Frame Wax/Undercoating

Bent-1 · July 26, 2015

found this video on a 2013 Siera

mjb4450 · July 26, 2015

Nice! So just exactly how many years does it take GM to correct defects on the assembly line anyway? If the value of my 2014 had not dropped like a rock, I'd be driving a Ram right now. I had given up on GM in the early 1980s but came back in 2010 for a Silverado and now a 2014. Guess after all those years and all that taxpayer money, GM is still not ready for prime time.

Miner07865 · August 15, 2015

I bought a used 2011 Tahoe back in July. I noticed that it had this issue with the wax after I got underneath it to take off the cover to install a trailer hitch. I went back and forth the with dealer and GM customer service to see if they would cover the repair. After going to the dealer and showing them the TSB related to the issue, they agreed that it had exactly that issue. However, because it was outside the initial warranty they weren't going to cover it. So, I ended up bringing mine to Ziebart to have them take care of it. GM dealer told me that is where they send them anyway to have the TSB work done. The undercoating cost about $300 and it looks great. Nice heavy duty coating on all the parts that needed it. For an extra $100 I had them do the doors and the rocker panels as well. Years ago I owned a 1980 Mercury Capri (owned it during the late 90s, early 2000s) and it had the Ziebart rust protection. There was not a spot of rust on that car and considering its age, I was impressed. I figured for $100, it was worth the cost. Anyway, don't let the dealer just "paint" something on. You need to take it to a place where they will strip it all down, prep the surface and then re-apply Zee bart took two days to do this on my Tahoe.

20L8TSierra24 · August 16, 2015

That's too clean for bare metal not to have any rust. Someone sprayed stripper on it the day those pics were taken. The whole frame would have a flash rust from even 1 night.

HondaHawkGT · August 16, 2015

If the value of my 2014 had not dropped like a rock, I'd be driving a Ram right now.

Hahaha! I take it you haven't crawled under a Ram and checked out their frame rust lately, huh? Go take a look. Around here, they all rust as fast as the others. Don't want frame rust? It's your responsibility as the owner to maintain your truck.

Clocked92 · August 17, 2015

I was just walking around the Ford dealership yesterday because I like to go look at new vehicles on sundays when I'm not busy. I got looking at the new F150's and checked out their frames. They appear to be painted/powdercoated. All I know is that they are a lot harder than the wax coating on the GM's.

HondaHawkGT · August 17, 2015

I was just walking around the Ford dealership yesterday because I like to go look at new vehicles on sundays when I'm not busy. I got looking at the new F150's and checked out their frames. They appear to be painted/powdercoated. All I know is that they are a lot harder than the wax coating on the GM's.

Yeah it's some sort of e-coat from what I understand. They still rust but it's much easier too maintain compared to the wax undercoat. I've seen 2015 F-150's with rust coming through the paint already so it's not perfect. The owner still has to look under his truck and perform maintenance from time to time if he wants the frame to stay rust-free.

SAKO79 · November 19, 2015

I'm in Canada and my 2015 gmc sierra frame is rusting all over the place too. I didn't know there was a tsb as well. I now 34000 kilometers on my truck. What would you guys all do take it in and let the dealership do it or how it rubberized undercoating

HondaHawkGT · November 20, 2015

Skip the rubberized coating and go with Krown. Since the frame has lost some of the wax and started to rust it'll be more effective. The rubberized coatings are not effective if applied over rust and it's nearly impossible to effectively rubberize the inside of the boxed frame

Krown is vastly easier to apply to the inside of the frame and body panels.

Edited November 20, 2015 by HondaHawkGT

IceOnly · January 3, 2016

My '15 All Terrain's frame is peeling bad as well and starting to rust. 7 months old. Sickening! Anyways it's going in tomorrow (Jan 4) for the TSB fix. Had to call and talk to gm personally. They called my dealer and set up the appointment. We'll see what it looks like when it's done. Should have kept my '03 sierra☹️.

FL335i · January 4, 2016

I'm in a 2015/16 GMC Canyon loaner truck. Frame is PAINTED. Very nicely. I'm jealous. Why did my full size truck frame get a coal tar wax job when the canyon gets a super nice looking paint job.

Edited January 4, 2016 by FL335i

Willshire · January 4, 2016

My 2016 looked painted before the undercoating was done. and besides, it's one coat of paint and likely not the greatest application since its done by robots. Wax is sprayed on too. So the inside of the frame is never coated anyway. Haven't seen any trucks without rust on the underside here. You could always apply a rust converter and then apply rubberized undercoat. The underside gets all of the road hazard abuse, no way to protect from that. A lot of debris on paved highways and tires kick up debris as does the force of the air going under the truck. If you don't want it to rust (as fast) move to a place away from sea water and never sees winter like Arizona! LOL. you could always have no drip applied. My 08 made it 8 years before the rear wheel well started to rust. It wasn't through when i sold it but it will be by this time next year. 48-54 seconds. That's all each component gets on the assembly line and that's all assy lines by any mfr

mjoekingz28 · January 5, 2016

I can take pictures after work and get them posted later this evening.

I have read to that oils, such as Fluid Film, will nearly take off the wax coating. I am not sure what to do with the frame. I will be spraying the underbody at least, as well as any surface which doesn't have the wax coating.

Yes, Fluid Film wrecked my frame.

Try your favorite armor all product, tire dressing, vinyl/rubber preservative.....after much doing I found these to be correct.

redwngr · January 5, 2016

My 2016 looked painted before the undercoating was done. and besides, it's one coat of paint and likely not the greatest application since its done by robots. Wax is sprayed on too. So the inside of the frame is never coated anyway. Haven't seen any trucks without rust on the underside here. You could always apply a rust converter and then apply rubberized undercoat. The underside gets all of the road hazard abuse, no way to protect from that. A lot of debris on paved highways and tires kick up debris as does the force of the air going under the truck. If you don't want it to rust (as fast) move to a place away from sea water and never sees winter like Arizona! LOL. you could always have no drip applied. My 08 made it 8 years before the rear wheel well started to rust. It wasn't through when i sold it but it will be by this time next year. 48-54 seconds. That's all each component gets on the assembly line and that's all assy lines by any mfr

Wax is not sprayed on.

The frame is dipped.

You will notice there are runs in the wax going from the front of the frame towards the back. The runs are front to back because the frame is held up by the front end when it passes thru the wash tank and the wax tank.

Willshire · January 5, 2016

I just quoted on a job to remove a wax spray booth for unibody frames and I assumed full frames were done this way also. They are hanging as well when they enter the booth

Edited January 5, 2016 by Willshire