Are the rusted springs OK?
 

Hi,

I've used RCE Tarmac springs through two winter seasons.
Some days before, I found that those springs are rusted.

Attachment 143193

How can I cure these springs?
Will the rust remove work?

Thanks.

It's just surface rust and won't hurt anything.

That rust will become an issue if you leave it for 40 or 50 years but otherwise not a problem. If you want them to look nicer just clean them up with a scrubby or steel wool and brush on some rust paint.

#totalled

Idk man, RCE and "lower quality" only work in a sentence when the word "aren't" is between those two.

Surface rust. Had it on my RSR Superdowns springs comes off quite easily.

Like the others said, just surface rust. I've seen much worse. If it were my car, I'd clean off whatever rust I can reach without removing them from the car, and hit them with a good thick rust preventative spray oil 3-4 times a year.

I missed "r" for the "rust remover" which changes rusts into stable compound.

I'd like to make rusting process as slow as possible without hurting springs.

It seems like the general consensus is that its not a problem, but if you do want to remove it with a wire brush or some steel wool, and want to delay other rust from building up, you could get some cold galv spray https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-75.../dp/B00106H68W and galvanize the springs. not 100% sure how well it works on moving parts, but it should help

I would considere a sandblast and paint, just for "looks"

My stock springs were rusted when I took them out too... springs are steel, they'll rust.

DO NOT SANDBLAST SPRINGS!


Part of the manufacturing process of (most) springs is a shot peen after heat treat. This gives the springs strength yet flexibility. Sandblasting can mess with the metallurgy.

My bad, then sandpaper? Light pressure

Oh you can hit it with anything you want by hand. They aren't glass. Just stay away from sandblasting.

True. Best to stay way from any type of blasting on heat treated and peened materials though. Not that beads would have any huge effect but why mess with it. Slap some anti rust paint on them and call it a day.

Cars became way more resistant to rust and people no longer know of the things we had to do to keep them from crumbling away in 3 years. Now even the slightest surface rust seems to be a cause for panic since it is so rare.

It would be okay if rust behaved itself stayed as small pimple but it doesn't! It fucking spreads!! Hence panic! It's like an iceberg, 2/3rd hidden! I say panic if see any rust...

Body rust yes. Bolts/nuts, non structural sections, exhaust, suspensions, etc. do not require panic. Touch up if it bothers you but the damned car is not going to fall apart. I have lived my whole life in the rust belt of Canada and have watched the cars get better and better at dealing with rust over 40 years. The days of rotted out, 3 year old cars, ended about 25 years ago (other than Mazda that is. they continue the legacy).

Just so its clear, do not sand or bead blast or anything on coil springs. Most modern coil springs have 2-3 different shot peening processes done, with some of the residual hardness layers less than 0.5mm. You don't want to disturb that.

I would spray the coils down with AMSOIL HDMP Or similar wax like coating to seal the surface and keep it from getting worse. Or replace them. Honestly that looks pretty bad for a 2 year old spring; I assume they're using e-coat or just paint as those are the cheapest coatings commercially available for coil springs. Try to get coils with at least dual epoxy powder coating.

I have red STI springs in my other car for more than 4 years and I haven't seen rust yet. I agree that the coating was cheap.