Frame rust on a 2005 FX4

[Mr._Graybeard]

Hi all,
It's been awhile, but my Ranger has been pretty trouble free up to now. I had a front wheel hub/bearing replaced, and while the truck was in the shop the mechanic spotted a small rust perforation about the size of a dime in the frame at the cross member below the right passenger door. The mechanic, who is very savvy about pickups in the Rust Belt, said he checked for other holes or soft spots and didn't see any.

I coated the trouble zone with Fluid Film as I'm anticipating that the truck will be my daily driver in January. After that I'm thinking about repairs or at least options to stop the progression. Any thoughts? The mechanic didn't think the hole poses a safety issue at this time, but recommending "keeping an eye on it." I'd like to do more than that if it doesn't drain my wallet too much.

 

[19Walt93]

That's an odd place for a rust hole, I usually see the rear spring hangers and shackles go first. It would be worth finding a body shop that does structural repairs and having them evaluate it.

 

[pjtoledo]

get something sprayed on the entire underside. there is most likely rust hiding in the seams.
pay particular attention where the frame halves join at the spring mount.
it will be inside the splice eating the steel, and that area is difficult to repair.

I use fluid film, it's good at creeping into seams.
about $150 in Ohio.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Thanks for your replies gentlemen. Fluid Film is doing its work as I write, and I made a point of hitting the spring shackles and the surrounding area. I still want to lower the spare to make sure I get all the areas that the tire blocks. Once I get through the winter I'll take it to a local truck shop and see what they say about the frame. The truck has only 123K miles on it and the body looks fine. I'd really like to keep it on the road for years to come.

 

[Dirtman]

I fluid film or krown (depending on what the shop has at the time) every fall. It cost me 150 bucks to have it done (including a undercarriage prewash with salt eliminator). It makes a mess but my truck is now over 10 years old living in the rust belt with zero rust.

I did it myself a couple times but it cost almost 150 bucks to do it yourself so it's one of the few things I find it worth it to pay someone else to do. Plus it keeps the mess out of my driveway. They may charge more the first time because they have to drill a bunch of holes (if done properly) to get it in all the body panels and seems.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Well, I dropped the spare this afternoon and was pleasantly surprised to find I had been up in there previously with some Eastwood Rust Encapsulator. It must have been right after I bought the truck in 2013. The treated areas look pretty good -- the rim of the spare looks like hell though. Hope I never have to use it.

 

[scotts90ranger]

holy cow, I do not envy you guys... there's only minimal surface rust on my '89 frame, barely any on the '97 F350, just some surface rust on the new to me '97 Ranger, nothing to mention on the '98 Explorer and nothing on the '00 Explorer... haven't looked at the parts Mountaineer...

 

[Snoranger]

holy cow, I do not envy you guys... there's only minimal surface rust on my '89 frame, barely any on the '97 F350, just some surface rust on the new to me '97 Ranger, nothing to mention on the '98 Explorer and nothing on the '00 Explorer... haven't looked at the parts Mountaineer...

We sent a 2012 f250 to auction last month because we found a rot hole in the frame.

 

[sgtsandman]

holy cow, I do not envy you guys... there's only minimal surface rust on my '89 frame, barely any on the '97 F350, just some surface rust on the new to me '97 Ranger, nothing to mention on the '98 Explorer and nothing on the '00 Explorer... haven't looked at the parts Mountaineer...

You live in the rust belt, it's and issue you have to deal with. Same goes for those who live by the ocean. A lot of those cars rot from the inside out due to the salt in the air.

 

[acsnowrider]

POR-15 Most impressive "corrosion/rust" inhibiter I ever used/found---And in Alaska, EVERYTHING-has rust on it somewhere --It's expensive, but worth the cost--results are impressive!

 

[Dirtman]

I wouldn't think there would be much rust issues in Alaska... seems pointless to use salt and acid on the roads there.

 

[acsnowrider]

Two seasons only--Winter, and waiting for winter! I used to drill, and stud, my own tires. Typically, a tire has 100 studs in it-I would install 500 in each tires--wintertime driving control was really something then--Saved my vehicles so many times, couldn't begin to count them.

 

[sgtsandman]

I wouldn't think there would be much rust issues in Alaska... seems pointless to use salt and acid on the roads there.

Things there are probably like here. People in the cities and suburbs insist on clear roads instead of learning how to deal with some snow and ice.

 

[acsnowrider]

Alaska!--Third world country, vast wealth, and happens to be owned by the USA!

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

You live in the rust belt, it's and issue you have to deal with. Same goes for those who live by the ocean. A lot of those cars rot from the inside out due to the salt in the air.

Yep, my dad was a snowbird who spent his winters in South Florida (Lake Worth). When he was up north his Taurus was always garaged. After he passed I inherited it and was surprised at the rust on it.