ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki Grand Vitara, Vitara, Chevy Tracker (Gen. 2 Platform) 1999-2005 => Topic started by: stone on March 24, 2007, 01:30:10 PM
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So for awhile now ive notice that at 70km i get a good shake from my vit and when going over bumps and stopping abruptly ive noticed a sqeeking from my front right of it as well.. also when breaking a pulling to one side.. the 70km skake i figured was alignment/balance from my lift/tires might of been out... and the squeeking i thought was from something i had tied with wire was scraping... so today it nice and i figure i should fix the noise as its been happening so long.. and i notice something really wrong.. i dunno what its called but i refer to it as some sort of front cross member.. where the the front of the control arm is mounted is rusted and the mount while still attached to the control arm is pushed through the "member" and when i move it, its the exact squeeking sound i hear.. i have pics that ill attach but my questions are, is this a regular thing to happen? is it just a rust issue that caused it? or its been off road a few time and it was driven hard while doing so.. but if this is the case is there anything i can do to make it stronger if its a known issue.. and does anyone know the real name for this part?... and have a ruff idea of how hard this will hit the pocket book.. or if the pre 99 vitaras will fit it? see pics below.
http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dcp1007ab1.jpg
http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dcp1008gv8.jpg
http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dcp1009wp6.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dcp1010gt6.jpg
http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dcp1012cj1.jpg
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first thing move to nicer weather or clean the under side more often. everytime i run in snow
i always pressurewash the under side on the way home. you have major rust issues
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Wow...now that's rust...my '90 and '93 Trackers weren't that bad.
If you were good enough with a torch and welder you might be able to get a crossmember from another 99+ Vit/Tracker in the junkyard and put it in...
...personally I'd start looking for a replacement vehicle. If that component is rusty enough to fail what else is?
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The front cross member on 99 and up Tracker/vitara/GV is bolted not welded.
You can easily found a new one in a junkyard.
Fredo
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that whole front member is really the only spot thats bad rust everything else is not as bad at all.. main reason is the salt around here and esp back in my home town is insane.. any lil reason there out spreading salt.. and when wheeling its all summer weather.. but its still bad and it only happened in the last year.
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There have been complaints about that exact part doing the same thing on other sites too.
They are reporting them to the safety dept but not enough to put out a recall.
http://www.trackitara.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=43
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well it sucks other ppl are having the same issue as i am and yet suzuki/chev want to do nothing about it.. ahh well looks like ill have to check the scrap yards and hopefully ill find one other wise ill have to fork out that 800+
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has anyone here had to change the front cross member mines coming this week and am wondering if theres much work to removing it and puttin a new one in.. doesnt look like much only a half a dozen bolts or so.
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How did you make out with yours? Been trying to order a new one and it will be here hopefully within a week.
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When you get your new cross member, coat it with Herculiner. It's similar to the spray on bed-liner "stuff" only your roll it on with a foam brush or just brush it on. Keep it out of any bolt threads. Herculiner is availble at a lot of stores. Menards carries it for 28 dollars a quart (cheapest I've found). Once you have it coated, salt will attack the bolts and metal attached to it, but the cross member will be damned near impervious to corrosion and rock damage from the road.