Rust Around Rear Wheel Wells

[Johnny_Eye]

I'm not an experienced mechanic or body man by any means, so I apologize in advance for the elementary nature of this question.

I have developed some rust around the rim of both of the rear wheel wells on my '92 MTX. It is still what I'll call surface rust at this point in time (not rusted through) but I know it's not going to get any better if I don't do anything about it. Can someone tell me if it's a big job to take care of this myself, and how I might go about it?

Thanks very much.

 

[carterh]

I am in the same boat, but a recent road trip has added to my problem. I now have rusty quarters, AS WELL AS a huge dent in the drivers quarter. I meet with an insurance adjuster on Saturday and am now wondering what I need to ensure he includes in the claim... Ie. What needs to be done to get this RIGHT!


Cheers,
carter

 

[excidere]

If you are not experienced in body work, you should take it too a few shops for a quote. If it is just surface rust it shouldnt be too much moneys. You could, depending on how perfect you want it to be, just paint some por-15 on it but I would recommend grinding it all out of there, and repainting the affected area.

 

[blacklabel]

I also suggest the por-15 route. Make sure you take the time to do it right when you do it. If you prep the sureface right, use the por-15 then paint over it, it should be in good shape. I recommend the por-15 starter kit as it includes a cleaner, a metal prep, a can of por-15, a brush, and some gloves.

 

[rfiltz]

I had the same problem. Grinded it down to white metal, cleaned it well, primed, painted, clear coated..... STILL RUSTED THROUGH!!

Once you get rust in the wheel wells, I think it's pretty well done. Rust can spread unnoticed under the paint. I think mine was actually rusting in from both sides, which I couldn't see when I did the outside.

 

[carterh]

So how much metal do you think should be cut out to get rid of the rust entirely?

 

[excidere]

So how much metal do you think should be cut out to get rid of the rust entirely?

Just get in there with a grinder and a good light and look around, you dont HAVE to cut out all the affected area, por15 does a good job of neutralizing it and its sand/paintable. But if you absolutly wanna cut then I would replace the whole quarter panel, its easyer than trying to piece sections in. Acctually with your damage to that panel I would recommend doing that anyways... Unless you know somone who works miracles with metal.

edit: Hot rod magazine just put out a special issue on bodywork, that has like a quick kinda faq/crash course in everything from prepwork/dissassembly to rust removal and final paint work... It has alot of good suggested reading and information in it.

 

[carterh]

Unless you know somone who works miracles with metal.

My insurance company thinks it can be worked with... I will pay the bill myself if anyone can come close to doing a decent job of that! :laugh_ti:

 

[excidere]

My insurance company thinks it can be worked with... I will pay the bill myself if anyone can come close to doing a decent job of that! :laugh_ti:

It is possible, I have seen MUCH worse fixed, however it is also difficult and time consuming... that is why the majority of shops just replace the whole panel.... time is money!

 

[carterh]

That is true- the shop can read the quote in many ways... Hopefully they read it the right way!

 

[Rustynuts]

The problem with replacing the whole panel is the unibody construction. It's not a simple unbolt and rebolt a new one. You're talking about cutting and re-welding. Not something I wanted to try!

 

[Silver95]

I dont think you need to replace the whole 1/4 panel. Judging by that area where your paint has peeled, the metal looks real clean with no rust (i hope you put something over it tho!) Go to a shop and just get them to re-do your lip around the wheel wells. They can probably cut the old one out and repalce with new sheetmetal, or even better, they will most likelly use fibreglass as it is easier to mold and it will never rust again. But in the meanwhile, cover that exposed area of sheetmetal!

 

[carterh]

But in the meanwhile, cover that exposed area of sheetmetal!

Good point! Seems fairly obvious now that you have said it....

 

[Silver95]

Spray some rust inhibitor on it till you get it fixed.