2012 Chevy 1500 Frame Rust Repair - Can it be Saved?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มี.ค. 2022
- Better watch out on those Chevy's, the rust monsters have found out that the frame is susceptible to rust. Lets take a look at a 2012 Chevy with some extreme from rust and talk about how we repaired it.
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Crazy how such a new vehicle could look like this underneath
Outstanding vid. It looks like the frame of my truck.
Awesome job Dave! I cant believe how bad that frame was! Amazing how bad 10 year old metal can get.
Thanks for explaining the difference between the early style and late style fuel tank cross members. 👍
No problem, you can get there with the modifications but we had trouble finding the exact one we needed.
Nice work! It really makes me appreciate my rust free 2011 silverado crew cab Lt Ihad bought new. Living in South Carolina,they just don't rust.
Looks great guys. I’m gonna give ya a call tomorrow. I’m only an hour away and also have a rusty 12 Silverado to look at for repairs!
Sounds good, we are open Friday - Sunday as I still work fulltime Mon-Thu. If you try calling I often dont hear my phone in the shop you can also text me and thats often better for me to respond to. Or email dave@taboocustoms.com
The difference between the thickness of frames from older vehicles that are still around today & these new vehicles that use extremely thin gauge steel. It's no wonder why they rust through in 10 years.
It is the govts fault. All the regulations that mandate specific mpg from manufacturers force them to cut weight everywhere. So now we have vehicles that have a significant am out of shitty plastic, thinner metal everywhere, and a generally lower lifespan vehicle.
Repair looks good. If truck prices weren't crazy that truck would be heading to the crusher.. Investing in fluid film or similar earlier in that trucks life would have minimized that rot.
Exactly what I was thinking holy shit is any factory frame still even on that side
What is fluid film?
@@stephensummerlot3288 there is this new thing called Google.
@@stephensummerlot3288 Its an oil/wax like undercoating. It protects the undercarriage without trapping moisture or salt like a rubberized undercoating does.
@@alecb8509 thanks for the reply. It was unclear to me at the time if it was meant to imply a brand name, a process or a general use term for spraying oil and grease on metal. It seems like it is basically like cosmoline except easier to work with and not as permanent.
Great video, i just purchased an 1989 GMC SIERRA, 2500 ...WHAT MISTAKE .. I SHOULD OF LOOKED UNDERNEATH SAME CONDITION AS THE TRUCK YOUR SHOWING ..
TO REINFORCE THE CROSS MEMBER AND MAKE THE TRUCK SAFE ..
WHATS THE COST IM LOOKING AT .. ?? AROUND ABOUT ?
THanks.
Thanks lots to learn
Yep just got done replacing crossmembers on my 2005 silverado and welded new on.
My brothers 2016 is just as rotten..his buddy welded it up and im gonna undercoat it and do the inner frame with fluid film black that i use on my dodge...
My 99 Silverado broke the frame on both sides just in front of the rear spring hangers. There are holes about 1" diameter on the bottom and top rails of the C channel and an oval hole on the side about 1/2" × 1" between them. Seems like a weak area with a lot of load from the spring going over bumps. Then add in corrosion from the calcium chloride crap they use on the roads now which seems to corrode ferrous metals worse than the sodium chloride they used to use.
5 year old trucks get written off due to the frames rusting out.
nice work
Thanks
Nice work 👍
Thanks
The front fuel tank cross member appears to have some frame rot on the driver side. Is this not a concern?
Do yous ship to Canada
I am doing exact same thing I was wondering if gas tank had enough room if I patched on outside I know they fit right I had plans on checking it before dropping tank but it actually fell after I took my bed off err lol
Yes, you should have enough room between the gas tank and frame for the repair.
Have had a similar problem with a 99 Jeep Wrangler, seems as if they are famous for the frame rust issues on the rear control arm area, there are kits out there for them to fix this issue. Took me a while but fabricated replacement parts to do the job. If you have some way of getting the vehicle off the ground, remove the tank, rear axle and put on your fabrication hat and go to work.
Yep, thats actually our main business, Jeep frame rust repair. www.taboocustoms.com
Brave man! I wouldn't have even bothered. Frame swaps are much longer lasting,
Don't disagree that a different frame would be great and I get that question/comment frequently. Unfortunately cant get a new one for Chevys as far as I know, and finding a used one around here that wont need the same work would be nearly impossible. Might find one in a junkyard that has been totaled early in its life, but then if its totaled early in its life good chance the frame probably got hit as well. Then you have the cost of the work, swapping everything from one frame to another would be much more expensive, some people find that surprising.
@@TabooCustoms If you make those sections for the GMT800 and GMT900, you should do well!
@@volvoman1096 we just started making Chevy kits, I'm sure we will get into those as well.
Between the lifter issue's and frame issue 's GM should be held accountable for this stuff. This truck needs a new frame. And I'm distraught over a rotted upper rear shock mount. God only knows what else I find? 07 sierra 1500 w/103,500 miles.
It is not GM's fault, that truck has been driving through all that salt they dump on the roads up north to melt snow for a decade. I have seen a few of them like that here in the south but it is usually someone who drives their 4x4 truck on the beach at the outer banks of North Carolina. When I was a teen back in the 80s I very stupidly bought a 1979 Jeep Wagoneer that had a fishing rod rack on the front of it. when I saw that fishing pole rack I should have run because that thing run on the beach and was a bucket of rust. lol
@@trevorn9381 I am the 3rd owner. It spent most of its time between Illinois and Iowa on the central border. I have read about 2019 trucks suffering this fate. Even with high milage the poor wax coating should have ended along time ago. As far as the lifter issue the, my locale GMC dealer parts guys are just agast as I am. But, that's job security just like the fleet maintanence I have to do on Volvo, Peterbuilt, Kenworth, International and especially Freightliner tractor.
@@trevorn9381 It absolutely is GM's fault. The design of the frames makes it so that even if you take it and wash your undercarriage, you can't get a lot of the salt/dirt out because of the frame design. For instance, to "properly" clean the bed you're supposed to remove the rear tail lights and wash through a channel there. There are possibly 1/500 people that know that. It's not an intuitive design and so these frames get rust cancer on the inside. By the time most people can see the effects of it on the exterior of the frame, it's too late.
Gm seriously needs to stop using wax on their frames. I can literally scrape that stuff of with one finger.
I found out a couple of months back when I had my 2012 in for an oil change, the service tech showed me the rust on the frame. And without a money tree in my back yard I am looking into a replace,ent frame (Hopefully from AZ or TX) or weld in some steel plates as shown here. The condition of mine is no way this rough, though it is rustung through on both sides. I am located in Minnesota, and I am planning to check out your website and maybe by now you offer a kit or know a business that does.
Email us at dave@taboocustoms.com, we currently do not have the kits on the website but can custom cut some parts for you.
I go to St Louis Mo semi often and find way cleaner cars / trucks and more rust "freeier" stuff down thier. Can save a lot of time traveling / distance from you if you try that too. I got a clean bumper and rear cross member for my Yukon. Brought many a bumper, doors and tail gates up for my freinds here. I posted many a video of my finds down thier. See it for yourself. Also LKQ and Pick n Pull you see pictures of cars / trucks online thier. Add that STL in your search. Plus STL BBQ and pizza are the best.
Pullapart also pull parts for customers for a fee but I never needed it so don't know how much. Truck freight can be surprisingly reasonable so if you don't find something nearby I'd broaden the search. Best to rustproof the hell out of the frame after sandblasting. Monument companies all have engine drive compressors and industrial blast pots to cut letters on tombstones and most blast on the side inexpensively. Frame swaps are tedious but not difficult. I've done several where I used to work and a few for myself but nothing that recent.
I own a 2011 silverado. Original owner and paid for undercoating for rust protection. It is now rusted so bad my truck bed has fallen down. Don't know what to do......super bummed. I will NEVER buy a Chevrolet again. it has 50'000 miles on it, and a new motor was installed due to a oil pump failure......at 29,000 miles, also computer brain was replaced at 15,000 miles. This was the first NEW vehicle ever for me. Took very good care of it and it FAILED me beyond!!
Never get a hard coating on any vehicle. Only soft coating like fluid film.
1. Chevy doesn’t build good cars anymore. They used to back in the 1990s and 2000s but everything they put out today is crap.
2. You say you rustproofed your car. Are you aware the rubberized rustproofing the dealer gives you can make things worse? And that if you get a good rustproofing product (fluid film, known) you actually need to re-apply it annually?
Oil. I say again...OIL.
You should have bought a 2 2002 02
They don't even paint these frames. Just bare metal dipped in the wax undercoating. Works fine until that wax starts to go away.
I found the easiest way to deal with those frame rivets is to cut a slot or two into them with a grinder, then come in from the side with an air chisel and the heads pop right off.
Where r u located?
Where did you get the crossmember that goes over the fuel tank? I’ve got a 2008 Silverado and it’s rusted real bad I’ve been trying to find replacement crossmembers but I’ve only found 99-06s. Will one for that generation work on these?
Yes, we modified a 99-06. The tube itself is the same. The bracket for the fuel tank strap has to be cut off and shortened.
@@TabooCustoms thank you so much man I’ve been looking all over if that will work for my truck, I really appreciate it. Any idea if the rear upper crossmember that holds the other shock will work on the same years? Or if anything significant needs changed?
@noahkaufman6063 We ended up making that one ourselves and sell the parts to do that one I you are interested. It's not on the website right now but we have been custom cutting them. Email me dave@taboocustoms.com and we can discuss.
Is there anywhere to purchase the rear cross member the one closest to the back of the truck near nail lights u said you made yours
Yes, we released a kit for it, link below:
taboocustoms.com/store/chevyrearcross
@@TabooCustoms thank youuu
@Taboo Customs do yous guys sell the other 2 cross members that hold the both shocks too before I make my order
@Taboo Customs do yous ship to Canada
@@woods702 Yes, on the website there is a field for US/Canada, when you select Canada the territory selection will update.
What would a repair like this cost? Ball park. I have a feeling my truck would be similar to the condition of the truck in the video.
Really depends on the shop rates around you and if you can find someone that is comfortable doing it. If you are close to SE Iowa we would be interested. The cost for this truck was around $3k.
Forget fluid film….tar….seventy years old …been going under my trucks for 30 years with a hand oil spray can and just shooting transmission fluid every
Where. Everywhere everywhere …down the rails …in the rails ….on the ball joints. ….any steel. Not muffler.. tranny fluid does not hurt rubber body mounts…..usually summer ..fall..spring….warm winter day,,,10 mins and done ..hit it 4/5 times a year …yea it’s messy messy…BUT…it saves my trucks…from dusting out….…pour tranny fluid into the inside of rails..then drive. .let it-coat. bottom of inside chassis…it works and it’s cheap..$5 quart from Walmart
Nice video and good job on the repair. I will never own another chevy. The 2008-2012 frames lack a rust inhibitor. Body can be good but frame usually has the rot hole by the charcoal canister. Please tell your friends so they dont buy a junker.
Thanks, yeah a lot of people dont look real closely at the frame if the body looks good. Have seen a few where people got burned that way.
Problem is that Chevy do not e-coat frames still always. And owners do not maintain wax that Chevy use.
Who’s got the best 1500 frames?
It's strange to me that the drivers side is generally much worse. At first it might make sense because it's going to get more spray from oncoming traffic, but there should be just as much retained salt and junk on the the other side and besides, most of the spray should actually be coming from the front wheels. Considering that this has been a problem for 20 years, GM should be the subject of a class action lawsuit representing probably half the male population in the US. I can't understand how they get away with it.
A lot of it comes down to when they started boxing frames that instead of using C channel style. Since the box is stronger they went to lighter materials, and along with that it is very difficult to get good paint coverage inside of the boxes. Even when you look at processes like ecoat, it is limited inside of a box based on the size of holes in the frames and the amount of power put into the system. At one of my former employers I did a test with square tube, we ecoated a square tube then cut it in half and measured how far in we got full ecoat thickness. We found that in our system we only got full thickness to a depth 1.5X the size of our opening after that it tapered off to nothing.
At what point do you say F#$@ it and find a donner frame? My 06 is at the point where your project was when you started and after watching your video I think I'm going to rebuild my 97 OBS Chevy instead. I guess GM joined the disposable generation, I would buy a new truck but up here in the great white north a 3/4 tone HD will set you back $100G's +.
Great video, areal eye opener
Difficult question, one that on Jeeps which we do a lot more of than trucks I can more easily answer. The way they rust, trucks vs Jeeps, is a bit different, if this one had really bad rust through on 3 sides of the frame like Jeeps often do I'd be concerned. The structure is also very different, in severe instances Jeeps can have the frame chopped off and re tubed. These trucks with their larger frames would not work to try to do that. Thing is the current direction of the automotive world I see more and more people trying to save vehicles. This truck I would say was on the edge of should it be fixed. Most of them I see or sell kits for only need one or two of these kits I used.
How much did you guys charge for all that work if I may ask
A repair like this is around $3000, a lot will depend on who and where you have do the work.
i hope you used weld thru primer on the inside of all that metal
Yep, typically we use 3M or SEM zinc based weld through primer.
GM should be class action. My 1974 with over 200,000 miles driven most of those miles in the Twincity of Mineasota, we know what happens to trucks up here. Yes the body is a rusted out barely staying together but the frame is surface rust and still solid.
Yep, problems really started in 99 with the redesign of the frames.
What is $ for kits from average to most$?
Sorry somehow missed your comment. The kits alone $100-250 per kit.
40 hours ?? ....and truck is still apart ??
Hum.......we do extensive frame repairs like these including putting truck back together in 20-30 hours.
I own 2 that body style, a 2012 an a 13 both near 100,000 mi, people may think I'm nuts but I religiously spray my frame an body with used motor oil then run them down a dusty dirt rd every fall😂 both frames an body just as solid as the day they rolled out of the assembly plant😅
How much would a repair like this run
This one specifically $2500
I have an older friend that has a 2010 silverado with 20,000 mi,he was never one to keep his truck to clean after a snow storm an parked it in an old barn with a dirt floor,needless to say his frame is shot,its at a shop present day an the poor mechanic is sratching his head lol
Whats the word on the kit? Did you ever put one out? I'm in the market!
Send me an email st dave@taboocustoms.com and I can get you a price.
Where do you get your repair kits?
Www.taboocustoms.com, for the kits on this video you can contact us there. We don't have them all listed but can produce and sell them. We will eventually have them on the website.
@@TabooCustoms I have a 2007 gmc Sierra extended cab short bed!
@zconn9755 should be pretty much same truck in video however I think some changes in 2009
How much does a job like this cost my 2008 Sierra with 121000 miles needs this done
$2500 plus depending on who does it.
How many miles on this truck?
Unfortunately I do not recall how many miles were on it.
I just sent you a contact for a Chevy TB frame repair job. Thanks so much!! Please get back to me - and let me know. I have a flexible schedule.
Mine isn't quite as bad, but I'm hoping it can be fixed. These GM frames are pure JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What kind of insurance covers liability when welding on a vehicle frame?
I run a small structural welding business, fully insured, but I'm always very hesitant to do anything on a vehicle frame.
Edit: work looks great, by the way!
General Liability Policy typical for most Auto Body places. Ours is through a local insurer. We don't get to off our area of expertise, sticking to Jeeps and now getting into doing Chevys as well. I also don't touch crumple zones, I have had a few ask about fixing rust in a crumple zone and we dont do it. I have heard you can completely replace the area but we havent gotten into that.
@@TabooCustoms
Thanks for the reply!
Liked and subscribed! 👍
@AZ-kr6ff I have welded, fabricated and repaired hundreds of frames. Do quality work and never worry. It's just steel, frames are not some magical forbidden fruit.
@@TheShillPrince
Yet, they're the only thing my insurance won't cover.
Cover your ass, bud.
@@AZ-kr6ff lmfao 🤣......yet ...our insurance carrier has no problem with the sign out front of our shop that says......"Frame repair and restoration" we literally make a living doing frame repair, fabrication and modifications.
You need new insurance or live in a state that isn't run by Nazi
Why why why doesn't GM go back to regular C-channel frames so all that junk can fall out instead of build up inside a tubular frame.
Jeep did the same, in the 70s switched from a C channel frame to a boxed frame, then all the rust issue greatly increased.
New frame. I wouldnt bother with patching. Imo, it would be easier to pull the cab and engine than fabricate plates to stitch it all up.
It takes 60-80 hours to replace a frame. Most major frame repairs can be done under 20 hours and a fraction of the cost
Do u think this repair will pass an inspection for an extended warranty?
Guess it depends on which direction you are asking. If an owner did the repair i dont think a dealership would want to warranty something that had been modified. I have had dealership customers do this repair though as part of their warranty. Basically sold a vehicle and within the warranty period a frame crossmember break loose.
Noooo, not do this myself.
I’m curious what state your in?
SE Iowa
Great video! Will that truck pass inspection after the fix? I’m in New York.
Did you use 1/8 “ plate?
For most of it yes. We used some 7ga in the rear where spring hanger mounts
Awesome job. It’s good to see what can be done to save are trucks. Thanks
I have a 2002 the mounts running off but the rest of it's a lot better than at 2:05 I'm going to tell you something while you Chevy haters those Forge and Dodges are no better climb under a Ford or a Dodge
Damn bud you put some work in her. I probably would have junked her and kept the motor but on the contrary she's strong as shit now. I just replaced two cross members in mine. The C channel rails were starting to get bad too i am fluid filming the shit out her. It's still solid but probably like 1/8 thickness steel now lol. Anybody that wants to buy these chevy trucks they rust like you wouldn't believe. Gm think's everyone lives in California. Go down south or out west to get one and immediately fluid film or wool wax it. Your gonna have to drill a hole to have an access point to fluid film the rear wheel well's because they will rot in no time. I don't think GM puts any type of coating on the inside of the body panel's it's just raw steel and it's thin too. Same with the rocker's panels and cab corners. I have replaced the brake and fuel lines too all because GM is too cheap to use stainless steel. About the only thing good in them is the motor very reliable.
Chevy//GM should be embarrassed by the number of frames that have rusted out on these trucks. It’s a total disgrace! They should have galvanized the frames. I think most people would have willing to pay a few extra dollars up front to have a truck frame that will last as long as the drive train.
I would git a new frame
what did this cost?
With labor and all your getting up in the $2500 range. This was from the center all the way back and 3 crossmembers
@@TabooCustoms thats a pretty damn good deal!
@@TabooCustoms Do you guys do inner and outer rockers and cab corners as well?
@@justinrussell7605 Currently we do not, we may start doing this in the future if we expand.
Anything is fixable with enough money and skill
Garbage **cking vehicle. Thanks for the video. I have to do the same. It’s sad when the original exhaust outlives the frame. (08 56k miles here) Just failed PA state inspection.
Unfortunately of the rusted vehicles we work on Chevy trucks hold the crown for being the newest to have major issues.
Working on my truck frame like…
th-cam.com/users/shorts25YUljyRPb4?si=RFkGhIEuzb1TX3sv
Would it have been easier to just buy a donor truck with a good frame?. That frame is absolute toast!
Literally salt caked onto the frame. Owner negligence.
They rust from the inside out so under coating is useless
Gm s famously terrible wax frame coating!
Insane I've lost all interest in working on vehicles now days.
Why do these trucks rust so bad? That repair is good but looks like too much work
My opinion is its a combination of factors. Going from open C channel frames to boxed frames, frame material getting thinner when they did that, lack of maintenance, poor coating performance, multipiece frame rail designs, all the salt used on the roads, etc.
@@TabooCustoms The prolem is the frames were not treated proerly by G.M's frame suppliers , That is why All involved in this "shody" built truck needs to beheld accountable
p̲r̲o̲m̲o̲s̲m̲ 💪
Chevy should have to repair this shit for using shit thin steel
Yeah I dont know what it would take, I know toyota did something with replacement frames due to rust.
Yes gm trucks rust. More than they should and faster than they should. But jesus christ people - if you live in a salt area youve gotta do undercarriage washes and fluid film/woolwax/etc your undercarriage. Its not hard or expensive, and you’ll avoid these giant disasters.
my 2007 silverado with 128k miles has the frame literally disintegrated from rust... never buy another gm product again.
I will never own another gm unless it’s 1998 or older!!
Just check when they will start e-coat its trucks.
They rot out about the same if not worse
@@jkemmerer1993 I have a 1991 Chevy 1500 with 400k In the rust belt frame still solid never had to be patched yet
@@jacobcole7644 I’ve had three of these trucks since I was 16. My first two were a 92 and 94. 92 had a cracked rotten frame in several places, 94 cracked in between the cab and bed. My 88 4x4 has no frame rust at all.
@@jkemmerer1993 I think the reason some trucks have frame problems is because they were never under coated. The body on my truck was all rotted out, but the frame was still good it was under coated every year.
Absolute trash. GM has really gown down hill. This truck is 10 years old and shouldnt be unsafe for the road. This is something you see on 20 and 30 year old vehlces. I see 2016 and 17 Chevy truck bodys rotting through already around where i live. They will rot before they are even paid off.
2012.... insane
Thats a mouse nest. There piss and shit exaggerated the rust.