B-pillar cracks

[R_Lefebvre]

You're right, those door bolts have definitely been turned. Don't know why I missed that as it's one of the first signs I look at normally.

I also noticed that in the 3rd photo of the original post, there's excessive gap between the two thicknesses of metal where they come together. I'm guessing that truck was hit on the side, the B-post was pushed in, the aluminum was yielded by not torn. They merely pulled the post back out, and now the metal is tearing through where it was yielded. You'll have no protection if you get hit on that side again.

 

[g23.40sw]

The door bolts is me checking and snugging them up. As for the carfax it came back clean I'm the third owner and no accidents reported.

 

[traveltoad]

You're right, those door bolts have definitely been turned. Don't know why I missed that as it's one of the first signs I look at normally.

I also noticed that in the 3rd photo of the original post, there's excessive gap between the two thicknesses of metal where they come together. I'm guessing that truck was hit on the side, the B-post was pushed in, the aluminum was yielded by not torn. They merely pulled the post back out, and now the metal is tearing through where it was yielded. You'll have no protection if you get hit on that side again.

I have to agree with Rob... looks like the pillar was pulled back out and repainted.

To weld it you will ruin the paint anyway... so scrape off some paint in teh area and see what it looks like.

 

[g23.40sw]

I was checking things out and comparing to the passenger side. The passenger side is solid as a rock, but the drivers side when you shut the door moves the pillar some not a whole lot but it's noticeable. Again according to the carfax it's clean and I'm the second and third owner. The welds at the top and bottom of the pillar are nice and solid. I have taken it to one body shop and also to the mechanic and both haven't seen anything like this before. That doesn't help or make me feel better as the body shop could weld it up but not guarantee it wouldn't happen again. Is there a support behind the pillar that is no longer supporting it? Is/could an owner that slams the door for 8 years be the cause? I obviously need to get it fixed but not having it happen again is also a point in that is it worth fixing if it could happen again. I will be taking it to the dealer ship to see what there take is and if they have see it before.

 

[traveltoad]

Did you take the interior trim pieces off yet to see what it looks like from the inside?

 

[g23.40sw]

Yep. Had it all apart looking for he source of the noise that was driving me insane. The interior looks straight and clean. I originally thought it was the seam or overlap of the top and bottom pieces on the interior. But after talking with my mechanic he suggested some duck tape to keep any more water or debris from getting to the cracks, and after putting some on it seems to have stopped the noise. Odd as that sounds, but that is all that has been done so far. Again thinking of taking to the dealership and getting there take on a possible cause. If there is a support inside that has broken loose or maybe and spot weld or something to that effect.

 

[proper4wd]

There are no supports inside the pillar- it is a hollow post. All of its structural integrity comes from its external shape (which, in your case, has been compromised). I remain convinced that this vehicle was hit on that side and has had shoddy body work done. This is even further evidenced by the lack of any Carfax report- it was likely repaired outside of insurance at a low-quality shop.

What does the underside of the sill/rocker area look like? Take some photos of the bodyshell structure behind the plastic sill pieces.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yup, a Carfax is no guarantee. It can prove a positive, but cannot prove a negative. And unfortunately the type of shop that would do work with no records would also do work that is substandard.

 

[g23.40sw]

Well I found a body shop to weld it up for me. It isn't pretty but it worked andI can make it pretty. Cracks gone, noise gone. No evidence of an accident, what he also found was the drivers door was hitting the strike really hard and there was a buckle in the interior as well. See the photos, and where the strike is worn away. The passenger side is still almost perfect. Again he had never seen this before.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Inspect your door seals. They should be helping to slow the door so that the striker isn't getting hit like that. The welds may stop the noise but... structurally they don't look very sound to me. Is it steel or aluminum?

 

[JSBriggs]

... next thing you know, there will be a bajillion a$$hats all telling people not to buy DII's because they have a problem with cracking in the B-Pillar. And they know it's true, because they read it on the internet. Grrr! I'm ready for the first one. When I see 'em - I'm crackin' down. :26_7_2:

Just to get you going Isaac, my 87RRC has both B pillars cracked! Although I suspect its due to the rust through in the footwells that have compromised some rigidity.

-Jeff

 

[Root Moose]

Looking at that striker I wonder if there is an alignment issue where the door is pounding the striker into the pillar which in turn caused the crack. Potentially the separated spot weld in photos number three and four may be where things started to go to he!!.

Did they drill a hole at the end of the crack before welding?

 

[g23.40sw]

They suspected the the door misalignment to be the culprit, and also adjusted the door for me. As for drilling the hole first I believe they did as we talked about it when I dropped it off and they were checking it out. After having this done it definitely made the pillar more sturdy and solid. It now resembles the passenger side. Again its not perfect but its functional. Thanks for all the input on this matter.