2004 Colorado R.I.P.

[steveno]

at 330,120 miles the 2004 Colorado is no more. a couple weeks ago I was having new rear brakes put on my truck and it was pointed out that front attachment for the rear leaf spring had totally rusted out and no longer attached. Now how long it has actually been this way I have no idea because I didn't noticed that is handled any different. I went to Lincoln a couple of weeks on I-80 and never noticed anything. I took it to a body shop to see if there anything that could be done and the only thing to do would be to replace the frame and that wasn't going to happen.

I know that rust started showing up after about 5 years but had never really given it a though about the frame rusting out. who ever looks at the frame when getting the oil changed.

 

[moralem]

Check out the new 2020 Colorado ZR2 Bison......very tricked out, and with a baby Duramax option.

 

[LVSteve]

I assume they salt the roads pretty heavily in Colorado. 330k+ miles and 15 years on salted roads no matter how diligent you are with rinsing is good going IMHO.

 

[29aholic]

I assume they salt the roads pretty heavily in Colorado. 330k+ miles and 15 years on salted roads no matter how diligent you are with rinsing is good going IMHO.

He lives in Nebraska but drives a Colorado

 

[steveno]

they use a LOT of salt in the winter time and no matter how careful you are in washing it off you will NOT get it all

 

[gman51]

Take a big blob of JB Weld and fabricate a new front holder to the rusted frame. Believe it or not but I used something similar to JB Weld but was a lot stronger and did just that. I jacked the broken piece up into place and globed the material around the two pieces. I let it sit with it still jacked up together for 24 hours. When I let the jack down the parts held together.
I sold the car a year later and the parts were still holding together.

 

[delcrossv]

They have Ziebart where you live? Keeping the frame coated prevents such disappointments.

 

[LVSteve]

He lives in Nebraska but drives a Colorado

I think that qualifies as a brain fart on my part.

 

[arjay]

Colorado uses a lot of mag chloride.Dont let the washer fluid run low in the winter!
Driving blind in rush hour traffic ...[emoji33][emoji33][emoji33]

 

[gregintenn]

Take a big blob of JB Weld and fabricate a new front holder to the rusted frame. Believe it or not but I used something similar to JB Weld but was a lot stronger and did just that. I jacked the broken piece up into place and globed the material around the two pieces. I let it sit with it still jacked up together for 24 hours. When I let the jack down the parts held together.
I sold the car a year later and the parts were still holding together.

That's one of the dumbest ideas I've heard in quite some time.

 

[Frank121]

They just don't make 'em like they used to!

Only 330,000+ miles over 15 years? What happened to quality American trucks?

Just kidding! I would love to have similar results from any vehicle.

at 330,120 miles the 2004 Colorado is no more. a couple weeks ago I was having new rear brakes put on my truck and it was pointed out that front attachment for the rear leaf spring had totally rusted out and no longer attached. Now how long it has actually been this way I have no idea because I didn't noticed that is handled any different. I went to Lincoln a couple of weeks on I-80 and never noticed anything. I took it to a body shop to see if there anything that could be done and the only thing to do would be to replace the frame and that wasn't going to happen.

I know that rust started showing up after about 5 years but had never really given it a though about the frame rusting out. who ever looks at the frame when getting the oil changed.

 

[Squarebutt]

Here in the northeast they use a lot of the liquid CaCl and it gets inside the frames, doors, tailgates, etc. It causes a lot more damage than the old salt/sand mix ever did.
I haven't seen Ziebart in years, but the one Suburban we had treated with it rusted out just as fast as anything else. Nowadays a lot of people are using Fluidfilm sprayed into everything.

 

[Jessie]

Ziebart is fine until it gets any cracks in it, then it's a rust accelerant. Salt and chemicals get inside and never dry out.
I think you did ok with it. My last Chevy pick up was about perfect until I saw it rusting through the bottom of the rocker panels.
One day nothing, next day rust through. I'm sure there was more than what I saw.
It was time so I bought a new F250....it's aluminum!

 

[LVSteve]

We had Zeibart in England, too. For the home mechanic who didn't mind messing up the street or his driveway, there was a product called Waxoyl.

Edited to add: I see it's available here as well.

Waxoyl USA | Offering 360o of Protection from Corrosion.

 

[G-Mac]

Take a big blob of JB Weld and fabricate a new front holder to the rusted frame.

As a certified welder that has repaired my share of rusted out vehicle frames over the past 40 years, all I can say is that you have a GREAT sense of humor!

 

[jbtrucker]

You definitely got your moneys worth , used and new truck prices now are crazy expensive.

 

[JcMack]

I've got an '08 Colorado that I bought in Nov '07. Soon after I was issued an company car that I could use for personal stuff. My Colorado was garaged and unused for 2 years until I retired. As a result my 12 year old little truck has 27,000 miles on it. Colorados were the replacement for the S10 and they're actually rebadged Issuzu's. I'm hoping mine lasts until it's happy trails for me. Heres my "little fren"

 

[Alk8944]

I assume they salt the roads pretty heavily in Colorado. 330k+ miles and 15 years on salted roads no matter how diligent you are with rinsing is good going IMHO.

The truck is a Colorado! Poster lives in Minden Nebraska.

 

[ACORN]

I'd Find another shop to weld the frame. A body shop may not want to mess with a job like that. There's a local shop that specializes in frame repairs and exhaust. He rebuilt a rotted out cab mount on my sisters Dakota. He is so busy she had to book him about a month in advance.
To the OP FWIW the early Colorado's are known for this issue. I deal with many used car lots for work and spotted an 04 that looked nice body wise for cheap. When I asked the dealer about it he told me the frame was rotted.
Chevrolet Colorado Frame Rust Problems

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...frames can be repaired...if it's worth it to you...

...there is one right way...and a lot of wrong ways to do it...

...you have to find someone who does it the right way...

...pieces welded in should have their ends cut at 45 degrees to prevent stress risers...

...reinforcing plates with their ends also cut at 45 degrees should be placed inside the repaired frame rail and bolted through the frame web...not welded in place...