Really bad rust stories - let's hear 'em!
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Because the metal is too thin to save costs... Dad who worked for Chrysler told me. 
Kestas
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Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
How come the Caravans rot so fast then?
Compared with what?... and how old are you and when did you start to own vehicles? The corrosion protection used with zinc coated steel was a far cry better than the steel used before 1980. But they still eventually rust. If you ever owned a car in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, you would have experienced rust-through in as little as 2-3 years.
How come the Caravans rot so fast then?
Compared with what?... and how old are you and when did you start to own vehicles? The corrosion protection used with zinc coated steel was a far cry better than the steel used before 1980. But they still eventually rust. If you ever owned a car in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, you would have experienced rust-through in as little as 2-3 years.
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I had an'81 Plymouth Reliant that developed major holes in the trunk in 1995. My old 1990 Dodge Spirit rusted through the drivers floorpan by 2002, even though the doors still looked good. My current '99 Taurus is starting to get a bit of rust on the inside of the lower door panels. My '01 Windstar is just beginning to get a bit of bubbling on the inside of the rear hatch.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
How come the Caravans rot so fast then?
Compared with what?... and how old are you and when did you start to own vehicles? The corrosion protection used with zinc coated steel was a far cry better than the steel used before 1980. But they still eventually rust. If you ever owned a car in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, you would have experienced rust-through in as little as 2-3 years.
I'm 28
I've owned a 1974 Olds Cutlass Supreme, oldest car since that is my '82 Capri, but not a good typical example because the mileage is low and it's been undercoated.
My Grandmother owned a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado, a 1975 Lincoln Continental and my aunt a '68 T-Bird. Those are the vehicles I can remember.
Both the Caddy and the Cutlass had less rust than a typical 80's/90's Caravan I see, though the Caddy had issues with the floor in the back.
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
How come the Caravans rot so fast then?
Compared with what?... and how old are you and when did you start to own vehicles? The corrosion protection used with zinc coated steel was a far cry better than the steel used before 1980. But they still eventually rust. If you ever owned a car in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, you would have experienced rust-through in as little as 2-3 years.
I'm 28
I've owned a 1974 Olds Cutlass Supreme, oldest car since that is my '82 Capri, but not a good typical example because the mileage is low and it's been undercoated.
My Grandmother owned a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado, a 1975 Lincoln Continental and my aunt a '68 T-Bird. Those are the vehicles I can remember.
Both the Caddy and the Cutlass had less rust than a typical 80's/90's Caravan I see, though the Caddy had issues with the floor in the back.
My 2000 cavalier had holes in the rocker looked like a .45 round went through the "metal". My father in law has it now and is fixing the rust problem. I fell for the Rust Bullet hype; never again. Stuff cost alot and the rust came right back. 
I don't think there are any rustproofing chains in our area anymore. One would think it would be a business that would never have lost demand for it.
I don't think there are any rustproofing chains in our area anymore. One would think it would be a business that would never have lost demand for it.
He obviously never owned a 70's or 80's Toyota or Honda LOL Those were the bigest rust buckets going.
I drive an 89 Shadow, 247K miles. Live in Maine still going.
I scavenge parts at local yard. Imports tend to have the worst rust, seeing VW, Hondas and Toys showing up from mid 90 vintage with tons of rot versus many Chryco vans with no rot, Taurus with little rot Chevies etc.
I drive an 89 Shadow, 247K miles. Live in Maine still going.
I scavenge parts at local yard. Imports tend to have the worst rust, seeing VW, Hondas and Toys showing up from mid 90 vintage with tons of rot versus many Chryco vans with no rot, Taurus with little rot Chevies etc.
Kestas
Staff member
Few people know (or care) about that fact. The japanese-is-better-than-American crowd didn't know this fact, that, at least back then, japanese cars were more prone to rust and less crash-worthy than the American cars. It also accounts for some of the popularity of japanese cars in California compared with buyers from the rust belt.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Few people know (or care) about that fact. The japanese-is-better-than-American crowd didn't know this fact, that, at least back then, japanese cars were more prone to rust and less crash-worthy than the American cars. It also accounts for some of the popularity of japanese cars in California compared with buyers from the rust belt.
My neighbour's parents have an oil burning rust chewed Civic. It's probably similar vintage to my Lincoln. Of course one of my Lincoln's doors has more metal than the entire Civic....
Few people know (or care) about that fact. The japanese-is-better-than-American crowd didn't know this fact, that, at least back then, japanese cars were more prone to rust and less crash-worthy than the American cars. It also accounts for some of the popularity of japanese cars in California compared with buyers from the rust belt.
My neighbour's parents have an oil burning rust chewed Civic. It's probably similar vintage to my Lincoln. Of course one of my Lincoln's doors has more metal than the entire Civic....
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Few people know (or care) about that fact. The japanese-is-better-than-American crowd didn't know this fact, that, at least back then, japanese cars were more prone to rust and less crash-worthy than the American cars. It also accounts for some of the popularity of japanese cars in California compared with buyers from the rust belt.
My neighbour's parents have an oil burning rust chewed Civic. It's probably similar vintage to my Lincoln. Of course one of my Lincoln's doors has more metal than the entire Civic....
Probably...
.
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Few people know (or care) about that fact. The japanese-is-better-than-American crowd didn't know this fact, that, at least back then, japanese cars were more prone to rust and less crash-worthy than the American cars. It also accounts for some of the popularity of japanese cars in California compared with buyers from the rust belt.
My neighbour's parents have an oil burning rust chewed Civic. It's probably similar vintage to my Lincoln. Of course one of my Lincoln's doors has more metal than the entire Civic....
Probably...
.
Also known as the: dime-a-dozen crowd or the perception and image crowd
Originally Posted By: Kestas
The japanese-is-better-than-American crowd...
Originally Posted By: Kestas
The japanese-is-better-than-American crowd...
Bringing back this thread from the dead, because my Tribute is rapidly becoming the car I'm talking about...
In just the last 2 or so years, the top of the back hatch, where the glass latches to, has completely rusted through in 2 spots to form 1" wide by 2-3" long holes, right around the glass hinges - how soon until they break off?
Also, the metal around the fuel-filler neck is rusting through, only a matter of time before it breaks, and the filler neck isn't supported anymore!
Also, every time you close the back doors now, a hail of rust debris comes out - the metal around the fenders and doors, under the plastic body cladding, is completely rusted out - I've already had to use screws to try and re-attach the trim to the body so it doesn't 'flap out' from the body...
I'm just waiting for a major body component to break free, and the truck is done...
In just the last 2 or so years, the top of the back hatch, where the glass latches to, has completely rusted through in 2 spots to form 1" wide by 2-3" long holes, right around the glass hinges - how soon until they break off?
Also, the metal around the fuel-filler neck is rusting through, only a matter of time before it breaks, and the filler neck isn't supported anymore!
Also, every time you close the back doors now, a hail of rust debris comes out - the metal around the fenders and doors, under the plastic body cladding, is completely rusted out - I've already had to use screws to try and re-attach the trim to the body so it doesn't 'flap out' from the body...
I'm just waiting for a major body component to break free, and the truck is done...
Well that make's me feel better about our Escape! The rust is limited to the rear wheel wells, bottom of the doors and back frame.. that I know about anyways. Will continue to squirt old oil in the doors and other area's. Last year wire wheeled and repainted the rear wheel wells with rustoelum. Came right back. Oh well may do it again. In the end it's just a hunk of metal probably will let it go till it breaks in half.
This thread is useless without pics! This is s strut mount from a 1995 Ford Escort rear strut:
It's not really bad rust and most of the problem was the strut mount itself, which is easily replaceable. It's just that the strut mount rust effected the metal that it mounts to, and that's where it can get bad enough to make the car junkable.
It's not really bad rust and most of the problem was the strut mount itself, which is easily replaceable. It's just that the strut mount rust effected the metal that it mounts to, and that's where it can get bad enough to make the car junkable.
I talked a friend of mine into buying a 1990 Cherokee with 200,000 NYS miles. The "frame" was solid so he brought it home.
Turns out ... the frame really was solid. This, however, was what was left after we started knocking the rust out of it:
He didn't pay much for it. And the frame is solid.
We just welded in the floor over the weekend. It's not the greatest weld job but it's better than nothing. Currently there is some expanding foam added to the fenders and we used the industrial caulk/glue like they did from teh factory
"Frame" will be getting plated soon. We will be pulling out all of the expanding foam and doing it right. Jeeps needs to be ready by Sunday!
Turns out ... the frame really was solid. This, however, was what was left after we started knocking the rust out of it:
He didn't pay much for it. And the frame is solid.
We just welded in the floor over the weekend. It's not the greatest weld job but it's better than nothing. Currently there is some expanding foam added to the fenders and we used the industrial caulk/glue like they did from teh factory
"Frame" will be getting plated soon. We will be pulling out all of the expanding foam and doing it right. Jeeps needs to be ready by Sunday!
Lots of good ones so far.
I talked to a guy at the lake a few years ago with an old Jeep CJ Golden Eagle that was fully restored. He said he had 3 Jeep J10's back in the day and they would develop soft ball sized rust holes in the bed within 6 months.
Rust is of course what really killed the Jeep Comanches too. They had those fender flares as did the Cherokees. Crud and salt would build up inside and just eat at the sheet metal. When my dad had his restored, the bed is what was holding up the process. Found a lot of Comanches in the junkyards, but they beds were always gone. Somehow we got luck and found a rust free bed just sitting in the grass. It had came off a truck that caught on fire. Paid $200 for it.
What I'll never understand is the Dodge Ram. They seem to come from the factory with pre installed rust. I know a guy with a 2003. (same year as my Jeep) with holes above the rear wheels. They came off the same line as my Jeep too with what I assume to be the same sheet metal.
I talked to a guy at the lake a few years ago with an old Jeep CJ Golden Eagle that was fully restored. He said he had 3 Jeep J10's back in the day and they would develop soft ball sized rust holes in the bed within 6 months.
Rust is of course what really killed the Jeep Comanches too. They had those fender flares as did the Cherokees. Crud and salt would build up inside and just eat at the sheet metal. When my dad had his restored, the bed is what was holding up the process. Found a lot of Comanches in the junkyards, but they beds were always gone. Somehow we got luck and found a rust free bed just sitting in the grass. It had came off a truck that caught on fire. Paid $200 for it.
What I'll never understand is the Dodge Ram. They seem to come from the factory with pre installed rust. I know a guy with a 2003. (same year as my Jeep) with holes above the rear wheels. They came off the same line as my Jeep too with what I assume to be the same sheet metal.
My 1993 Escort is getting really bad. It's been in our family from day one, and used in Slovenia and Austria for first fifteen years. I only use it around town now, Austrans would probably throw me in jail if I show up with this rust bucket now. Seals are completely gone, I just put some Duck tape over it and spray it black to camouflage things a bit. Luckily suspension mounting points are still sound so it's not going away.
Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Lots of good ones so far.
What I'll never understand is the Dodge Ram. They seem to come from the factory with pre installed rust. I know a guy with a 2003. (same year as my Jeep) with holes above the rear wheels. They came off the same line as my Jeep too with what I assume to be the same sheet metal.
Even through at least 2010 model year some were still rusting in the rear wheel wells. My 2002 Ford F-150 is rusting in multiple spots, the same as many other F-150's of that generation. Yet I see other F-150's of the same generation not rusted. I wonder if different assembly plants used different quality sheet metal. Also I rarely see Expeditions of the same generation with rusted doors and tailgates where as the F-150's rust there first. At 10 years old my wife's 2005 Explorer is almost rust free, just some surface rust on parts of the frame. I think Ford's SUV's get better rust resistant metal compared to their pick up trucks.
Whimsey
Lots of good ones so far.
What I'll never understand is the Dodge Ram. They seem to come from the factory with pre installed rust. I know a guy with a 2003. (same year as my Jeep) with holes above the rear wheels. They came off the same line as my Jeep too with what I assume to be the same sheet metal.
Even through at least 2010 model year some were still rusting in the rear wheel wells. My 2002 Ford F-150 is rusting in multiple spots, the same as many other F-150's of that generation. Yet I see other F-150's of the same generation not rusted. I wonder if different assembly plants used different quality sheet metal. Also I rarely see Expeditions of the same generation with rusted doors and tailgates where as the F-150's rust there first. At 10 years old my wife's 2005 Explorer is almost rust free, just some surface rust on parts of the frame. I think Ford's SUV's get better rust resistant metal compared to their pick up trucks.
Whimsey
It is sad when one sees a new body style with rust. Suddenly "they all" have it.
Escapes and Tributes are getting it now, as are early CRVs. I remember not long ago when cute utes were "a new thing".
I also remember getting a cutlass ciera when it was an old lady car, then suddenly the punk kids were all in 'em.
Escapes and Tributes are getting it now, as are early CRVs. I remember not long ago when cute utes were "a new thing".
I also remember getting a cutlass ciera when it was an old lady car, then suddenly the punk kids were all in 'em.
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