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stop or inhibit rusting of rear quarter panel


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fat-katie
User

Sep 3, 2022, 12:35 PM

Post #1 of 8 (1424 views)
  post locked   stop or inhibit rusting of rear quarter panel  

2005 Corrola 4dr sedan

The rear quarter panel is rusting. It is rusting in the forward lower area where it joins with the rocker panel. The rust is progressing and moving up the rocker panel.

I want to stop it. Cosmetics are of minimal concern.

I've read posts here that say, short of cutting out the rusted metal, the exercise it futile. What? Won't it even slow it down?

I wanted to get under there a wire brush and remove the bad stuff and the apply either WD40 or a very expensive POR-15.
Please comment. Something has to be done.

thank you


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 3, 2022, 2:00 PM

Post #2 of 8 (1417 views)
  post locked   Re: stop or inhibit rusting of rear quarter panel  

I'll go on that you want a good fake fix that look at least OK and slows this down - you'll never stop it.

The real fix is replace all the metal it's lots worse where you don't see behind it - trust me.

So the hack fix is still OK with me if and you have to check is car is safe.

That notch (almost all unit body cars) in the seam where you jeck it up by at least with the crappy jack cars come with is major important that it's strong at can be. Stop now and have a body shop give it a look and options it's not my specialty nor trained trade could get into welding in pieces or what they say.

WD-40: Know that the name means it goes thru water/moisture "water displacing" is the "WD" - what that means.

It doesn't last for this.

If you can get rid of anything lose and will make a hole or larger than you thought can fake it.

While all weak or lose metal that you can remove is gone can spray old but filtered motor oil or gear oil enough to get to where it should have drained. Makes a real mess - duh.

Now you can get aluminum easier to shape but leave low for filler later. Rivet that in or stick it with the assorted brands of Bondo - some smooth another is called "Tiger Hair" is full of nylon strings bridges some larger gaps.

If good with Bondo (when done with a metal foundation) be ready to be fast it hardens not dry.

If you are careful applying it can get close to OK.

Now a choice so not super ugly.

Tape off fixed mess make a arch of flat black up to rubber/paintable undercoating is pretty handy - looks ok by itself with wrinkles that hide flaws.

1st and last it must be known strong I know right what and where you are dealing with - yesterday no less!

It's oiling or greasing from a spray as possible the back side will slow it down - nothing is lasting forever a new car isn't going to either if exposed to road ROCK SALTS do that more than other reasons.

Good luck. Sorry for the usual long read did up a lot of free cars over just this for sale or keepers no holes in body allowed in MA at inspection time.

Your call on hacking it or better than that. It could be undone at insane costs if this was some classic or special car of interest - it isn't,

Tom



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 3, 2022, 5:02 PM

Post #3 of 8 (1411 views)
  post locked   Re: stop or inhibit rusting of rear quarter panel  

Rust is like cancer. You cannot slow it down, you can only remove it and if you don't remove all of it, then it will be back and by remove I mean cut every bit of it out. There is no treatment that will stop it.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Sep 4, 2022, 6:27 PM

Post #4 of 8 (1390 views)
  post locked   Re: stop or inhibit rusting of rear quarter panel  

Personal reasons please let's not compare this to a human disease yet is only somewhat like it.
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Rust is oxidation: It's taking oxygen into it like it's alive and is. Question posed is can you slow it down. YES but only that it will return if done wrong or sealing in rust with junk it makes it faster!

Trouble is you can't get at it so starving it of more oxygen using an oil does work when it's dry. It still needs to drain out water rainfall or road spray.

Sea spray is another game slower but deadly also.

What worked once is now illegal to use is lead/tin based galvanization is sacraficifial to the rust like you see on boat trailers, wheels and all.

Once if this proves worthy metal (cars or anything) need to be out of temp and humidity swings bring on condensate like a glass of ice water you need not touch it will rust out without anymore help just over time.

Sounds awful but recycled metals are so poorly re-made it make all matters worse and faster a can't win deal for now but YES can slow it not just for too long it wins, we all lose,

Tom



fat-katie
User

Sep 26, 2022, 12:14 PM

Post #5 of 8 (1268 views)
  post locked   Re: stop or inhibit rusting of rear quarter panel  

I came up with this (can't weld).

I formed a piece of steel roof flashing (30g?) into something that covers all the holes (wheel well into the rocker panel channel and outside skin near the wheel well opening). If you remember those old tin toys built with sheet metal and connected with 'flanges', you get an idea of what I have here.

I cleaned up the rust with a brush and cut out all the crumbling stuff. I sprayed the rusted metal with a reducer and sanded and primed the outside body (sanded to bare metal).

Next I'm going to screw on this panel I made. I will apply a sealant (a chalk or sealer or something) to keep water out from under this patch. I hope it will also act as a glue. I'll use enough sheet metal screws but a solidly glued on piece of sheet metal can't be bad.

After the patch is screwed down I'll paint everything and finish it off with a rubberized undercoat. It will look like hell but if I don't slow this rusting down I won't have rocker panels next spring..

I might add that jacking the rear of this car is no longer wise. The rust made it up to the jacking point. I see I can jack from the back on the rear axel ( cross beam v channel) if I'm willing to get dirty.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 26, 2022, 12:26 PM

Post #6 of 8 (1264 views)
  post locked   Re: stop or inhibit rusting of rear quarter panel  

You didn't really fix anything. You just bought some time. The rusting process will start again soon.

The only way to stop it is to totally cut out the entire rusted area. Treating rust only puts off the inevitable.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Sep 26, 2022, 1:10 PM

Post #7 of 8 (1258 views)
  post locked   Re: stop or inhibit rusting of rear quarter panel  

Quote fat-katie ">The rust made it up to the jacking point. <"
On no. Most cars (unit body it is) use a notch in front of rear a stronger spot welded area for the car's jack + should remain strong there for a floor type jack used properly.

IF that is weak there now to jack up just one side at a time, place jack stands in strong spots - no guessing I'm scared the safety of this car isn't good at all.

IDK it sure should be checked that it won't give out there - a real auto body place just take a look.

That bugs me not so much hacking a fix of plain rust that's ugly the back side of area will just keep growing is always worse than what you see from outside.

I trust you'll do the right thing safety wise, for you, your possible passengers and of course others on the road if you lost control of this car over that!

Tom



tractorboy
User
tractorboy profile image

Nov 28, 2022, 4:51 PM

Post #8 of 8 (1024 views)
  post locked   Re: stop or inhibit rusting of rear quarter panel  

it's an attack of the tin worms😆


(This post was edited by tractorboy on Nov 28, 2022, 4:52 PM)






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