[bob3000]

I'm no expert in this field but like I said, if there is a rusted dog leg you know what to do.

Rust-ancer removing surgery and never drive it in the winter again was my eventual decision.

 

[mstrjon32]

I'm no expert in this field but like I said, if there is a rusted dog leg you know what to do.

Yep, scrap the car or hope I can sell it cheaply. 😁

 

[h16]

Given the rust you describe (damn the salt gods), I suggest you check the four mounts of your rear suspension cassette. To do so you may need to loosen or remove the four vertical mounting bolts and drop the cassette to get better visibility (mine is a sedan, not wagon). I did not realize the degree of compromise until I lowered my cassette - I consider mine to be catastrophic and not-worth-the-effort to try and resolve (I have other issues, other rust, etc ....)

attached is a photo

 

[Saaberachi]

Just butter it up with Corraseal & hope for the best. Lol (no)

 

[Finesse58]

Just butter it up with Corraseal & hope for the best. Lol (no)

As I read the first few words, I was so hoping this wasn't serious.

I also, personally, love my 9-5 and will keep it on the road come hell or high water. I'd spend a few thousand on rust repair/bodywork if needed - to give you some insight as to my approach/state of mind when reading your disgusting post! Lol

 

[Saaberachi]

Totally not serious! 😄. Although I have seen some people out there that would go along with that.

 

[bob3000]

Given the rust you describe (damn the salt gods), I suggest you check the four mounts of your rear suspension cassette. To do so you may need to loosen or remove the four vertical mounting bolts and drop the cassette to get better visibility (mine is a sedan, not wagon). I did not realize the degree of compromise until I lowered my cassette - I consider mine to be catastrophic and not-worth-the-effort to try and resolve (I have other issues, other rust, etc ....)

I had a 1999 9-5 that I approached from an odd angle in a ski resort parking lot so that I was looking up and under and saw part of the spare tire and a golf ball.

The car looked amazing from the top. 😁

It was a great car.

 

[Saaberachi]

U never know whats hiding in the depths

 

[Germaniac]

Totally not serious! 😄. Although I have seen some people out there that would go along with that.

I had a 1999 9-5 that I approached from an odd angle in a ski resort parking lot so that I was looking up and under and saw part of the spare tire and a golf ball.

The car looked amazing from the top. 😁

It was a great car.

I have witnessed an TÜV auditor inspecting a Ford P4 12M which looked like just out of the factory suddenly got out a screwdriver, rammed the blade into the rocker panel and tore it in one swift move from the front to the rear wheel arch...a masterpiece of Prestolith, news papers and paint.🤣
Makes me wonder why the owner went that great length in botching when (at that time, end of the 80s) repair panels were still available but I'm sure that this was not the only part of that car being patched together. But the paint job was really good.

And if you visit fairs like the Retro Classic Stuttgart or read vintage car magazines it's truly amazing when you see the before and after pics of some cars the majority would have junked on the spot.

 

[mstrjon32]

You really need to get your cars inspected father south. I never had anything checked even remotely that thoroughly.

 

[Germaniac]

Since I let the garage deal with the TÜV I have far less stress. 😁

And I have found a KÜS station in the vicinity for our bikes. The auditor is pretty relaxed and more interested in having the bikes pass the HU even if there are some things which are in a grey zone like the exhaust and windscreen on my wifeys bike (exhaust is OEM without KBA but a 1:1 copy of the original Suzuki part, the windscreen was a small Cafe Racer-style which also had no number and is now replaced with a proper Puig screen).

 

[Saaberachi]

So that cat had paper mache rocker panels?

Holy cow! I thought i'd heard it all!

 

[Germaniac]

Dude should had spent his creativity on other projects...he even had the audacity to swear at the TÜV auditor.

Chicken wire, Pepsi cans, building foam...yeah, I've seen some things. Did some of them myself but only on non-critical parts (in the knowledge that the car won't see a TÜV station ever again).

 

[photousa]

I wanted to post a follow up for you guys regarding what our body shop guy discovered when he cut into my wagon.
I didn't mention it before, but I believe this car spent it's life, (up to 117,500 miles) in Pennsylvania, then off to Chicago up until now. The rust / corrosion on the driver side rear was much worse than I had anticipated. The passenger side rear wasn't as bad, but both of the rocker areas were rotted really bad. Check out the photos.
Drivers Side Rear:

Passenger Side:

The body shop guy is going to use his Fiberglass skills to put the substructure back together before welding
in my patch panels and finishing the job. Once the car is back together, I think it's time to send this one
down the road and find an Arizona car, any suggestions?

 

[mstrjon32]

Not a surprise, sadly. You will need to cut away more than has been done there to stop it getting worse, and at some point that gets impractical.

As you said, find one of the increasingly uncommon not rusty cars. If it were me I'd hold onto this one to see what parts and trim you might want to transfer to your future less rusty purchase.

 

[EdT]

I am not going to look too closely at my rusting 9-5. I don't think it's as far gone as yours....but it might be. Well, who needs rocker panels anyway?

 

[Saaberachi]

I guess theres always paper mache! 🤣

 

[photousa]

Forgive me if I don't feel quite feel like laughing Not the greatest corrosion protection for a $40K+ car.

 

[Germaniac]

Forgive me if I don't feel quite feel like laughing Not the greatest corrosion protection for a $40K+ car.

You could buy a Benz from the same era. 🤣

 

[mstrjon32]

You could buy a Benz from the same era. 🤣

Are you sure? It might have already entirely returned to the earth...