Rust Repairs & Chassis Work

We get many vehicles coming in to us that need repairs to the body and chassis due to rust. It can sometimes be very difficult to work out what is the best way to carry out the repair. Once rust has got into the body or chassis just patching over it is only a short term answer but for some customers, that is all they want. If a long term answer is wanted it is best to remove the whole rusted section and replace it with new. This will cost far more but is a much better and stronger repair.

If a chassis has become very badly rusted it is often best to replace it. The cost of this can be more than the car is worth but with Series, Defenders and Discovery 2’s it may be a better answer than trying to find a replacement vehicle as you will end up with a car that will last a good while. We also get vehicles that have been in the family since new, were owned by a loved family member or have an interesting history. Cost of repair in these circumstances is often not compared to vehicle value so much.  

There are some important things to consider when opting for a chassis change. As the vehicle is going to be stripped down and the engine and gearbox removed, it may be worth replacing some components at the same time because the cost for these jobs will be reduced as the removal and refit cost will be part of the chassis change. The most common parts to include in a chassis change are the clutch, brake pipes and to fix any engine or gearbox oil leaks.

We keep hundreds of chassis and body repair parts in stock. These are manly for the Series Land Rovers, Defenders, Discovery 1 & 2 and Classic Range Rover but we do also find rust in some of the later models. All the parts we keep are made to a very high standard and made from high quality materials so the structure and strength of the vehicle is maintained. With some chassis parts we can offer heavy duty versions made from heaver gauge material.  

Road salt is the most common cause of rust corrosion on cars. It is always best to give your car a good wash after the winter to remove as much salt as possible and using a powerful jet wash is best. Rust treatments are also available but these can only be used to protect good surfaces, they will not repair rusted panels and can trap rust and water making things worse.