How do you not have rusty fenders?

[4DoorFord]

I have rust thats spreading on the rear driver's side fender and I also have it in random areas on other fenders, rockers, and in the trunk/tailgate area. I see so many nice Explorers on here that don't seem to have the rust and I'm wondering what your secret is? Have you just always maintained it and are lucky enough to not live in highly salted areas? I'm hoping some of you had the rust issue and were able to get it fixed so I can get an idea of what a good price would be to have it done properly.

I'm leaning towards a cheaper fix and hiding it with fender flares/rocker trim, but if I have other affordable options besides what I'm doing now for the meantime. (Barely sanded it, Rust Converter, ColorMatch Paint that does a poor job of matching & Clear)

I'm going to get a New Member Intro going now, but its a white 2000 XLT 5.0 AWD.

 

[Varsity]

You pretty much summed it up. Lots of care and prep goes into a nice body, meaning frequent washes/waxes and care.

But really the salt's the main culprit. Many sections of the US have its bad spots. The Midwest/near ocean deals with tons of salt that speeds up corrosion whereas areas of many high heat areas deal with fading/peeling paint and clearcoat and even cracked dashes.

Bodywork is not that cheap unless you know someone. Obviously the best way is to cut out the affected metal and weld in new metal. Or for a most temporary fix, sand down the rust, convert it and paint. Nothing will really fix rust unless you totally remove it from the vehicle before it can do more damage. Fiberglassing isn't a permanent solution but it can help with big spots and holes.

Other than that, wash and wax the thing as much as you can. It's all you can really do. I'm from Chicago too so I feel your pain, but keeping the vehicle clean from salt and other contaminents can go a long way.

 

[4DoorFord]

Thanks for the response Varsity. You're in my area nice! I saw in your Explorer's thread that you put "Rusty areas fixed". Did you have new metal welded?

 

[Varsity]

No, sadly not. Sanded it down as far as I could go, sprayed some rust encapsulator and fiberglassed over it. Again, not a permanent fix, but it was all I could do short of replacing metal and it still seems to be holding up well, at least visually, haha.

Next summer I think I'll try cutting it all out and actually replacing the panels. Most of the temporary band-aid fixes I've done have actually held up alot better than I though they would though.

 

[RadioDoc]

You get salt rust..... we get tornados.

Whatta Ya Do ?


Don in Huntsville

 

[Stic-o]

What is this "rust" thing you speak of? I am intrigued:

 

[Varsity]

What is this "rust" thing you speak of? I am intrigued:

 

[jremington59]

What is this "rust" thing you speak of? I am intrigued:

Go buy a 20 pound bag of salt and mix water with it until it turns to a paste. Then pack it in every tiny crevice you can find and be sure to add extra to the brake lines, frame, under the door panel, the rockers and everywhere else you can get to. Leave it for 4 months and go out and look at it, lol.

 

[bill06447]

It's not called the "Rust Belt" for nothing...

Bill

 

[BKennedy]

Rust?? Rust?? I have no rust?? I haven't even painted over the spots where the undercoating was burned off the bottom of the body when I welded in the cage plates many years ago.

 

[bill06447]

Rust?? Rust?? I have no rust?? I haven't even painted over the spots where the undercoating was burned off the bottom of the body when I welded in the cage plates many years ago.

That Chicago vehicle might look like the Invisible Man with the door skins and quarters rusted away but our interiors still look like new long after the Nevada sun has turned your interiors into dust

Bill

 

[jackrussell]

Join us in East Texas (Longview/Tyler) and forget about rust. 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 1991 Ford Ranger with NO rust, not even surface rust!

 

[JimMadsen]

Eh, rusted bolts are the only thing keeping some parts in place

 

[jremington59]

My latest one I just got spent it's life in Houston. It's cleaner underneath then a 2 year old vehicle here in NNY.

Join us in East Texas (Longview/Tyler) and forget about rust. 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 1991 Ford Ranger with NO rust, not even surface rust!

 

[koda2000]

My latest one I just got spent it's life in Houston. It's cleaner underneath then a 2 year old vehicle here in NNY.

ditto my 3 Georgia trucks. the northern Mountaineer AWD, not so much.

 

[Flash]

Got no snow here here but we do drive on the beach.

Lanolin and fish oil keeps the rust out.

 

[Bobmbx]

What is this "rust" thing you speak of? I am intrigued:

Real men have rusty drive shafts.

 

[BKennedy]

That Chicago vehicle might look like the Invisible Man with the door skins and quarters rusted away but our interiors still look like new long after the Nevada sun has turned your interiors into dust

Bill

So, how much for your interior? My Explorer is still drivable.

 

[4DoorFord]

So, how much for your interior? My Explorer is still drivable.

Yeah...I think I'd much rather have a problem with my interior, which can be easily and affordably swapped out, as opposed to rust which is hardly ever worth the cost of getting fixed properly lol.

Thanks for your responses everyone.

 

[DjDom]

Salt kills.
I'm about to tackle a nice rust repair on my ex. Rear fenders are starting to rust and right above the gas cap is rusting bad.. It's developed a small hole. Should be fun..