Shock Towers rusted-out!!!!!

[jsinton]

Hmm... It's all very interesting.

Did anyone find out where to get the strut tower kits? I figured it wouldn't be too hard to replace them, but I couldn't find a place to get the kits.

[dougpeng]

You can get the strut tower kits right from your Chrysler dealership. My local Chrysler dealer said they typically stock a dozen or so kits as its a fast mover! There are three parts to the kit. The two symmetrical flange plates (one for each strut), a set of screws to bolt it on that probably cost no more than $3 at Home Depot if you know which ones, and also a special glue. My earlier e-mail describes this kit better. Instead of bolting it on, my local mechanic weld it on which is structurally better. Good luck!

[crash2482006]

Originally Posted by Soccer dad

When I bought my 96 about five years ago I took it to the dealer in town to have it certified and they fixed the rusty towers for free something about a recall or service bulletin was the reason? You may want to look into it?

where you from. im in michigan an would like to get mine done soon

[crash2482006]

does this mean that dealer will fix towers

[holy_schnike]

The National Highway and Transportation Safety Agency has an online system for filining complaints website below:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

Posting complaints on their website increases visibility of the problem to the agency, this agency dictates what manufcacturers have to recall. I have filed one for my '98 Grand Caravan, I'd suggest everyone who has posted here do the same. It is inportant to link the issue to a SAFETY problem (ex. failed safety inspection, failure could lead to loss of control, and passenger injury). Review existing complaints to help you word yours.

[dougpeng]

Many readers in the Toronto area has asked me where to get these shock towers capped for a good price. The place to go is First Class Autobody and Collision located in Concord, ON (Hwy 7 and Jane area). The owner Clement will cap both of them for about $500 by welding the caps on rather than bolting them on which is a much stronger solution. You have to buy your own caps from Chrysler and bring them to Clement, but the parts are very cheap. His telephone number is 905-738-0143 and address is 101 Freshway Drive, Unit 28 in Building B. It's an industrial strip plaza where he usually services wholesale insurance claims and not retail, which is why his prices are so good.

[skyhopper]

Why Does Chrysler Not Admitt Fault In This Area And Repair It For The Customer Or Atleast Help In The Repair Costs

[AV_INPUT]

I've got a 99 Caravan I recently purchased and it has significant but not severe (structural) rust on the driver's side strut tower. I've poured some oil and sprayed some WD-40 on / in there to hopefully displace the moisture and reduce the speed of the rust. It's a cheap "fix" (repair delay) at this point and it may be worth a try if your problem is just starting. I'll let you know how it has worked out in 3 years....

[dieter]

Shock Tower repair plates can be purchased through Amazon. Really! And they are only $16.

There are other suppliers; just google shock tower rust kits Chrysler mini van.

This is free information but to return the favor complain to the NHTA; the link is above.

Chrysler should have to pay. First their shock towers then there transmissions. I wish they would sell to the Japs.

[camerabugs]

I think Chrysler should be sued into the Stone Age for this. I just found out my strut tower is too rusted out to be fixed. They obviously knew there was a problem with a lot of vehicles or they would not have put out the repair kit. Now I have a van that will just have to be junked. Thanks too to the guy who sold it to me 4 years ago. I would bet he knew there was a problem.

[steph48209]

i took my dodge 99 caravan in to the shop yesterday to have new struts and all put on the mechanic called me back and said he couldnt do them that the top of my strut tower was rusted out 2 bad and i would have 2 take it 2 a collision or welder 2 have it fixed now upon talking to a collision shop the owner informed me 2 junk my van there is no fix 4 this problem so what did i do i came home and googled lol and i found the strut tower repair kit and it cost 46 dollars with shipping for all parts including both side caps bolts and all..... they will be here in 1-3 days and from there i will take it 2 the mechanic and he will put them on for 120 and then it will be 120 for the shocks to be put on here is a link to the site i purchused from and it even allows you to see the picture to make sure it will fix your problem Net Auto Parts sorry cant find the full link just google them and they will come up

[peterjon1]

How about instead of "too rusty to be fixed," you write "too rusty to be fixed for the amount I want to pay." A competent welding shop can fix you up, but not for free.
I had mine done, without any issues.

[rpdemink]

If you want to do it yourself go to allpar and search strut tower rust, there is a step by step photo gallery showing the repair. I did it myself and it takes about 2 days, cause adhesive needs to set up...by the way the adhesive is WAY STRONGER than any welds, AND wont make a place for rust to start like a weld.

[rmkisting]

This is the best advice that I have received yet. My recently aquired used 1997 Dodge Caravan has this problem, but it was let go so long, that the "Caps" won't even touch the damage. I will really check into the weld issues. I really think with over 600 people liking your site on facebook, that Dodge should correct this well known problem. The CAPS are only good, if you are catching the rust problem early on, after that it becomes a hell of an expense and an autobody shop has to do it. What Consumer Protection? rmkisting - WI

[b1lk1]

While I understand people's concerns, the fact that there are tens of millions of these there are bound to be problems that are unusual. The upper strut towers are more for the location of the strut and a base for the strut spring to push. They are nowhere near as important as the control arms and subframe that ARE structural. Dodge will not pay to fix these considering part of the problem is places like Ontario which like to plow the roads with thousands of tons of salt which in my book puts them far more to blame. I guarantee that if you look at the statistics that 90%+ of this problem only occur in the salt belt.

Get the repair kit and get it welded. Any competent welder with a little MIG welder can easily repair this. Hell, I cannot see that it would be difficult to make up some repair plates from some decent steel.

Now the transmission issues are another story that SHOULD be addressed by Dodge since they have never been able to build a properly functioning transmission.....