Frame Rust Damage

2003 MAZDA PROTEGE
520 MILES
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EVETTE87
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Bottom the vehicle is rusted from being by the ocean with previous owner. Heard cracking sound by back passenger as driving. Looked underneath. Reference attached photo.
Oct 9, 2020 at 1:37 PM
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KASEKENNY
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Is that the frame rail or a cross beam back by the muffler?

Either way, that is not good. Is it possible to get a photo a little further away so we can try and orient ourselves? Or maybe from the outside of the vehicle and then one from under a little further away so we know what portion of the car. I understand it is the rear passenger side but I am just not sure of the orientation because I think that is in front of the rear suspension. Is that correct? Thanks
Oct 9, 2020 at 2:50 PM
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EVETTE87
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I am not sure, I tried to find a diagram for names but no luck. It is directly behind the rear passenger wheel and the wheel (axle, suspension?) is attached to it. I will try to get a better picture, but it was a bit difficult to get under the car.
Oct 9, 2020 at 3:23 PM
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STEVE W.
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That looks like the right rear section of the subframe between the rear axle and the bumper, the rusted section is just behind the bolted on crossmember. While it is possible to repair that area it may not be worth the repair depending on the condition of the rest of the frame and body. If it is rusted as bad in other places on the rails or body it may be better to replace the car. However you might be able to find a welding shop that could cut out the rust and weld in new steel. It all depends on the rest of the vehicle.
Oct 9, 2020 at 5:36 PM
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EVETTE87
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Thank you for your responses! I will have to get it assessed, as I was not notified of the extent of the rust underneath the vehicle.
Oct 9, 2020 at 5:43 PM
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STEVE W.
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I've repaired rusted rails before but it depends on the rest of the vehicle. The older A body GMs like the Monte Carlo were well known for rusting through in the same area of the car. The outside looked like new but those rear rails were swiss cheese.
If you want to see a repair similar to what your car would need go onto YouTube and look for a channel named mustie1 he just did the rear rails on an Oldsmobile cutlass, "Frame Repair Time, on my $900.00 Oldsmobile cutlass backyard find." It would give you some ideas as to what to look at and how it could possibly be repaired.
Oct 9, 2020 at 5:59 PM
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EVETTE87
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I will definitely check that out. Thank you so much! I definitely need an idea of what im looking at.
Oct 9, 2020 at 6:03 PM
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STEVE W.
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Good luck, he has a few videos on there showing rust and chassis rot repairs. It will at least let you determine what to look for and an idea of what is involved. Good luck with it, please keep us in the loop as to what you find. Or shoot a few YouTube videos..
Oct 9, 2020 at 8:01 PM
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EVETTE87
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Will do!
Oct 9, 2020 at 8:40 PM
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KASEKENNY
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Just catching up on this one. Great info Steve. Let us know what happens when you decide on what to do and how it turns out if you decide to fix it. Thanks for using 2CarPros.
Oct 10, 2020 at 12:26 PM