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Rusted Frame "Underhaul" Round 2

TowWhiteAv2500

Full Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
46
Location
Ohio
If you want to read about the first Underhaul it started with a fuel filter and turned into more.
http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?topic=150559.new#new

Round 2 of this started with a broken leaf spring shackle. I needed to remove the rear gas tank to remove the seized bushing/bolts.  Then after spending 2 nights fighting out the old bushings, I discover I have a broken leaf spring eye.  That means new a new set of leaf springs, well to get the front bolt out the front gas tank had to come out too.  I figured I was this far in I was going to re-coat the frame an second time.  (see link above for the story on the first time)  I am also going to tackle the bad rockers and lower quarter panels that I have been putting off.

Broken leaf spring shackle, this happened while driving, fortunately with the truck empty.


Broken spring eye, found it when I was trying to crush in the bushing shell after cutting it.


For round two of coating I prepped by using a needle gun to break off all the old coating and loose rust.  These pics are after the prepaint cleaner was applied (the wet look is the cleaner before it dried).


 
Which Eastwood product did you use as they have so many now.

I have read where people have had good success with POR-15 sold @ eastwood and body shop supply stores.
 
ygmn said:
Which Eastwood product did you use as they have so many now.

I have read where people have had good success with POR-15 sold @ eastwood and body shop supply stores.

I originally used the Eastwood Rust Converter and top coated it with the Eastwood Rubberized Rust Encapsulator.  I think the issue was the converter since I put it on another vehicle with another undercoating as a topcoat, had the same problem.
 
For coating round 2 I used KBS Coatings Rustseal.  I have this on a couple of my tractor implements and 8 years later it is holding up very well.  I brushed it on, but you can spray it.




 
I noticed that my shackles were in bad shape last year so this is in the schedule when it gets a little warmer..
 
MS03 2500 said:
I noticed that my shackles were in bad shape last year so this is in the schedule when it gets a little warmer..

I was lucky when the shackle broke it hit the cross-brace under the bed.  The same part number shackle fits like all the 1500 Silverados/Sierras as well from 99-13.  If these let go on those trucks its into nothing but sheet metal, saw one guy on the internet that removed the old shackle/bushing from inside the bed. The whole spring eye punched right through the bed sheet metal.

I thought at first my cracked leaf spring eye was weakened and cracked because it hit the bed with such force.  After getting it out, I realized by the rust in the crack that it started long before, I just finished it off when I was pounding on the bushing shell. Not sure if it was defective from day one or rust slowly worked its way in.


Check your leaf spring U-bolts down where they go though the lower plate.  I found that mine were rusted from mud/water/salt being trapped in the plate and rusted pretty bad.  I had to replace the U-bolts anyway since I was putting on new leaf springs (GM says to replace when removed).  I measured and it lost over an 1/8" of diameter where it was rusted down.

I bought new spring plates since everything else was new and the old was pretty rusty.
 
Yeah I saw that post on the internet where it went through the floor. I'll have to look at my spring eyes and check for cracks. As far as frame rust I've had pretty good luck with just using rust converter without a top coat and touch it up every year.
 
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