Corroded Rear Sub-frame - Repair or Scrap

Catamount

Catamount

Well-known user
Jan 12, 2015
364
194
Shipston-on-Stour
Hello, this is my first post but I have owned my precious Cougar since 2007.

I was hoping for some advice from other Cougar members as I am not very knowledgeable about car repairs. At my last MOT I was told that due to the rear sub-frame being corroded and listed as an advisory, I was likely to incure siginificant costs at my next MOT which is due on 6th March 2015.

Has anyone else had repair work undertaken to the rear sub-frame and was it expensive? My Cougar runs very well, but it's hard to justify spending upwards of £1,000 on a single repair at its age and milage.

Any helps and suggestions would be great. I have attached my last MOT certificate which has more details.

Many thanks,
Samuel

SMOT2014-02-26-Pass.jpg
 
Hello Samuel and welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately rear sub-frame corrosion is becoming quite a common problem.
If you can't source a decent second-hand one from either a Cougar or a MK2 Mondeo(subbys are almost identical) brand new ones are available from the States and at least half a dozen members have bought them and had them delivered successfully from here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321512681...l?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=321512681307&_rdc=1

I see the advisory says 'corroded but not seriously weakened' so a good wire brushing and some coats of cure-rust and paint might be enough to save it.
 
My Cougar has also caused the MOT man to comment that the rear sub-frame is corroded but not seriously weakened, I suppose when a hole actually appears it will be the cause for failure. Given that the Mondeo series II subframe is effectively the same why do they not seem to corrode as badly. Is this lack of rust proofing applied in the States vs Mondeos built in Germany?
 
I wasn't aware of the Mondeo subframes being hardier than those on Cougars, it's an interesting observation and something it'd be worth us monitoring.

As you say though, the two items are virtually identical and wholly interchangeable; I have a refurbished and galvanised Mondeo subframe on my car.
 
Thanks for all the helpful replies. It definately looks like I have some options (y).

@backseateducation, I'm in Shipston-on-Stour. When are you planning to do your rustproofing?
 
shbrooks said:
Thanks for all the helpful replies. It definately looks like I have some options (y).

@backseateducation, I'm in Shipston-on-Stour. When are you planning to do your rustproofing?
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I have nothing definite planned mate, I know its a horrible mucky job that needs a bit of organising. I guess if you need the car back on the road asap I should get my arse in gear! However in the meantime you could just wire brush and paint the subframe for now as others have said.
Nice part of the world up there, (we got marred in Moreton in Marsh) and only up the road from me, I'm always happy to get together and talk shop.
 
Roger Galvin said:
My Cougar has also caused the MOT man to comment that the rear sub-frame is corroded but not seriously weakened, I suppose when a hole actually appears it will be the cause for failure. Given that the Mondeo series II subframe is effectively the same why do they not seem to corrode as badly. Is this lack of rust proofing applied in the States vs Mondeos built in Germany?
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure our Cougars were all assembled at tbe Ford plant in Köln - my two certainly were... But you may be right about poor rustproofing on parts from the USA.
 
Arkady001 said:
I'm pretty sure our Cougars were all assembled at tbe Ford plant in Köln - my two certainly were... But you may be right about poor rustproofing on parts from the USA.
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They were all assembled in Flat Rock, Michigan but imported via Germany and redistributed from there around Europe. I doubt any major work would have been done to them in Germany. They would have been pretty much complete before they left the USA.
 
Arkady001 said:
I'm pretty sure our Cougars were all assembled at tbe Ford plant in Köln - my two certainly were..
Click to expand...


You can check this via your VIN No.:

The first three digits are probably WF0 denoting the vehicle was 'booked to' Ford of Europe(Germany).

If the 11th digit is a '5' the vehicle was manufactured at the AAI Assembly plant in Flat Rock, Michigan as Manos states above.

If the last six figures are less than 600,000 it is a 'Ford'; if 600,001 or above it is a 'Mercury'.

VIN nos. for Ford vehicles manufactured in Europe have a different layout for what the individual figures represent than those manufactured in the States.

(Information taken from TIS.)
 
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