Hello everybody. I have a 1999. I bought it for $800 with 78.000 miles. From Chicago. Very rusty. Engine purrs like a kitten. I never push it. The guy from Chicago never performed suspension or brake work as required as the original owner. The rear calipers are frozen and the rotors are nothing but a rotted mess. My front suspension and brakes are just as screwed up. when I use the brakes, there is a pronounced pulsation and partial grinding. When I accelerate, the steering wheel pulls hard left and when I decelerate it pulls hard right. If I am stopped and slam on the brakes, there is a loud clunk. Also when I accelerate, especially from a stop, I always hear a faint squeal on the passenger front. I know I need a complete brake job and struts. What else, based upon symptoms, would I need in the front? I am saving up until spring when the weather is more cooperative in Detroit. I would like to do everything at the same time. Would kindly appreciate any assistance.

 

You own a low mileage parts car.

Please look at Craigslist ads in Southern or Western states.

Cars from there are relatively rust free.

They will not have rust issues of mechanical rust related issues.

Buy one of those. High mileage is not an issue. That's what your parts car is good for.

 

Unfortunately, there is no straight forward answer.

Chicago is hard on cars between cold, snow and SALT on the roads.

And despite the HEART being strong, the rest might be riddled with cancer (Rust)

Maybe just bring it somewhere to get the oil changed and ask if you can take a look at the underneath while it's up on the lift. Then.... Take a bunch of pictures of the entire bottom. Then post them here.

This way any advice we give will come from a place of experience based on real observations as opposed to guessing worst case scenarios! What JvG said above might be the hard truth.

And most important of all, whether what you have to work with will be worth it, or a complete waste of time, effort and money. Despite the strong heart.

Research: Lower Radiator Support because that's going to be a fork in the road if it has rusted beyond where it is welded to the unibody.

Hope this helps and I hope you have a friend with a garage to work in, if you need to do things NOW! That is of course, if you have a solid platform worthy of what you need to invest.

Best of luck!

 

KP described the situation very well.

It comes down to ....... Is it worth all the effort.

​​​​​​The steel brake lines might be nearly rusted through as well. Replacing those will not be easy.

A bit about my self. I used to live in Salt Lake City.
It has lots of snow. Also an unlimited supply of road salt.
Which they use a lot. Cars are as rusty there as where you live.
I had a car there from Cleveland, Ohio. It was six years old. Only 30,000 miles on it.
I had body work done, and had it painted. I watched it crumble away.

I moved to Portland Oregon. No road salt is used. It rains a lot here.
I park my 1996 Maxima on the driveway. I've owned it for 16 years.
The car is rust free. All the bolts still turn. I raise my car with a floor jack.
I place it under the radiator support KP mentioned.

Cars from Southern states should be as solid as mine. Your car is an excellent parts source.

 

Start with new brake pads and rotors all around. Rotors are pretty cheap on this car, I would not try to have them turned based on your description.
Be sure the lube all the pins in the calipers as you rebuild the brakes. You may need one or more new calipers based on your description.
Flush brake fluid and install new fluid. Inspect all brake lines.
Check your motor mounts, probably the source of the loud clunk.
Then tackle the suspension. New shocks/struts