QP/GT front subframes - the truth

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
i personally wouldn't buy a QP unless the subframe/s had been fully inspected or previously corrosion treated.
Applies to GT too as it’s the same chassis and subframe.

This is what we are seeing, and it’s pretty consistent on GT and QP:

2010-2014 cars:
Light surface rust and powder coating starting to lift

2007-2010 cars:
Total lifting of powder coating in upper wishbone mount area triangular box section holed.

<2007 cars:
Crumbled upper wishbone mount area plus powder coat lifting in fore vertical areas and holed.
 

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,515
Applies to GT too as it’s the same chassis and subframe.

This is what we are seeing, and it’s pretty consistent on GT and QP:

2010-2014 cars:
Light surface rust and powder coating starting to lift

2007-2010 cars:
Total lifting of powder coating in upper wishbone mount area triangular box section holed.

<2007 cars:
Crumbled upper wishbone mount area plus powder coat lifting in fore vertical areas and holed.

Are the later cars better built or just not deteriorated as badly yet?
 

Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
Try Barr Tech in Cambridge or Rustbusters in Spalding, Lincs
Personal experience of Rustbusters used on my Grancab last year plus an Alfa Spider and Bentley Arnage previously. Fantastic and thorough rust conversion and wax protection service for about £600 per car.
 

stevepen

Member
Messages
139
I’ve been looking for a QP. Is there a particular area to look at? Thinking from first look at a dealers before going to the expense of a pre purchase inspection. What is the cost of replacing the subframes?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

steve3200

Junior Member
Messages
87
a new front subframe is around £2,000 and a good used one about £1,000, whilst underneath it's sensible to do the rest of the underside with corrosion treatment/protection, fitting and treatment/protection takes about 40 hours labour, then afterwards all four wheels re-aligned with shims etc by a specialist
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,113
The one I changed last year was so bad with siezed bolts in the wishbones that I had to cut and then remove all the bushes which were shot.
Labour intensive for sure but was lucky to get a good used one from David Askew.
 

Lavazza

Member
Messages
1,060
So a properly treated car with inspection and top up should have a long life ahead, but cars that are not treated may be in the territory of uneconomic repairs and a premature end?
I guess the whole subframe situation will start to reduce numbers of QP and GT on the road within the next 5-10 years...I can imagine the cars with proper treatment are in the minority?
 

steve3200

Junior Member
Messages
87
So a properly treated car with inspection and top up should have a long life ahead, but cars that are not treated may be in the territory of uneconomic repairs and a premature end?
I guess the whole subframe situation will start to reduce numbers of QP and GT on the road within the next 5-10 years...I can imagine the cars with proper treatment are in the minority?
yes i absolutely agree with you
 

ChrisQP09

Member
Messages
2,994
Had a brief look at what I think was a portion of my front sub frame and it looks fine so far!

Cant tell how good it is above the upper wishbone though. However not pictured here but the very thin non-structural chassis plates are not in good shape.
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philw696

Member
Messages
25,113
Hate to say it but it needs cleaning up and protecting with the nuts and bolts very rusty now.
Doesn't take long to get from there to the point of no return.
 

ChrisQP09

Member
Messages
2,994
Hate to say it but it needs cleaning up and protecting with the nuts and bolts very rusty now.
Doesn't take long to get from there to the point of no return.

I agree. Can the bolts be easily replaced or just need surface rust off and treated?

My issue is I dread living it with someone who only treats defenders etc. Heard horror stories of badly treated examples which actually promoted corrosion.

So in meantime, im looking at storing in dry then wire brushing everything and using something like hammerite but not exactly as its not good for flex etc?
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,113
I agree. Can the bolts be easily replaced or just need surface rust off and treated?

My issue is I dread living it with someone who only treats defenders etc. Heard horror stories of badly treated examples which actually promoted corrosion.

So in meantime, im looking at storing in dry then wire brushing everything and using something like hammerite but not exactly as its not good for flex etc?
If you can get the bolts out as they sieze in the wishbone bushes so unless they need doing leave alone.
I would go with forum recommendation and take the car to someone who knows the problem well like Matt's workshop or AV Engineering.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Chris, that looks ok and it’s obviously had some sort of treatment at some point, if only painted.

In your third picture, poke the plate that faces down between the upper wishbone with a screw driver to confirm and the top side of that triangular box section if you can get to it.

Subframes are indeed, £2k new and £1k used and refurbished but the factory only have a few left.

Labour we just charged was 22-25hrs and the wishbone bolts do seize and lower camber bolts are £95 each and there are 4 in total. Upper 4 bolts are more like £10 each.

Also on a QP there is an early 2003-05 Subframe that is complete different as are the wishbones so if considering used make sure you get the right one. The inboard wishbone knuckles are very different widths.