Front chassis leg rot, do they all suffer?
Discussion
It's not worth relying on an MOT inspection, the legs rot from the inside out and can be seriously weakened yet not yield to the nylon hammer.
You will be lucky to find a mk2 or 2.5 without leg rot, you do need to get in there with a poker and poke it, especially around the subframe and anti roll bar mounts, if you see flaking don't worry but do poke it, the real concern is seeing the top layers of metal rotting away in a circle, it looks a bit like a moon crater forming, because the same will be happening on the inside and usually it is wafer thin.
The repair options are a patch over the damage, a repair section or the best option but a big job new legs.
You will be lucky to find a mk2 or 2.5 without leg rot, you do need to get in there with a poker and poke it, especially around the subframe and anti roll bar mounts, if you see flaking don't worry but do poke it, the real concern is seeing the top layers of metal rotting away in a circle, it looks a bit like a moon crater forming, because the same will be happening on the inside and usually it is wafer thin.
The repair options are a patch over the damage, a repair section or the best option but a big job new legs.
My 2002 looks like its rotten, tell tale blistering near the ARB. Only on one side though. If I keep it, I'll get repair sections welded in before the MOT in June. My 1998 Mk2 was fine from the outside though.
Work on the assumption that all Mk2s are rotting from the inside, either the sills, arches or chassis rails. Make sure you only pay buttons for one. Book price is well off on most I've seen at dealers.
Work on the assumption that all Mk2s are rotting from the inside, either the sills, arches or chassis rails. Make sure you only pay buttons for one. Book price is well off on most I've seen at dealers.
I have looked at quite a few since the local MoT guy pointed it out to me just how many he is failing... Every one I have seen now has shown signs of corrosion.
The thing for me with this type of rot is you cant prevent it... it will happen eventually as it starts between the two skins of the chassis legs so you can get any rust protection in there.
I looked at an immaculate MK2 recently, and even though there was no evidence of even surface rot, you could see from the slightly misshapen sides of the chassis leg that there was corrosion in the gap causing it to swell and bulge slightly. It will burst through eventually...
I don't care how well you look after a car, you cant stop the corrosion in the gap between two panels unless you NEVER get it wet.
I don't think this looks good for MK2 and 2.5 cars, and some of the underside of MK3's I have seen don't fill me with confidence.
I think Mazda have a real corrosion issue like Mercedes had in the early 2000's. Just Google "mazda 6 corrosion problems"
The thing for me with this type of rot is you cant prevent it... it will happen eventually as it starts between the two skins of the chassis legs so you can get any rust protection in there.
I looked at an immaculate MK2 recently, and even though there was no evidence of even surface rot, you could see from the slightly misshapen sides of the chassis leg that there was corrosion in the gap causing it to swell and bulge slightly. It will burst through eventually...
I don't care how well you look after a car, you cant stop the corrosion in the gap between two panels unless you NEVER get it wet.
I don't think this looks good for MK2 and 2.5 cars, and some of the underside of MK3's I have seen don't fill me with confidence.
I think Mazda have a real corrosion issue like Mercedes had in the early 2000's. Just Google "mazda 6 corrosion problems"
If you get a good one, or repair it to a decent standard (as I just have with my new shell) then you can do an awful lot to reduce the problem although until the legs are replaced with the new single skin replacements available from Mazda the problem will never go away.
Blathering the outside with a good wax making sure the paint underneath is unbroken then getting inside the leg by removing front bumper, crash bar and ears from the front of the legs opens up the leg, I've stone chipped and waxed the inside of mine which are now bone dry.
Blathering the outside with a good wax making sure the paint underneath is unbroken then getting inside the leg by removing front bumper, crash bar and ears from the front of the legs opens up the leg, I've stone chipped and waxed the inside of mine which are now bone dry.
Hoonabator said:
Cheers guys.
So is there anyone with a Mk2 that is fine and doesn't look like there going to be a problem?
My car seems to be ok. I've poked at it, and when getting the engine change they remarked about how good a condition the car was in compared to many others they had seen. However it looks like it will be a issue that writes off a lot of the cars. Probably the only way to decrease the risk is trying to check them, or get an import from somewhere like California where they wouldn't have as much rain.So is there anyone with a Mk2 that is fine and doesn't look like there going to be a problem?
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