Front Sub Frame Clean Up

[namaste]

Just some quick photos of my front sub frame clean up. Like most this age I've got some surface rust and just general grime that needed cleaning up. I toyed with the idea of dropping the subframe and supporting the engine on a hoist, but I've just had my alignment done, and the sub frame bolts are very tight, so I didn't risk it and did my best to work around the suspension and bits. Lots of dismantling to really get at all the surfaces. First few photos are the condition before starting. Camera really shows up the orange of the rust and makes it look really obvious but didn't look that bad in person. That curved bit of the upper suspension arm brackets is the place to be aware of and it looks solid enough.

 

[namaste]

Next are some photos of the frame after a lot of cleaning, wire brushing and media blasting. I bought a hand held sand blaster gun off Amazon and some glass based media, and it did a good job of getting around the suspension arms and tight spaces. Really does a job on the suspension arm alloy as well. You can see that that trouble area where the upper suspension arms connect is all solid and no signs of serious rot.

 

[namaste]

Last are the photos after rust proofing/cleaning/scuffing and under sealing sprayed with a compressor. Cleaned up some other bits and pieces at the same time, like the suspension arms, shocks and steering rack. Happy that its all cleaned up and protected now.

 

[Scaf]

Proper job - well done

 

[StuartW]

Well done, good work

 

[conaero]

Some worrying signs, rotten and holed or just paint?



poke here with a screw driver and the above area as these are the common areas:



Best to check and hopefully all ok.

 

[namaste]

Some worrying signs, rotten and holed or just paint?

View attachment 68967

poke here with a screw driver and the above area as these are the common areas:

View attachment 68968
View attachment 68969
Best to check and hopefully all ok.

Now you point it out it does look like rot holes, but no, thats after sandblasting and those dark bits are left over paint. If I took all the paint off it'd all look like the light grey bits.

I've followed your sub frame thread and did a good poke around in that upper arm area with a screw driver. A bit of surface flaking but chipped that off and its all very solid underneath thankfully.

The last bit you highlighted was also fine. I'll try and see if I've got a before photo of that area.

 

[philw696]

Good Efforts doing that all on the floor with axle stands.
Very rewarding and could have been a lot worse after another Winter.
Had it been advised on MOT ?

 

[conaero]

That’s a relief.