Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I forgot this is a Chrysler/Fiat board and they can do no wrong.
I'm out.
Now I've heard it all. Between Chrysler and GM, I'm not sure which company has more hatred spewed towards it on this board.
Always entertaining, isn't it? Not very informative though.
C'mon Hatteras, show me an American truck with a broken coil spring. I have a whole driveway of HEAVILY loaded 3500 long wheelbase vans and a few more Silverado 1500's and we haven't had a broken spring in the history of our business! This is across three different brands as well!
Maybe this is more known in the Rust Belt states as the roads there were unbelievably rough when we were through there recently, but it just plain don't happen around here...
It happens up here but i wouldn't say its regular thing. I have seen broken coils, leafs and even broke a torsion bar on my expedition.
Rust, terrible roads and low temps in winter all play a part. Some roads here eat wheels for breakfast and VW beetles for lunch, its like WWII tank traps around here.
Rotten frames, body mounts, broken/rotten control arms, wheel bearings, ball joints, seized brake calipers and e brake cables, rotten running boards and spring perches are all common enough.
From my own experience they pretty much go in this order.
Fords. Rotten to pieces underneath and lower bodies, broken frames are very common on Rangers with older Expeditions/pick ups not far behind (both used Dana frames).
Nothing is immune from rust on these vehicles, personally i have never seen anything rust as bad as these in the salt belt. I hate working on them.
GMC/Chevy. Very good frames, decent bodies, rotten brake, fuel lines and brake backing plates. Overall very good considering.
Ram. Good frames but bad lower body and fender rot. Not bad really, bodies can be fixed but a rotten frame and you have no truck.
Toyota. Old trucks rusted badly here (IIRC also Dana built frame) frames and beds were horrific, older Tacoma's are seldom seen with an original bed. Newer ones are right with GMC, pretty good. Land Cruisers were no real problem old or new.
Nissan. Don't know i don't see many.
Mazda. See Ford Ranger.
Jeep. Frames okay, bodies rot in the lower regions, nothing terrible.
Honda. Very good for rust underneath and a very unique frame setup, almost like a hybrid unibody but it definitely has frame rails. Not my idea of a truck but overall it seems well built body and frame wise anyway, rust is not a real issue.
Like i say this is just what i see i'm sure others may have different experiences.
I have seen some GMs with rotted bodies from up north, mostly '88-'98/'00 models. The extended cabs got it bad in the rockers and back cab corners. I have seen one '99-'02 that was disintegrating, severe rot all over the bed and cab, but I think it was an extreme case because it's the only one I have seen like that.
Fords are hit or miss. '80-'96/'97 F-Series trucks were prone to rot in the cab corners and rear wheel arches, but I haven't seen a '97 or newer one with a rotted body. As far as frames, I don't know. With Rangers, I have heard of frame rot on '93 and later models, but have only seen one that was unsafe/unrepairable sitting in a field in rural VT. My '02 has seen light salt every winter of its life and is totally rust free, even the spring shackles, but salt a few days a year is much different from salt a few months a year. My Explorer from PA had a badly rotted body, brake lines, and various brackets/hardware, but the frame was rock solid front to back, I don't know how. It was undercoated once when new and got no rust treatment after that.
As for Dodge, I have seen a rotted out '02-'05 Ram, but again it was just one truck. I haven't seen a rotted out '94-'01, but I have seen a lot of rotted Ram Vans. Most of the body on those was from '71 or '72 though. I saw one today where the roof had actually split from the body at the drip rail.
Anyway, I doubt Mike will be dealing with this in CA.
As for coil springs, that's nothing new. GM did it with 1/2 tons from 1967-1972. Today those trucks can sell for $30K easily in excellent condition and are generally recognized as one of the most sought after GM trucks. The only thing I don't like in a truck suspension is struts. I think wear items on a truck should be made to be easily serviceable. Assuming you can break the top nut free on the front shocks, technically all you need to replace all four shocks on my truck is two adjustable wrenches. That's how it should be.
