Frame rail rust - is this fixable?
CF Veteran

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 12
From: Ontario, Canada
Year: 1989 Laredo
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L 6 Renix
If you have too many projects now, don't buy the welder. You'll have to sell the XJ to the next jeep nut.
If your rig is running well, then consider a restoration.
However if you have some time, the welder will be yours for a life time.
The frame is always repairable, just have to cut your way in and weld your way out.
This won't be a week end job unless you can spend all week end on it.
Get prepared first, have all your patch materials and tools ready.
You'll have to remove the gas tank for proper access.
I use cutting discs on a 4" grinder for junk metal removal. Then a snag grinding disc to clean up surfaces prior to weld.
For myself I layer 16 ga steel (1/16 thick), some like to go thicker but multiple layers and all seams welded works for me. I prebent some 90 deg sections and them boxed the original rails in.
Caged and I would disagree on the top finish. I like to go rust paint when done vs the undercoating. I can weld thru the paint in future projects easier than an undercoating, my 2 cents.
Another 300K km on my Peep since the minor floor and frame project.
So if you have the time and sufficient funds, go for it.
Hope the pics attach properly (f'n wallymart pop up add kept interupting the pics post) If not the project is in my albums. Best of luck with your XJ. From your pics, it's a very doable project!


If your rig is running well, then consider a restoration.
However if you have some time, the welder will be yours for a life time.
The frame is always repairable, just have to cut your way in and weld your way out.
This won't be a week end job unless you can spend all week end on it.
Get prepared first, have all your patch materials and tools ready.
You'll have to remove the gas tank for proper access.
I use cutting discs on a 4" grinder for junk metal removal. Then a snag grinding disc to clean up surfaces prior to weld.
For myself I layer 16 ga steel (1/16 thick), some like to go thicker but multiple layers and all seams welded works for me. I prebent some 90 deg sections and them boxed the original rails in.
Caged and I would disagree on the top finish. I like to go rust paint when done vs the undercoating. I can weld thru the paint in future projects easier than an undercoating, my 2 cents.
Another 300K km on my Peep since the minor floor and frame project.
So if you have the time and sufficient funds, go for it.

Hope the pics attach properly (f'n wallymart pop up add kept interupting the pics post) If not the project is in my albums. Best of luck with your XJ. From your pics, it's a very doable project!


Thread Starter
CF Veteran




Joined: May 2012
Posts: 7,965
Likes: 964
From: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Great input, folks. Thanks very much.
Tuesday morning I plan to have it in for inspection, so should be interesting. Virginia isn't nearly as tight as Maryland, so I have hopes of passing.
Today I'll finish the rear shocks, replace and adjust the rear brakes (shoes only - did the drums last year), and then start on new front brakes (rotors and pads), and shocks.
Maybe I'll use my '94 as a donor. It hasn't run in two years (intractable computer problem), and I've been considering just parting it out anyway....
Tuesday morning I plan to have it in for inspection, so should be interesting. Virginia isn't nearly as tight as Maryland, so I have hopes of passing.
Today I'll finish the rear shocks, replace and adjust the rear brakes (shoes only - did the drums last year), and then start on new front brakes (rotors and pads), and shocks.
Maybe I'll use my '94 as a donor. It hasn't run in two years (intractable computer problem), and I've been considering just parting it out anyway....
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 734
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Great input, folks. Thanks very much.
Tuesday morning I plan to have it in for inspection, so should be interesting. Virginia isn't nearly as tight as Maryland, so I have hopes of passing.
Today I'll finish the rear shocks, replace and adjust the rear brakes (shoes only - did the drums last year), and then start on new front brakes (rotors and pads), and shocks.
Maybe I'll use my '94 as a donor. It hasn't run in two years (intractable computer problem), and I've been considering just parting it out anyway....
Tuesday morning I plan to have it in for inspection, so should be interesting. Virginia isn't nearly as tight as Maryland, so I have hopes of passing.
Today I'll finish the rear shocks, replace and adjust the rear brakes (shoes only - did the drums last year), and then start on new front brakes (rotors and pads), and shocks.
Maybe I'll use my '94 as a donor. It hasn't run in two years (intractable computer problem), and I've been considering just parting it out anyway....
Thread Starter
CF Veteran




Joined: May 2012
Posts: 7,965
Likes: 964
From: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Keeps dying. Definitely made worse by heat, but doesn't have to be hot for it to happen. New computer won't make it run. Will start, then die right away. Two different new computers do the same thing. Start, then die.
Also the front door hinges are tearing away from the door pillars. I think the PO did some joyriding with the doors open. That would be hard to fix correctly. Door alignment will be very hard to get right.
It's also got some other miscellaneous electrical problems. IOD fuse keeps blowing, window switches are shot. And it's got a major leak around the windshield. Not huge problems, but added to all the rest makes it probably not worth my time to fix it.
If I make it a donor for the 97, I've got all I need there, including a fairly new trailer hitch, an engine and trans that can be rebuilt and swapped into the 97 down the road, and a bunch of miscellaneous parts to sell.
This traction control arm to the rear end.
CF Veteran


Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,515
Likes: 411
From: San Mateo, CA
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 Renix, stock.
That is bad, if that is the Only rust spot, yeah it might be worth fixing, but chances are a lot more is rusty, and once repaired you will find you need to repair another section, soon you got more in repairs than it is worth.
Next step is to assess the entire frame to see the full extent of the needed repairs. My hunch is this is a parts jeep, not worth repair, but I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Is this a salt belt jeep? ocean side or winter road salt area?
Next step is to assess the entire frame to see the full extent of the needed repairs. My hunch is this is a parts jeep, not worth repair, but I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Is this a salt belt jeep? ocean side or winter road salt area?
CF Veteran


Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,478
Likes: 275
From: Southern Texas (former AZ & Aus)
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: I6 4.0L
I know this was an old thread...but that was a relevant post to knock the dust off of it....
Seeing things like this is when I really wish that our XJ's were not the hybrid unibody construction that they are. At least even though I've seen a lot of really bad frames on Wranglers... if the body is okay... then it's a doable task to replace it.
Seeing things like this is when I really wish that our XJ's were not the hybrid unibody construction that they are. At least even though I've seen a lot of really bad frames on Wranglers... if the body is okay... then it's a doable task to replace it.
That is bad, if that is the Only rust spot, yeah it might be worth fixing, but chances are a lot more is rusty, and once repaired you will find you need to repair another section, soon you got more in repairs than it is worth.
Next step is to assess the entire frame to see the full extent of the needed repairs. My hunch is this is a parts jeep, not worth repair, but I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Is this a salt belt jeep? ocean side or winter road salt area?
Next step is to assess the entire frame to see the full extent of the needed repairs. My hunch is this is a parts jeep, not worth repair, but I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Is this a salt belt jeep? ocean side or winter road salt area?
That is bad, if that is the Only rust spot, yeah it might be worth fixing, but chances are a lot more is rusty, and once repaired you will find you need to repair another section, soon you got more in repairs than it is worth.
Next step is to assess the entire frame to see the full extent of the needed repairs. My hunch is this is a parts jeep, not worth repair, but I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Is this a salt belt jeep? ocean side or winter road salt area?
Next step is to assess the entire frame to see the full extent of the needed repairs. My hunch is this is a parts jeep, not worth repair, but I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Is this a salt belt jeep? ocean side or winter road salt area?
The body look good and when I got I look around and it look normal looking rust and I didn't have no holes or nothing just like rusty metal broke were it made at..I running 60 when it happened . I was lucky. Just try see I can less try save it. Just got paid 500 everything work great..motor been replace got 50k on the motor it a bummer just trying think way tube it out kind like four Link but with out the lift put longer arms. I looking for main ride not a toy . I'm just kind laught. But in hurt way My first time every buy jeep at that . Too away been chev men . Suck of them too. But maybe somebody get idea it
CF Veteran




Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 307
From: MO
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Upper new york. Winter are hard here
The body look good and when I got I look around and it look normal looking rust and I didn't have no holes or nothing just like rusty metal broke were it made at..I running 60 when it happened . I was lucky. Just try see I can less try save it. Just got paid 500 everything work great..motor been replace got 50k on the motor it a bummer just trying think way tube it out kind like four Link but with out the lift put longer arms. I looking for main ride not a toy . I'm just kind laught. But in hurt way My first time every buy jeep at that . Too away been chev men . Suck of them too. But maybe somebody get idea it
The body look good and when I got I look around and it look normal looking rust and I didn't have no holes or nothing just like rusty metal broke were it made at..I running 60 when it happened . I was lucky. Just try see I can less try save it. Just got paid 500 everything work great..motor been replace got 50k on the motor it a bummer just trying think way tube it out kind like four Link but with out the lift put longer arms. I looking for main ride not a toy . I'm just kind laught. But in hurt way My first time every buy jeep at that . Too away been chev men . Suck of them too. But maybe somebody get idea it
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