The 04 blue beauty has a severe case of 'cancer' -- rust, that appears to have eaten into the axles on all 4 corners, replacement is a definite. Is this a common occurence or just because it lives in the NE USA? The frame and body are perfect, so it's not everywhere. Best place to get replacement parts or is Dealer the best choice ? Help? and thanks!

 

Before buying any OEM part from the dealer, be sure to ask Mazmart, a forum vendor here. He can get anything OEM, and usually far cheaper than you will pay at a dealer.


And yeah, rust is a northern state issue. Also check the oil lines to the oil coolers, since those rusting through (to the point oil just spurts out and drains) is a problem in Canada that they issued a recall on. Can be a problem here in the US too, but rare enough for them not to issue a recall on it.

 

Unfortuantely just a fact of life due to the salt used on the roads in the Northeast in the Winter (the reason I drive a Jeep 'beater' in Winter instead of my '8).

You have to be really fastideous about undercarriage washing in the Winter, but of course that's often difficult. There is a salt-neutralizing product you can spray on periodically, but fairly expensive and you still have to get under the vehicle to do it properly.

MazMart and other vendors here often have pre-owned parts from warm/dry climates as well as new alternatives that can be more reasonably priced than dealer. Since you cite just suspension perhaps the silver lining is an opportunity to upgrade to higher performance parts (although OEM are quite good).

Edit: RIWWP beats me again, but at least we're on the same sheet.

 

Such quick replies! Thank you for your help, will check out mazmart, and will let you know how this works out.

 

I live in the Northeast and have no rust on the undercarriage of my 8. I have a beater (98 grand cherokee) that I use in the winter. Look into getting yourself a beater. My fiancee has a Solstice and also has a beater (01 Explorer Sport)

 

Sounds like encounter with road salt or some other corrosive. Get salvage parts and paint them with hammerite. POR 15 is a horrible product btw it chips off. I just finished a 1st gen RX7 project that was covered with rust. Hammerite Rust cap is best, crushed glass particles and thich plastic like resin. Sand rust, wash off & dry then apply Hammerite. And Lot of WD-40 on rest of car anywhere you see rust. At night use LED flashlight to find rust and coat with WD-40 or do hammerite treatment.

 

It is doubtful it is structural...so you have options if the rust bothers you...

 

It's just surface rust. I live in New Hampshiiiiire, never drove the 8 through snow, and there is still a small amount of surface rust on some of the suspension/drivetrain parts.

 

Rust Never sleeps.. if your gonna sell or trade then maybe don't worry about it. If your keeping the vehicle, I plan on keeping my 04, then you deal with it.

WD-40 is your friend. The Hammerite is good stuff too it's sweet