I asked for trouble and I got it.
So I asked for trouble and I got it. I asked my mechanic to do a comprehensive safety and breakdown check on my 2004 GMC 2500HD. Because breakdowns on vacation are no fun - we've had 2 already this ye...
Forum Discussion
solismaris wrote:
That is part of it; the harsh lighting. They are very rusted yes, but a very thin layer of metal makes a lot of flaky rust; when the rust is scraped off it is surprising how little the metal thickness changes. (I'm talking about the frame and control arms; not the brake and fuel lines which I do not dare touch until I can have them replaced.)
That makes sense, but the reality is, it's not the flaky rust on the control arms that will likely suck your wallet dry, it's the bolts holding them in when you have to replace the bushings or the other things I mentioned and a dozen more like it that a shop will bend you over for when you take it for repairs.
Like Ford spark plugs I just replaced. Known to rust/carbon in place and snap off. Plugs cost $80, takes and hour to replace them IF they come out without issue. Otherwise that $150/hr labor charge just became $450 or more.
I can't imagine this is the first time you've dealt with this if you've lived there a long time, but unless your funds don't allow, you'll be money ahead overall dumping that truck.
Even if you go find a nice similar year model well taken care of down south. You can run the same miles on the components, but it won't be a rust bucket to contend with when the periodic repairs come up.
