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Classic strut turret repair
My car is very poorly, a classic MY99 Turbo 2000.
It went in for a service and MOT and came out with a large bill and a requirement for “a couple of small bits of welding” for the MOT. These small bits were in the rear arches, close to where the rear anti-roll bar mounts. I took the car to another garage that does welding. On inspection, they asked me to take it to a body shop as the work would have to include repair to the wheel arches and they don’t do body paint. My car is now at a reputable body shop. But on inspection the rust is in the rear strut turrets and the car needs a lot of work. Now why the first garage did not find this as they replaced the rear strut and top strut mounts, I don’t know. But this is another argument. Now replacing or patching the suspension turrets is going to be costly! The body shop would like to use replacement inner panels and maybe outer quarter panels also. I believe they intend to use part of the new panels where appropriate. The inner panels (2 off each side) are around £650 each side from Subaru, with the quarter panels as well this will bring the cost in parts to around £1000 a side. I have supplied the body shop with rear arch repair panels, but he says he may have to take more of the quarter panels away to get access to weld the inners. Hence the new quarters. Is there more cost-effective approach to this? I have seen the inner panels on-line in USA for under £300 a side, but shipping is prohibitive. Can the Subaru body parts be sourced any cheaper? Are there any other third-party piece parts available that could help? I can source rally style weld on turret tops, will these help? I can take some hit on this to keep my lovely Scooby on the road, but I can’t go crazy, I have had this car since 2001, done over 145K miles, but I just feel gutted now. Any advice to a more cost-effective solution greatly appreciated. Thanks, Duke |
Sadly sentiment is also my downfall and sometimes you have to let go and move on.
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I had the same recently, although not as bad as yours.
Ended up getting a fabricator mate to form repair panels himself for the strut tops, replacing small holes on both sides still came to 1200 or so if I remember correctly. |
I've a similar problem (though maybe not as extensive) on my MY01 WRX wagon.
Your best approach may be as Sunny1989 suggests above. I was quoted similar inner panel prices from my local Subaru dealer. However, they said the parts are on back-order so "might take 6 weeks or more". From 17 years experience dealing with them that translates to: "we don't know if/when we can get them and we're not really interested." Previously the back-ordered parts were mechanical or trim bits so I'd call around the friendly breakers on here and have a solution within a week. Following some extensive Googling, the US panels seemed an attractive option pricewise but when I raised a query with one supplier on the $13,500 shipping costs the reply was that they didn't actually deliver to the UK. Admittedly cheaper (but still pretty costly) shipping was offered by another US website but I wasn't sure I was ready to re-run the delay prone WTO-based US import process and pay unknown duties and agent fees on these oversized items at the present pitiful exchange rates. (Hardcore Brexiteers should actually try their hand at importing some stuff under WTO rules!) I couldn't find any UK third party who offered the inner or quarter panel parts that still had any stock. So next Tuesday the car's going to a local specialist metal fabricator and welder who will make and patch as Sunny1989 has suggested above. Sorry I don't have any better suggestions. :( Sam |
Thank for the comments.
It looks as though my options are limited. I will get a firm price from the states, I was originally given a shipping cost of around $1000. This will give me a useful guide point. I am also on the chase for some third party inner panels from Poland, although this my never materialise. The part number and cost in £ from Subaru UK are: Rear quarter inner L 51510FA011 624.81 Rear quarter inner R 51510FA002 648.44 Rear Quarter RH turbo 4d 51403FA310 350.00 Rear Quarter LH turbo 4d 51403FA321 348.72 I am sure some dealers will get discounts on these prices. Duke |
Some photos of the offside rear strut turret and boot wheel arch.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...845d54a92f.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...ce7f58f712.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...0cdc567c46.jpg |
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Sunny and Sam,
Does the rust damage on my car look similar to yours? If so then fabrication of new turret tops (together with turret side and front panels) may be the answer. Is my car far worse? I have decided just can't afford the cost of the new Rear Inner Quarters. If this is the only option then I will have to walk away. Rather the getting new rear inner quarters, I am wondering if I can get suitable (rust free) material for a more modern Impreza? Are the rear strut turrets generally the same size in the later cars? Is this a viable solution? Has this type of transplant been done before? Thanks Duke |
No, my newage wagon is nowhere as corroded as that, Duke.
In fact, aside from the typical and obvious bubbling rear arches, it took us 15 minutes of poking around with mirrors and lights before we found small sections of perforated metal on the seams of both inner wheel arch panels. I wasn't able to get any usable photos on my iphone but my Subaru MOT tester highlighted the parts in question as below. I'm no expert, and I'm sure it must be do-able, but based on your photos I'd need to be feeling pretty brave to commission what is in effect a classic car restoration job on your car. |
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Sam
OK, mine is worse as I feared, but not dead yet! My car is a classic, GC8 body, as far as I am aware on this model the inner wheel arch is part of the inner quarter panel and not as the picture you show. Ash, Good price, but a direct replacement. I think that this is my layout: http://images.wrenchead.com/Smartpag...OC/7590567.jpg But please let me know if I am wrong I am chasing some aftermarket inner wheel arches. Duke |
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Some good info .
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Yes, I can get the inner arches from Ray, but still need options for the strut "tubs" or turrets.
Duke |
Ash, thanks for the link.
My car is at the fabricators today but I will check stock availability on panels for both sides. At those prices if there's realistic availability I would order a set anyway. |
Mine is going in for the rust repair in the very near future. So far all I can see is rear arches, small patch above windscreen and boot lock. Gonna poke around this weekend and hopefully my screwdriver doesnt go straight thru the turrets!
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Originally Posted by Ash Webster
(Post 11965136)
... So far all I can see is rear arches, ...
That's what I'd said. Famous last words, it turned out! The trouble with poking round a bit of rust is it invariably opens up a corroded can of worms. As is generally the case, mine's turned out much worst than we originally thought. :( Warning: shocking pictures to follow. However, I have a very optimistic and nimble-fingered fabricator. |
Pics pics pics
im getting my turret repaired later in the month also |
The strut tower were worst than we thought.
Nearside rear strut tower: https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...6942e9e2e8.jpg It got worse as it was cleaned up: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...6fadcb868c.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...1ffb171e4d.jpg |
My fabricator used a CO2 feed between the strut tower and boot carpet to reduce the fire risk:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...b4a5286d05.jpg Then cut out and welded in new metal: https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...af4b2a3f2b.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...6254fe1024.jpg |
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Same treatment for offside strut tower and sill and lower wheel arch:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...551132b204.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...eda821f407.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...7579d29949.jpg |
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Sorry mate I've just had chance to reply to this,that is certainly worse than mine was. The corrosion was slightly less worse on the sides. However the strut tops seem very similar in severity.
They were repaired in a very similar way to Sam's, we just used larger bent panels. Ironically I also replaced the same sill section too, It was rotten through. Now its onto the can of worms that is the rear arches, no doubt it'l be much worse than expected once its opened up too.. good job i love this car :lol1: |
Here's hoping the arches won't be any worse than you expect.:thumb:
My fabricator tells me that had I gone down the oem panel route it would have needed 3 panels per side as well as the work to the sill. Given that AllCarPartsFast (on the link Ash provided above) quoted £200 each for just the (on back order) sections that I highlighted in one of my earlier post then it would have all been beyond economical. Yes, it's a good job we love these cars! |
ouch!! defo feel better once its sorted tho right?
what is a rough estimate of how much the fab has charged - i know a few shops round here but obviously i dont wanna be driving it/ flat bedding it there if i cant afford the repairs! Ash |
Ash, I don't want to tie his hands on future quotes and it would have been another story if the tower corrosion had been to the rear of the shocks and he had to come in from the top side as well.
So I'll just say that you could see change from £500. |
Originally Posted by SouthWalesSam
(Post 11967092)
Ash, I don't want to tie his hands on future quotes and it would have been another story if the tower corrosion had been to the rear of the shocks and he had to come in from the top side as well.
So I'll just say that you could see change from £500. |
Understood.
It was just for future reference for other South/Mid Wales googlers who may be considering their options and looking for a choice between scrapping or repairing. Ryan at Goddard Engineering (Fabrications) in Brecon did my work. |
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