04 Rear Subframe Shot

[transplantyooper]

The rear subframe on our 04 is shot, and the driver's rear wheel is canted in as the top control arm has nothing to attach to. I have checked and called dozens of online sites, and nobody has the GM version of the part in stock, and it's no longer available. The Matrix version, however, can still be found at Toyota parts sites. There aren't many of them, but I found a few.

The question I have is before I spend ~$900 on a non-refundable part, will it fit? The part number is 51206-12091.

Thanks.

[andrewclaus]

Sorry I don't have a direct answer, since I have no experience (yet) with Matrix and Vibe body parts. But from what I've seen with drivetrain and brake parts, I would trust that it would fit. In my limited knowledge, the cars were made at a joint-venture factory.

But I sure would try to avoid spending $900 on it. I bet you've checked salvage yards? Anyone parting one out nearby on CL?

And I'm curious. Is this a corrosion problem, or collision? Could nearby members (of the car frame, not this forum) also be affected?

[transplantyooper]

Sorry I don't have a direct answer, since I have no experience (yet) with Matrix and Vibe body parts. But from what I've seen with drivetrain and brake parts, I would trust that it would fit. In my limited knowledge, the cars were made at a joint-venture factory.

But I sure would try to avoid spending $900 on it. I bet you've checked salvage yards? Anyone parting one out nearby on CL?

And I'm curious. Is this a corrosion problem, or collision? Could nearby members (of the car frame, not this forum) also be affected?

This is a corrosion issue. I live in BFE, and the local salvage yard only has one Vibe with the subframe and that one has the same problem. He has an 06 that is clean but the subframe was taken from that one already.

Based on the Internets, this is a very common issue with those of us that live where they use salt on the roads.

I'm starting to be more concerned about spending $900 only to find out I need to spend another $900 once I start tearing into it and finding a ton of other stuff I need to replace.

[zbyers]

Any 03-06 AWD Vibe/Matrix rear subframe will work just fine.

An early 2009 AWD/GT/XRS rear subframe will also work. I cannot verify if the 2010+ subframe works.

In our 03 AWD, we installed an 09 AWD rear subframe just fine. Another member installed an 03 AWD subframe into is 2009 GT. We found it in a junkyard for $100. His, I think he also found it in a yard for a few hundred bucks.

Use http://www.car-part.com to search yards around you. I'd hate to see you drop $900 on a rear subframe on a car that is 15 years old with probably lots of other rusty parts.

[MichaelJT]

What was the outcome of this? Did the repair happen? I am in the same predicament. Massive negative camber on the driver side with the upper control arm no place to hook to anymore. Subframe in that area just rusted away. I am interested in the process if anyone has a picture thread.

I Bought this 2005 Vibe AWD new and can't let it die this way.

MichaelJT

[tpollauf]

Pictures would be very helpful showing this cancer. It seems like corrosion has not been as big of a problem on these cars compared to other cars out there so I'm curious as to the areas that get affected so that I can protect them on my vibes!

[MichaelJT]

The inner mount for the upper control arm is rusted and disintegrating. The subframe in that area is rusted so badly that I poked a hole through it with a screw driver. Difficult to see and get a camera in there. I will attempt to get some clear pictures. If I do find a good subframe to replace it with I will start a thread covering the repair. I live in Northeast Pennsylvania and on a dirt road as well which is 10x worse than just salt alone. The last few years have taken their toll.

MichaelJT

[MichaelJT]

I thought I would put a final post on the rusted rear subframe issue that I posted in November. I did search for a replacement but none were to be found locally. Same rust issue. Indeed most yards didn't even seem to know there was a removable subframe back there at all. made it hard and time consuming to search. I looked in the southern and western states too but got no response back. Or crazy high prices for something that I wasn't even sure was the part that I needed. The Vibe needed some other repairs anyway besides the rust issue. Tires, rear struts, a CV axle boot was ripped, etc. Couple thousand bucks. I was willing to spend the money to fix this car as I believed it had some reliable life left. However time and weather did not cooperate. Snow and cold weather hit the Northeast. I figured that I would have to replace this car in another year or two so I went looking for a replacement.

I ended up buying a new AWD Compact SUV and trading the Vibe. So the Vibe is gone. I wish I could have fixed it and drove it for a few more years but I believe this was the best solution for me and my wife.

Thank you all.

MichaelJT