Rust on tow hook

[ayau]

Originally Posted by DR1FT

If your really bothered bring it to the dealer. The car comes with rust warranty you know.

cosmetically, it doesn't bother me. i'm just worried that the rust will get bigger over time and the hook will lose its rigidity.

[wlfpck]

There are a couple ways to deal with the rust...

1) Grind off the rust, primer, and paint over the metal.

2) Rust converter.

3) Rust Bullet.


Now the discussion of the 3...


With the first method, this is the proper way to do things. It's similar to removing the tumor (think cancer) and patching it up. However, it is somewhat important to not use the touchup paint.

Touch up paints are not a polyurethane base. They are solvent paints. The paint "cures" when the solvent evaporates out. Unfortunately, the introduction of any solvents such as gasoline, rubbing alcohol, etc. will easily take the touch up paint off.

With the second method of a rust converter, the various companies such as Eastwood, Loctite, rustoleum, etc. sells these at auto shops, home depot, and so forth. The rust converter only works with surface rust. Keep that in mind. It works because a component of the rust converter is phosporic acid or tannic acid. When sprayed/brushed onto rust, it converts it to Iron Phosphate which is a black paintable surface like the products claim. This again works IF it is just surface rust. Anything more, and the rust converter can't penetrate through and convert all of it. Then you're just left with rust with iron phosphate on top.

The best solution by far... which is the solution I have used is by Rust Bullet. They product they sell is a moisture cure polyurethane. Moisture cure polyurethanes cure from the moisture in the air and it's surrounding environment.

So if you look at their automotive blend, it also contains aluminum. The rust bullet seeps into the rust and since it is a moisture cure, it will pull out all the remaining moisture that is currently trapped in the rust. The aluminum helps to give it more structure.

Rust bullet also sells a White Shell and Black shell polyurethane paint which I have used on my tC to fix a lot of the scratches and such on the rocker panels. They also sell a VERY thin Clear Shot which again, is also a moisture cure polyurethane and I have used this when spot painting. Because the clear is so thin, you can brush a thin layer on and then wet sand out the line that forms.


Hope this helps.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by wlfpck

There are a couple ways to deal with the rust...

1) Grind off the rust, primer, and paint over the metal.

2) Rust converter.

3) Rust Bullet.


Now the discussion of the 3...


With the first method, this is the proper way to do things. It's similar to removing the tumor (think cancer) and patching it up. However, it is somewhat important to not use the touchup paint.

Touch up paints are not a polyurethane base. They are solvent paints. The paint "cures" when the solvent evaporates out. Unfortunately, the introduction of any solvents such as gasoline, rubbing alcohol, etc. will easily take the touch up paint off.

With the second method of a rust converter, the various companies such as Eastwood, Loctite, rustoleum, etc. sells these at auto shops, home depot, and so forth. The rust converter only works with surface rust. Keep that in mind. It works because a component of the rust converter is phosporic acid or tannic acid. When sprayed/brushed onto rust, it converts it to Iron Phosphate which is a black paintable surface like the products claim. This again works IF it is just surface rust. Anything more, and the rust converter can't penetrate through and convert all of it. Then you're just left with rust with iron phosphate on top.

The best solution by far... which is the solution I have used is by Rust Bullet. They product they sell is a moisture cure polyurethane. Moisture cure polyurethanes cure from the moisture in the air and it's surrounding environment.

So if you look at their automotive blend, it also contains aluminum. The rust bullet seeps into the rust and since it is a moisture cure, it will pull out all the remaining moisture that is currently trapped in the rust. The aluminum helps to give it more structure.

Rust bullet also sells a White Shell and Black shell polyurethane paint which I have used on my tC to fix a lot of the scratches and such on the rocker panels. They also sell a VERY thin Clear Shot which again, is also a moisture cure polyurethane and I have used this when spot painting. Because the clear is so thin, you can brush a thin layer on and then wet sand out the line that forms.


Hope this helps.

thanks for all that information. i will look into it.

i guess the problem is that i'm not sure if it's rail dust that was attached to the hook during the transportation of the car, or if the hook is actually rusting. i tried claying the rust spots but that didn't seem to do anything, which leads me to believe that the hook is actually rusting.

[wlfpck]

I don't have a BRZ/FR-S yet, so I don't really know where the tow hook location is.

However, if you are refering to a metal loop that is under the car on the rear then my suggestion is the following.


This area is under your car so it will get hit by stones, road debris, etc. You could take a brillo pad or sand paper to the rust to see if it comes off.

I'm not sure if you loaded a picture or not as there are none that are loaded on my screen for w/e reason. However, if the rust is not coming off, then there may be a chance that the rust from the tow hook. Rust bullet can be applied to bare metal.

I'm very ocd about my car in terms of patching up stone chips and things right away. Because I am in the snow belt. But for me, if this happened, i'd see if I could get the rust off to see if it was from a different source that embedded/stained it into the clear or if it was acutlly the rust from the car. Without a picture I can't really see how bad it is. But I would then coat the thing with rust bullet and then maybe then white or black shell (if your car is another color you can use touchup as the rust bullet has already sealed it.) If you use touchup, I'd also put the Clear Shot from rust bullet over the touchup to keep the touchup paint from coming off.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by wlfpck

I don't have a BRZ/FR-S yet, so I don't really know where the tow hook location is.

However, if you are refering to a metal loop that is under the car on the rear then my suggestion is the following.


This area is under your car so it will get hit by stones, road debris, etc. You could take a brillo pad or sand paper to the rust to see if it comes off.

I'm not sure if you loaded a picture or not as there are none that are loaded on my screen for w/e reason. However, if the rust is not coming off, then there may be a chance that the rust from the tow hook. Rust bullet can be applied to bare metal.

I'm very ocd about my car in terms of patching up stone chips and things right away. Because I am in the snow belt. But for me, if this happened, i'd see if I could get the rust off to see if it was from a different source that embedded/stained it into the clear or if it was acutlly the rust from the car. Without a picture I can't really see how bad it is. But I would then coat the thing with rust bullet and then maybe then white or black shell (if your car is another color you can use touchup as the rust bullet has already sealed it.) If you use touchup, I'd also put the Clear Shot from rust bullet over the touchup to keep the touchup paint from coming off.

your work internet probably blocked the picture.

i'll attach the picture to this post.

[Beyer Subaru]

Originally Posted by DR1FT

If your really bothered bring it to the dealer. The car comes with rust warranty you know.

Rust/Perforation Warranty - Meaning that a car develops rust holes from the inside out on body panels only.
Surface rust on the underside of a car is natural and isn't covered by any form of warranty. This is explained in depth in your warranty information booklet.

If you are concerned about your tow hook being rusty then follow the steps mentioned above.

[Aetyrno]

Originally Posted by ayau

your work internet probably blocked the picture.

i'll attach the picture to this post.

I see primer on the lowest spot. I'm no expert but I'd say it's pretty much definitely rust, not rail dust.

I'd suggest the sanding/full repaint method. It'll continue to rust and more and more paint will flake off unless you deal with it now. Use a sanding block or something so you have better control and you don't take off more than you mean to. Just folding it over and going by hand or using a scotch brite pad will do unhappy things. Just take your time, and remember that even if you screw it up nobody will notice. This is a good practice spot for when you get the inevitable rock chips on your hood.

[RRnold]

Kind of odd that they color matched the tow hook since most of them are black. The Subaru paint does have issues so not surprised. Try sanding it down and recoating it.

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/

[wlfpck]

Originally Posted by RRnold

Kind of odd that they color matched the tow hook since most of them are black. The Subaru paint does have issues so not surprised. Try sanding it down and recoating it.

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/

Originally Posted by ayau

your work internet probably blocked the picture.

i'll attach the picture to this post.

Ok... so a couple things to throw out. That tow hook is like the one on the tC. Unfortunately the problem is that it will always get scuffed up from rocks and what not. That rust is Most Likely from the tow hook itself. The good thing is that it looks more like surface rust.

Automotive touchup is a good company however, their touch up paints are solvent based paints. This means that contact with any solvents, rubbing alcohol, gasoline, etc etc., will cause the paint to become "wet" again and just come right off. For that reason, if you do use Automotive touchup, I would recommend getting just the blue color and then using the Rust Bullet Clear Shot. That way you get the right color with the protection.

This is of course after you apply rust bullet. :P

But again, I don't know if that's rust or not. It looks like surface rust... but it could not be. You'll have to make that definitive call.

[CBR600RR]

It's a tow hook! I don't get why this thread was even started.

The rust won't rot through the hook for like 20 years. Its out of site to everyone but your mechanic. If it really rustles your jimmies, buy some touch up paint, sand it down a bit and slather some paint on the like it was BBQ sauce on ribs. Then forget about it.

[DR1FT]

Originally Posted by Beyer Subaru

Rust/Perforation Warranty - Meaning that a car develops rust holes from the inside out on body panels only.
Surface rust on the underside of a car is natural and isn't covered by any form of warranty. This is explained in depth in your warranty information booklet.

If you are concerned about your tow hook being rusty then follow the steps mentioned above.

Good to know, I learn everyday from this forums.

[wlfpck]

Originally Posted by CBR600RR

It's a tow hook! I don't get why this thread was even started.

The rust won't rot through the hook for like 20 years. Its out of site to everyone but your mechanic. If it really rustles your jimmies, buy some touch up paint, sand it down a bit and slather some paint on the like it was BBQ sauce on ribs. Then forget about it.

If you only slather on touch up paint after sanding it, you'll actually make the problem worse since touch up paint will come off very easily.

[Subforever]

Leave it like that jeez... I work often on rusty subaru and they all do that sooner or later and the rusted hook remain super solid even after 20+ years

[SLICVIC]

my tow hooks bang the floor on rough roads :[ scared to see how much rust i have