Cracked Frame!

nastyZ71 · September 23, 2007

had to do a fuel pump last weekend and when the box was off I found my

frame was cracked, both rails!!

the spot to watch is the bottom of the frame, the second hole from the rear,

the holes the put in to get access to the box bolts.

I was in a bit of a hurry to fix the truck as I needed my truck back together

so I forgot to take some pics.

I did weld up the cracks then cut a 1/8 plate to box in the entire area between

the crossmembers. also added some 1/2 round to be able to weld it directly

to the crossmembers for added strength.

will post up some pics when I can showing the repairs.

the frame in the rear is pretty thin stuff. was a little dissapointed when I found this.

99silverado1500 · September 23, 2007

Did you ever do some plowing fast driving on bumps or off road or pull something you shouldnt have or overloaded? Otherwise that shouldnt really have happened.

Zembonez · September 23, 2007

Did you ever do some plowing fast driving on bumps or off road or pull something you shouldnt have or overloaded? Otherwise that shouldnt really have happened.

If I get the description... that seems like an odd place for it to crack. Is there anything mounted near there on a bracket that might have stressed the metal?

asilverblazer · September 23, 2007

I bet the truck was rear ended. Mine cracked there when it was.

cchupek · September 23, 2007

My shops repair a lot of the 1999 - 2006 trucks. GM was very emphatic about not repairing the rear frame when it has been in a collision. Any tears, cracks or creases in the frame requires replacement of the rear frame section. GM does sell a replacement rear frame section for this style truck. It is a $700 part and can be installed in about 3 - 4 hours by a good collision repair technician. Obviously they made a part that was serviceable because of the weakness of the original frame in this area.

nastyZ71 · September 24, 2007

as far as I can tell when I had the box off this truck has never been hit.

looking under it there are no signs of repairs.

I have worked in the autobody industry for a number of years and there

are ways to spot repairs.

it has the factory installed trailer hitch and wiring harness.

the p/o did have a 5th wheel hitch in it and pulled a 26' rv trailer.

he had it hooked up to his new truck when I bought up his old truck.

other than my boat those are the only 2 things this truck has pulled.

asilverblazer · September 24, 2007

as far as I can tell when I had the box off this truck has never been hit.
looking under it there are no signs of repairs.

I have worked in the autobody industry for a number of years and there

are ways to spot repairs.

Perhaps when it was hit, the P.O. had a hitch ball in it, that tranferred the impact to the frame. It's exactly what happened to mine. the body and bumper sustained very little damage for the impact, but upon closer inspection the frame had the cracks you describe. The reason you don't see any repairs is none were made.

Not discrediting your experience, but I can't see any other possibility mentioned creating this type of damage. I don't think any kind of towing that the truck can physically move would do this. Plus every truck like this that has been rear ended with a hitch and ball in place sustain little to no body damage, but they do have the frame cracked.