Rust treatment

[trev4]

Going to do the Seeby mod this weekend and get the new headlight's fitted but the wishbones look like they could do with a bit of attention so I am looking for recommendations for rust treatment products, any advice greatly received.

[bobfather]

What's the Seeby mod?

[trev4]

Cutting a hole in the inner wing to allow access to the back of the headlight and fitting marine cover to seal the hole, I think Colin (Seeby) was the first to do it, there are photos of it, perhaps someone more technological advanced will be able to add a link.

[caduceus]

trev4 said:

but the wishbones look like they could do with a bit of attention so I am looking for recommendations for rust treatment products, any advice greatly received.

If they're bad enough to require attention, remove, sand blast, hot zinc coat and re-paint (powder coat, POR15, Hammerite, whatever. The finish coat is just decoration. Hot zinc coating means it'll never rust again).
Then, re-bush.

[bobfather]

trev4 said:

Cutting a hole in the inner wing to allow access to the back of the headlight and fitting marine cover to seal the hole, I think Colin (Seeby) was the first to do it, there are photos of it, perhaps someone more technological advanced will be able to add a link.

Aha, owning a '99 such things have passed me by

[BeastMaster]

caduceus said:

If they're bad enough to require attention, remove, sand blast, hot zinc coat and re-paint (powder coat, POR15, Hammerite, whatever. The finish coat is just decoration. Hot zinc coating means it'll never rust again).
Then, re-bush.

Having the outriggers replaced early next year so though I would refurbish my wishbones also but not sure which way to go. The specialist who is doing the outriggers said if I remove and deliver them he uses a company who will strip, re powder coat with the bushes in tact.

Not sure about this as would have thought the oven bake would damage the bushes, and if its a low bake the paint may be compromised. Have looked at replacing bushes at the same time but recon it would all come out the same price and a lot less hassle to buy new replacement wishbones with new bushes fitted.

Car going up in the air next week so will be able to get a good look at them - also if not too bad may just refurbish in situ perhaps using one of the two pack chassis paint available.

Any thoughts or comments please from those who have done the job

Many thanks - Andy

[Paulprior]

I powder coated mine last year, the guy suggested that the bushes would probably be ok. so we tested one, at the 200 deg C that they use the rubber started melting within a few minutes, so i removed them all then fitted a new set of bushes and bolts,The Zinc sounds a good idea though.

[Belle427]

If i were doing mine id probably flap wheel all the loose coating and rust off and paint with either POR15 or Rustoleum.
The problem with POR15 is that its a nightmare to use and re seal the container afterwards.
Ive got no confidence in powder coating, not sure why but it does not seem to last.

[BeastMaster]

Paulprior said:

I powder coated mine last year, the guy suggested that the bushes would probably be ok. so we tested one, at the 200 deg C that they use the rubber started melting within a few minutes, so i removed them all then fitted a new set of bushes and bolts,The Zinc sounds a good idea though.

Thanks for the info Paul, I thought that would be the case with powder coating, the worst thing that could happen is to get it all back together then find the bushes have been compromised.

By the way stunning looking car! not a big fan of red but that looks great.

[trev4]

Belle427 said:

If i were doing mine id probably flap wheel all the loose coating and rust off and paint with either POR15 or Rustoleum.
The problem with POR15 is that its a nightmare to use and re seal the container afterwards.
Ive got no confidence in powder coating, not sure why but it does not seem to last.

This is what I was going to do, did you use one of the kill rust treatments before you painted them.

[Belle427]

I only did my rears and didnt use a rust killer type product. I just removed as much as i could back to good metal, this usually is enough for a good quality paint.

[Paulprior]

BeastMaster said:

Paulprior said:

I powder coated mine last year, the guy suggested that the bushes would probably be ok. so we tested one, at the 200 deg C that they use the rubber started melting within a few minutes, so i removed them all then fitted a new set of bushes and bolts,The Zinc sounds a good idea though.

Thanks for the info Paul, I thought that would be the case with powder coating, the worst thing that could happen is to get it all back together then find the bushes have been compromised.

By the way stunning looking car! not a big fan of red but that looks great.

The bush we tested couldnt be mistaken for still being ok, it literally started visibly melting.

If you have access to a hydraulic press then its quite easy to remove old ones and refit new ones, i suspect that they could also be done just with a long bolt and spacers as long as you let some penetrating oil in first, i noticed a big difference even with the jack after trying that, i made up some spacers etc to do this if your interested in trying this then you could borrow them.
Paul

[N7GTX]

I took all the suspension arms to a local garage to get the original bushes out. Even using the 10 tonne press they just would not budge. Then used an air chisel but that made too much mess. So I had to use the brand new 20T press they had just bought. But it did not have adaptors to allow the arms to locate properly so resorted to the burning gear, hacksaw and big hammer and chisel. I think the bushes liked being there.
Poly bushes are expensive but oh so easy and quick to fit.

[TwinKam]

Don't use oil to ease the new bushes in! Anything hydrocarbon based will rot them, and washing up liquid is laden with salt.
Use something inert, e.g. red brake grease, silicone grease or even tyre fitting soap.
Or fit poly bushes, they don't need to be pressed in.

[Chimp871]

TwinKam said:

Don't use oil to ease the new bushes in! Anything hydrocarbon based will rot them, and washing up liquid is laden with salt.
Use something inert, e.g. red brake grease, silicone grease or even tyre fitting soap.
Or fit poly bushes, they don't need to be pressed in.

How would oil rot the metal bush sleeve? Just curious.......

[TwinKam]

Chimp871 said:

TwinKam said:

Don't use oil to ease the new bushes in! Anything hydrocarbon based will rot them, and washing up liquid is laden with salt.
Use something inert, e.g. red brake grease, silicone grease or even tyre fitting soap.
Or fit poly bushes, they don't need to be pressed in.

How would oil rot the metal bush sleeve? Just curious.......

Can't be arsed to satisfy your mock 'curiosity'.
But here's an idea: feel free to smother your own rubber bushes in oil, and see how they get on. Call it an experiment. Or an education.

[Tonymg]

any links or photos on how its done I may do the same



Tony.

[N7GTX]

Chimp871 said:

TwinKam said:

Don't use oil to ease the new bushes in! Anything hydrocarbon based will rot them, and washing up liquid is laden with salt.
Use something inert, e.g. red brake grease, silicone grease or even tyre fitting soap.
Or fit poly bushes, they don't need to be pressed in.

How would oil rot the metal bush sleeve? Just curious.......

Not the metal sleeve but oil will degrade the rubber. Engine oil has been leaking from the sump plug washer on mine and then gets blown back along the exhaust and underside. The undertray rubber mounting bobbins had completely rotted after being saturated in engine oil.