artdavidson

1998 Jeep Cherokee

I'm preparing to travel cross-country from VA to CA in June. (I have finished my 6-year term in the military!)

Now, I was rear-ended which bent both rear rails of my Jeep causing it to be quoted as totaled. I now have a salvage title. I would love a new Jeep, but I need savings for the civilian life. I have decided to upgrade my current Jeep with anything that I can transfer over to another when the time comes.

I have attached photos of the damaged rear rails (one of them), damaged front and rear bumpers.

I need help in whether I can buy shocks, struts, tie-ins, etc to help with the rear rails and the lack of smooth driving (the Jeep sometimes squeaks loudly when I go over bumps). Below is the list currently of parts I aim to purchase to help cosmetically with damage.

-front bumper
-rear bumper
-fender flares

Please. I need your help and knowledge. I would love to keep this Jeep as long as possible!

Thanks all.

dnuccio

the uniframe is bent. not worth fixing IMHO. id part it out and buy another one.

kbphillips03

I would say it would be way to much hassle to fix it, unless you have some real good fab skills...then just make a truggy!?

2KXJJEEP

can u post a side pic bc IMO its fine...as long as the damage is behind the rear axle it should be good

artdavidson

I will get the photo to you in an hour. Thanks all for the insight thus far.

Bustedback

Jeeps are not investments. Great vehicles, but not investments.

Bossokee

Looks fine to me haha but I cant see everything. From your pics its okay, that's only cosmetic stuff anyway
*actually thats the frame rail im looking at not the fender... hmm idk, do you have a welder and some fab skills?

93XJLI

lol yea ok.

that thing is toast. toss it, get another.

artdavidson

Yeah, my dad is a master mechanic and asked if I wanted to keep it, he could torch the bad bends in both rear rails and replace it with metal plates.

Has anyone heard of this being done? I'm sure he knows what he's doing.

I have decided to keep the Jeep until I can get the money for a new one.

BimmerJeeper

The biggest problem is that is squeaks? Who cares.
Drive it into the ground and save your money for your new life.

artdavidson

**** yes. Thanks for that.

93XJLI

Unless its plated correctly the new metal will just rip off. Even so, that's a BAD hit and the rail is beyond just tweaked. I wouldn't drive it or even attempt to repair it for road use.

andrewmp6

The right way to fix it takes a frame puller to get it all back straight.What your dad is talking about is like putting a bandaid over a cut that needs stitches.