Rear Axle Rust?

4097 Views 32 Replies 21 Participants Last post by NovaSSfan, Jan 4, 2009

HollowPointStang

Discussion Starter · Dec 6, 2008

I looked under my car today to find the rear axle covered in rust, I think? I bought the car last Saturday, 11-29-08. There were some other suspension components that looked the same color. Is this rust or is it a rust colored coat on the rear axle. I'll post some pictures tomorrow. Any one else have this problem? If this is indeed rust, is it something the dealer will take care of?

My headers are the same color as well.

Thanks, Nick.

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Big Daddy

· #2 · Dec 6, 2008

HollowPointStang said:
I looked under my car today to find the rear axle covered in rust, I think?... If this is indeed rust, is it something the dealer will take care of?
Thanks, Nick.

It is rust :exclaim: and good luck getting the dealer to do anything about it :badgrin:

Just another example of American manufacturing reducing production costs :frown:

All that rust although unsightly does not affect the integrity of the components. It would take a long, long, time to rust through those axle tubes.

For me I couldn't stand all that rust. Even though you really don't see it unless your poking around underneath, I knew it was there and spent the better part of a day sanding and painting.

Cisco

· #3 · Dec 6, 2008

POR paint works well. I got it done at my dealers body shop. Their rate should be $150. Well worth it if you work 6 day weeks as I do. Hi Joe. we are the only Ct, members I know of. Charlie

Big Daddy

· #4 · Dec 6, 2008

Hi Charlie

One other that I know of. I will send you a PM. I don't want to hijack the thread

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Dave and Julie

· #5 · Dec 6, 2008

Big Daddy said:
Just another example of American manufacturing reducing production costs :frown:

That car probably has "lot rot" and rusted from sitting outside for months. It's supposed to rust, it's a protective coating and certainly nothing to worry about unless you plan to park your car on mirrors.

ozko

· #6 · Dec 7, 2008

Hi Nickvaz, I had same question to dealer b/c my B was same. But they said it is not affecting any function to car. I guess I am so used with clean Japanese/Korean/European car. The Bullitt is my first American car.

JC2954

· #7 · Dec 7, 2008

ozko said:
Hi Nickvaz, I had same question to dealer b/c my B was same. But they said it is not affecting any function to car. I guess I am so used with clean Japanese/Korean/European car. The Bullitt is my first American car.

I've had Japanese cars that do the same thing - if there's no coating of some sort on the parts, they develop a patina of rust on them eventually - even sitting in a climate-controlled garage.

They're "designed" that way; the engineer that spec'd it knew it would happen, and considered it a "non-issue" for that particular part. His Beancounter Supervisor probably ordered it that way as well.

The eventual owners might disagree with that conclusion, though.

Big Daddy

· #8 · Dec 7, 2008

Dave and Julie said:
...it's a protective coating and certainly nothing to worry about unless you plan to park your car on mirrors.

Given sufficient time, any untreated iron mass eventually converts entirely to rust and disintegrates.

jymontoya

· #9 · Dec 7, 2008

x3. Sanded and painted.

Dave and Julie

· #10 · Dec 7, 2008

ozko said:
Hi Nickvaz, I had same question to dealer b/c my B was same. But they said it is not affecting any function to car. I guess I am so used with clean Japanese/Korean/European car. The Bullitt is my first American car. ]

Right they use magical materials that don't rust. Here in the rust belt, the Japanese cars are the first to have holes rust through their bodies. You're just biased.

Big Daddy said:
Given sufficient time, any untreated iron mass eventually converts entirely to rust and disintegrates.

Not unless something removes the rust. Once the outside surface is rusted there is no more metal exposed to oxygen so the rust stops forming.

PhotoRick

· #11 · Dec 7, 2008

Hi Guys,
Ford has been building Mustangs with unpainted rear axles for quite some time now. The 01 Bullitts are the same way.

This is the time of year for your extreme detailing projects, especially in the frozen north where baby stays warm in the garage.

Sanding with various methods like emery cloth and lots of patience will remove the surface rust. Then apply a little paint either brushed on (fewer complications maybe) or sprayed on with lots of masking on all adjacent parts.

NickChildress

· #12 · Dec 8, 2008

Google 'Calyx'. It's a paste that you can put on with a finger or whatever. Isn't expensive, looks beautiful, easy to apply (little or no prep). It's made for exhaust manifolds for show cars, but works just as well on suspension components. I've used it for years previously and now on the Bullitt. Great results....you won't be disappointed.

Crawford

· #13 · Dec 8, 2008

Dave and Julie said:
Right they use magical materials that don't rust. Here in the rust belt, the Japanese cars are the first to have holes rust through their bodies. You're just biased.

Not unless something removes the rust. Once the outside surface is rusted there is no more metal exposed to oxygen so the rust stops forming.

That is for Aluminum. Iron will rust right through.

Big Daddy

· #14 · Dec 8, 2008

2

When I painted mine, I used Master Series Primer

and Master Series AG111

This is some great stuff

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GTron

· #15 · Dec 21, 2008

My '02 GT had and my '07 V-6 with the 7.5 axle has rusty axle housings. They're all like that. Doesn't hurt anything except the looks

Magnum59l

· #16 · Dec 23, 2008

It's surface rust nothing damaging about it I seen it on Mazda's, ford's, Mercedes, Nissan's, Toyota's They are getting bad in Canada right now if you own a Takoma 2003-2007 they are buying back the truck coz of the rust and giving you a check to buy anything you want in other makes or toyota if you want also they are rusting so bad and they (toyota) does not know what to do with them.

But I live in Canada so we have a special climat dont know if it's the same in the US.

Arkady001

· #17 · Jan 3, 2009

Dave and Julie said:
Right they use magical materials that don't rust. Here in the rust belt, the Japanese cars are the first to have holes rust through their bodies. You're just biased.

And with a statement like that you're not? Try to be less defensive will you?

The guy is speaking from experience...his previous cars had underbody treatment as standard - as most Japanese and European cars do - most cars in the US don't. Therefore surface rust is visible on the undersides of US cars without underbody treatment...
It's a statement of fact, not a dig at the quality of US cars - if we REALLY thought that Mustangs were rubbish, why would we have bought them???

oldlugs

· #18 · Jan 3, 2009

Funny; I've owned <i>LOTS</i> of cars during my life!

This new Mustang is the <i>very first</i> car I've had, that comes brand-new from the Ford dealer with a pre-rusted <i>anything</i>!

I think I'll pull the whole rear end out when I get my Watts Link and new rear shocks/springs, and give it a proper painting. A light sanding, followed with phosphoric acid spray should kill all the rust, then Rustoleum primer and satin black... We can fix it.

:dhg08:

cdynaco

· #19 · Jan 3, 2009

Originally Posted by Big Daddy
Given sufficient time, any untreated iron mass eventually converts entirely to rust and disintegrates.

Dave and Julie said:
Not unless something removes the rust. Once the outside surface is rusted there is no more metal exposed to oxygen so the rust stops forming.

Curious - If rust is only on the surface, then how come I've seen old metal - like farm or garden equipment or metal fence posts - that is eaten away and pockmarked? Definitely deeper than just the surface. I've always been told that before repainting, one must sand ALL the rust off - down to bare metal - or the rust will keep eating even under the new paint. :question:

Bullitt 736

· #20 · Jan 3, 2009

oldlugs said:
Funny; I've owned LOTS of cars during my life!

This new Mustang is the very first car I've had, that comes brand-new from the Ford dealer with a pre-rusted anything!

I think I'll pull the whole rear end out when I get my Watts Link and new rear shocks/springs, and give it a proper painting. A light sanding, followed with phosphoric acid spray should kill all the rust, then Rustoleum primer and satin black... We can fix it.

:dhg08:

Try this:

Starter Kit
http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?grp=SSK&dept=11

Instructions
http://www.por15.com/Data%20Sheets/POR15ApplicationInfo.pdf

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