Honda Pilot Rusted Rear Subframe Repair Guide (not step by step)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ค. 2020
- Dealing with Rusted Subframe Mounts on Your Honda Pilot? This Comprehensive Guide has the Answers. If you're looking to fix the issue or assist someone else with their repair, this guide is for you. While I won't hand-hold you through the process, I'll share my repair experience for you to replicate. All you need is steel, a welder, and some common sense. Don't consider junking your Pilot as the dealership suggested. Explore 'frame rust repair on Piloteers' for additional tutorials and ideas for a more in-depth solution.
Brief music is: Reality by Waimis (Bass Rebels Remix).
I take no liability if you weld holes in your car, set your car on fire, or it it falls to parts on the road by doing a sketch repair job. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Great job! For anybody freaking out, My Pilot has both sides rusted and blown out. It has been that way for six months but I never noticed (I heard it happen, but didn't know what happened). I have an 8 inch gap where it should be connected. Don't freak out, it's the end of the world, just get it fixed ASAP. Also, just talk welds are sufficient. The welds are only preventing the plates from shifting side to side. The plates are in compression against the frame once bolted. Thanks for the video dude!
Well you definitely eased my mind. I just noticed today that the rear driver side has rusted out but the passenger side is still fully intact. I instantly panicked and didn't want to drive the car in fear of something that would happen. It still drives normal though.
dam bro i used your whole video to fix mines thank you so much they were charging me so much and your video saved me a lot of money! really thank you.
Glad I could help!
Mine failed inspection today due to both sides being blown out. Sad day. It’s a 2008 Pilot with 225,000 miles but love that thing. Runs great & just put $800 into brake system not long ago. Newer tires, battery, etc. Was gonna have exhaust fixed today the right way today but they suggested not too due to the frame. So not sure what to do with it now. And I don’t weld
I didn’t notice much difference in driving it btw but been gradually getting worse since last year because the same people inspected it last year & said the subframe didn’t have much longer but they still passed it. It’s def worse now & I saw the holes on both sides. My back tires are really good still but steering is little loose or something it seems but was gradual and think it hydroplanes easier now. Only differences I’ve noticed
You should be able to find a decent welding shop that might be able to tackle that repair. Honda actually sells a subframe repair kit for this exact problem but it is much more expensive than having a welding shop just weld some 1/4” steel to the frame
I did just find someone and they said $300 but they thought it was just the one side
2012 Mercedes benz c300 sport 4matic just had my subframe welded. Rusted real bad. First was told that I needed a new subframe $2700! I freaked out and the welder called me back next morning and said he'd drop my rusted subframe, clean the crap out of it and weld. A month later an inspection station had it up on the lift with a flashlight , didn't mention I just had subframe welded. 20 minutes later I passed inspection.
Mercedes is now covering these subframes under extended warranty, I’d suggest you have it done correctly.
Great idea and fix. Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic job and informative video thanks 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks! Glad you found it helpful
i did the same with the quarter inch angle plate
Great job keep up the good work
Great Video. Now I know what needs to be done to my honda. I want to keep it running.
Glad to help! Best of luck in your endeavors
Hi! Did you have to do wheel alignments after this? Also how's it holding up after this long?
No you don't have to have an alignment after this. It's been a few years and I still have this Pilot- everything I welded is still holding up with no signs of breaking or looseness. I recently had the Pilot aligned and it's straight as an arrow.
@@AleksUsovich Awesome! I need to do this on my 07 Pilot, Your video have given me some confidence to start. Thank you!
How does the bolt at the bottom of the bushing stay in place ?
There's a nut at the bottom that holds the bushing in place
@@AleksUsovichthank you , and last question, what’s the bolt description that you used to go through the hole? I can’t seem to find these gold ones . And is it 8 inch bolt?
I don't remember the exact size, I believe it was 8 inch. It is golden because it is zinc coated for rust prevention.
I need to do this to my 06 Derecho damaged Pilot (2 trees fell on it, but its run nicely for about 3 years beyond that event - theorize that the weight of the trees fractured the chassis mount point allowing water and salt to invade what was once a nice underbody). Its times like these that I wish I had taken a shop class in welding in high school.
And I forgot to add why I was making a comment. That being that I've always heard from my dad's antique car restoration guys, that if you don't cut away all of the rust (not just surface rust), it will continue to eat away at the metal.
Thanks for this video and the reference to the Piloteers thread!
I’m gonna have to do this to my wife’s pilot, just discovered this issue. What voltage did you use for your welder?
How is your Pilot holding up? My wife’s just rolled over 290k, I’d like to get it to get more life out of it.
Glad to help! I'm not sure what voltage it was since mine just has a 1-5 dial. Use the settings for your welder for 1/2 inch steel.
My Pilot is holding up awesome even after over 30k miles of half asphalt and half gravel roads.
Wish you the best of luck in your repairs!
Great to hear, thanks!
👍👍👍diagram was very helpful
How in the world did you remove that black sound barrier? I’m currently trying to remove it as I’m sending this to you and it is not coming up
Hammer and chisel. You chisel the corner of it to start and keep moving in until it's all removed
@@AleksUsovichawesome , thanks I got it removed, thanks for the information and the video , helped out a lot , figured there would be more videos on TH-cam of this since it’s so common the rear ends rust out .
@@palefacepointpreserverwasi3391 Absolutely! Glad to help, I believe I was the first one to make a video with this info with Eric the Car Guy making a similar video not too long afterwards.
@@AleksUsovich yes sir , a lot have watched for guidance, and I seen his video as well . I think he bolted his bracket no welds tho , I’m going to try the welding.
Great video. Can you share a better version of the diagram? I need to do something similar to my 2008 pilot
Sorry I don't have a better diagram nor do I have a 2008 Pilot.
Mines also a 2008. Don’t wanna get rid of it :(
Thanks for this video. When looking at the car from a distance , did this approach make the car seat a little lower on the rear compared to the front ?? Also was alignment and ride handling impacted in any way ?
No, the suv does not sit any lower than the front or how it sat before the repairs. The ride feels exactly how it did before if not a bit firmer since the back was rotted out. My alignment is not perfect due to the rear adjusters on the arms being frozen due to rust from road salt over the years. Will be tackling that problem eventually as it doesn't bother me yet. But alignment should not be impacted as a result of this repair.
@@AleksUsovich Thank you so so much... just experiencing the same issue on my 07 pilot... Will use your approach...
Cool vid man!
With anything structural I'd recommend putting a bit more than tacks on it..Hope it holds!
Thanks! I did go back after I made the video and fully weld the top plates just for peace of mind. It's been over 4 months and I've taken the suv on some pretty rough terrain and everything appears to be holding just fine and hope it keeps holding for the next few years.
i guess I am kind of off topic but does anyone know a good website to watch newly released tv shows online ?
@Kieran Braylon Flixportal :P
@Sam London thank you, I signed up and it seems like a nice service :D I really appreciate it !
@Kieran Braylon You are welcome :D
@Aleksandr Usovich: Great video! Question: For the people who live south and don't currently have this issue, what do you suggest we do as a pre-caution to never have this happen to our pilot's incase we ever head north or other rust causing situations...? Thanks!
Thanks! Great question. What I would do is clean off the bottom of the Pilots with some degreaser and pressure washer and let dry. If you see any rust starting remove it as best you could with a wire wheel and degreaser and wash then let to dry for a few hours. Get yourself some rubberized undercoating and spray the bottom of the Pilot and most metal surfaces avoiding anything that gets hot (eg. Oil pan, exhaust, diff, ect) and avoid spraying electrical connectors/wires. Do about 2-3 coats following the instructions on the can and you should be good to go for a few years. Can look for some 3m wax cavity spray that comes with a long wand that you put inside the frame and coat the inside which will help preserve the inside as well. I live in MN and have recoated my Pilot twice roughly every two years since the heavy use of salt for 6 months during the winter and gravel from frequenting gravel roads seems to chip away the undercoating. If you undercoat your Pilot and are in the south you probably wouldn't need to undercoat it again for a few years since it'll hold up much better. If you do visit northern states that use salt, just visit the car wash once a week getting the wash that washes the underside of the vehicle and you should be fine! Hope this helps!
Amazing reply! Thanks for taking out time to type that out. If possible, for the sake of every Pilot owner; can you please make a video of you rubber coating the pilot at the bottom so we know exactly which parts to avoid & how to do it properly and professionally? Would appreciate that tons!
@@NK-yv5oi Glad to help! As soon as the snow melts and weather gets warmer, I'll make a video showing the technique and how I go about undercoating it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Can you come do mine plz
Hey how did you get the bolt out of the bushing inside of the subframe itself mine won’t come out it’s seized in there and did you reuse the bushing or anything inside the subframe itself or just the rubber top piece like in the diagram you showed and the dished washer because on the left side I was able to point out the bushing and bolt but couldn’t get the bolt out the bushing itself so now I have the top rubber piece but nothing inside the subframe itself and I ordered the dishwasher but can’t find the bushing anywhere was just curious as to if I can just use the top rubber piece with nothing in the subframe filling the whole or any suggestions on that at all please let me know I have it torn apart but have no bushing for the subframe at all
You will need to cut the bolt out of the subframe. Get a sawzall and jack up the rear of the Pilot and cut the bolt out. You will need to drill the hole up in the floor with a 1/2 or 3/4 drill bit and use a 1/2 or smaller drill bit to drill holes around the nut holding the rest of the bolt in there. Can drill multiple holes and hit with a chisel to knock out the nut and rest of the bolt. After you cut the bolt the bushing and dishwasher will fall out. The bushings are no longer for sale for the rear but you will need to find them somewhere and cannot go without them or the subframe will be hitting the frame of the car and causing damage. Can try using these bushings: 50231-S3V-A01. They're for the front but theoretically should fit the back subframe as well.
I have the same problem and the welding shop quoted me $350. If go by this way, will this withstand if I take it for longer run? And will this affect the selling price when I try to sell it off or its a junk at final?
This fix will keep the suv on the road for much longer than without repairing it. You will get much more for the vehicle when selling due to it being repaired instead of with two rusted holes that compromise both the suspension and safety of the vehicle. $350 is well worth it for the repair
350 I don't have no problem with paying that I'm am being charge 12 to 1500 smh but that's why I haven't rushed on it hopefully can find it for a better price
TSB on this problem from honda. They have a kit but its really expensive. Ridgelines have the same problem and it's a recall for it. They won't recall for pilots. too many sold $$$$
Honda did quietly address this issue after the 2008s but won't do anything about the older ones besides offer the kit.
Exactly , they should have a recall but they won't. They state 'owner responsible for repairs' so they know its an issue , yet only in certain climates. ROAD SALT #1 cause
This just happened to mine say i wanted a shop to do it how expensive do you think it would cost?
Depends on what kind of shop. Honda won't touch it. If you can find a welding shop that has basic hand tools, can cost you between $150 to $500 depending on what their shop rate is.
Lifesaver
Glad to help!
Hey man I have to do this to my pilot. Was wondering if u dropped the tank to weld those L brackets in?
Nope, no need to drop the tank. Spare tire will need to come out just for welding safety and space. Brackets fit right in with plenty of room. May need to remove the exhaust from the hanger to get a few more inches to get a mig gun in.
Alright man. Thank you very much for the reply.
I have the same problem on my 2007 pilot
Where can I get that diagram?
Sir
When u did the drivers side…how did u get bolt out…mine came out bout 1/2 “ Then seized up
Did u cut it out? Or did u drilll it out?
I cut it out with a sawzall
@@AleksUsovich
Hey thanks for replying man MUCH APPRECIATED. Did u sawzall from inside or from bottom
I’m going to drive to a friends place he has a lift that should help.
How did u start the sawzall. I see a black circle inside vehicle is that the top of the bolt HOLE?
@@thadmaroon cut from the bottom. You need to cut between above the black bushing. Once that is cut, you'll need to drill holes in the floor pan and see the rest of the bolt up under the floor plan. If you can't remove it, drill holes around it or use air hammer to remove it. Then you should be able to put the new bots in and use a larger metal plate up top for reinforcement
@@thadmaroon also have a look on Piloteers forum specifically on the Subframe repair thread as it'll have some really nice tips and other ideas for repair
@@AleksUsovich
Thanks Man!
I think I see now!
Your a super star!!
I got someone doing it for about 3000 does that sound reasonable to you for this kind of repair job
Possibly? You can buy the metal your self and save some money. You need 1/2 inch steel. Call around to some welding shops and you can find it done locally for much cheaper. Check out Piloteers.com and search on the forum for subframe rust repair and you can see what others paid to get it done.
@@AleksUsovich it was too far past repair the whole sub frame is rusted out they said even if they fixed it wouldnt guarantee to hold I’m just sad someone sold it to me two weeks ago and didn’t say anything
that's too much money, you could buy another one with that money, I got the same problem, so im taking it to a few body shops, that do side work, by my local junk yards, for 250 jus gotta bring the metal, supplies
What year is this Pilot?
2004 EX-L
Eric the car guy did a good repair on one but he went to Honda and bought the bolts aint no way in hell I'd got bolts threw honda I bet they waxed him on the prices. I'd just went with grade 8 bolts.
I've seen his video and noticed that too. I used grade 8 bolts and haven't had any issues for over a year in MN with about 10-15K driven, mostly on gravel or off road. I used zinc coated bolts and am happy I did for the extra rust resistance.
Can you fix my Honda pilot i have same problem and i will pay you no one wants to fixed for me and im not a handyman and willing to travel
Sorry, not willing to work on anyone's car except my own. Find a welding shop and most should be able to do it if you bring them the metal. Should be fairly cheap of a repair too.
How can I find someone I can pay to do this to my Honda Pilot?!
You can call some welding or custom manufacturing shops around your area to see if they would do something like this. Some off road shops or smaller automotive shops might want to tackle this project as well. You can search Google for "honda pilot rusted subframe repair" and you should find a forum called Piloteers that have more information that you could look at or print out and give to a shop so they know exactly what to do to repair it.
@@AleksUsovich thank you so much! I’m in Indiana and will start searching. 😊
@@AleksUsovich any idea of how much I could expect to pay for this work?