Rusted and cracked b pillar.

[131DHOC]

Hello everybody, I'm facing a problem with a rusted MkIII supermirafiori, the central pillar is totally gone, the low end part is badly rusted and cracked, so when I drive it, it sounds like there is no more link between chassis and roof on this side. Door clings and cracks, lots of noise from there. Do you know if I can just change the lower part of the pillar or need the under door panel too? This is a picture of the situation, there is a lot of concrete covering the totally rusted pillar. I think it should be welded to the reinforcement going from side to side, isn't it?

[mirafioriman]

I would start by cleaning all the paint off the area to see exactly what is what.

[131DHOC]

hello, there has been rust from 15 years or so there, but the sill seems to be good, just the b pillar showing rust. You can put a screwdriver in, so the part is totally gone. Can I just buy the pillar and cut the lower part and weld as it is or will need some reinforcement welding before?

[mirafioriman]

You should be able to weld in a repair section. I would tack it in place and check the door allignment carefully before seam welding in place.

[131DHOC]

anyway rear door will need to be removed before, and inner plastic parts and bits too. But, how much important is the pillar basis structuraly? Could noise come from inner steel parts failure?

[mirafioriman]

It's hard to say but if you remove the damaged area you should be able to see the inner structure and inspect it.

[131DHOC]

Hello, I have inspected the rear side of this part and discoverede that it's all perfect except for the part I have marked in blue:





Do you think is possible to ask the man that will repair it to put a steel patch and weld with no need of original parts? The new pillar would remain allmost unsused except for this tiny part, so I would not buy all this not necessary stuff......

[mirafiori76]

Don't you think yourself it's easier and cheaper to just weld in a small piece of metal? Therefor you don't have need of the whole pillar.

[131DHOC]

Don't you think yourself it's easier and cheaper to just weld in a small piece of metal? Therefor you don't have need of the whole pillar.

Yes but the problem is that this is a structural part and I need strenght to achieve reliability.....

[mirafiori76]

Take a piece of 4 mm or 5 mm sheet metal and bend it in the right form. Cut away the rusted part en weld in the new one. It should be strong enough.

[mirafioriman]

Have you tried bending 4 or 5mm sheet?

I cant remember off hand but I would guess this part originally was probably 1.2mm outer skin with a 2mm reinforcement inside.

[131DHOC]

Do you know if it's possible for a garage to remake the lower end of this part without need of original parts?

[mirafioriman]

Somebody experienced in body repairs should be able to make thic piece yes. Alternatively if you can find a scrap 131 where this piece is solid you could cut it out and use it to repair yours. This is why I usually chop up my scrap shells and keep any non rusty bits for re-use

[curt]

Personally - I would remove all the ancillary trim and take a grinder to it - I think that you will find a lot more damage than you think.
For a 'filler' repair in that area usually means there are a lot more problems !!
Sorry !! Just my opinion - strip it right back and take another photo !!

[131 Lover]

I agree with Curt, its always more than double amount of rust than you can see in these parts of the car from experience!

You start cut in the rusted area and then put the weld to it and just blubbers,then you have to cut out more, when you are finisched you replaced the hole part anyway, with a lot more work and looking worse..

Just my opinion!
Regards Alf