to give a 100% correct answer without inspecting all of the outriggers. Thats all I was trying to get across
from the pictures those ottriggers look ok on 1st view...but when you watch closer the surface is already very rough which indicates that the corrosion already sits deeper into the material.
considering that the majority of outtriggers are rusted through from top or behind i would say: they are shot!!if i would be a buyer of such a car i would deduct 2 new outtriggers from the sales price.
anyway..if the car has a rather fresh mot get some rust inhibitor on those outtriggers, cover it with some paint...and a few months b4 the next mot advertize the car at flee-bay...
considering that the majority of outtriggers are rusted through from top or behind i would say: they are shot!!if i would be a buyer of such a car i would deduct 2 new outtriggers from the sales price.
anyway..if the car has a rather fresh mot get some rust inhibitor on those outtriggers, cover it with some paint...and a few months b4 the next mot advertize the car at flee-bay...
LLantrisant said:
from the pictures those ottriggers look ok on 1st view...but when you watch closer the surface is already very rough which indicates that the corrosion already sits deeper into the material.
considering that the majority of outtriggers are rusted through from top or behind i would say: they are shot!!if i would be a buyer of such a car i would deduct 2 new outtriggers from the sales price.
anyway..if the car has a rather fresh mot get some rust inhibitor on those outtriggers, cover it with some paint...and a few months b4 the next mot advertize the car at flee-bay...
from personal experience i would tend to agree with this alsoconsidering that the majority of outtriggers are rusted through from top or behind i would say: they are shot!!if i would be a buyer of such a car i would deduct 2 new outtriggers from the sales price.
anyway..if the car has a rather fresh mot get some rust inhibitor on those outtriggers, cover it with some paint...and a few months b4 the next mot advertize the car at flee-bay...
Not meant as anything other than my experience of my own chassis which looked pretty similar to yours from underneath. It's a 95 which apparently had good chassis protection and grade of steel. After caring for it every year for 5 years I've had the car, scraping, painting etc a little digging and:-
A trip to X-Works and voila.
My argument to myself is that life and limb are worth more than £1500, if in doubt save up and replace the little buggers. The car feels much stiffer and less creaky.
A trip to X-Works and voila.
My argument to myself is that life and limb are worth more than £1500, if in doubt save up and replace the little buggers. The car feels much stiffer and less creaky.
J4CKS said:
I purchased my car off a reputable specialist near to me about a year ago, so I'm hoping I will be okay for the time being. I've not covered many miles and they've been in mostly dry conditions.
No matter how honest the seller no-one can guarantee with certainty that the original outriggers on any car will not have a hole somewhere in them as said usually near the corner plates or on top.That said you can use an endoscope to inspect the tops - even then it's never 100%.
Partial full lift is the only way. I suspect the majority of us with original outriggers will have a hole somewhere (garage queens aside).
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