Hi All,
I am tackling some corrosion issues on a car of mine this summer and am focusing on stuff underneath the car -- brake and fuel lines, fuel tank straps, suspension, etc. The car is in Iowa (USA) and is now 23 years old, so it was time to tackle some of this stuff. One other thing I'm working on is the rear axle which was very corroded. I have removed the rear axle from the car. My initial plan was to disassemble it and get it sand blasted and then coat it with epoxy primer, etc.
However, I came across an opportunity to purchase a used rear axle from a southern California car (same model year) with low miles that had never seen any salt, so I bought that axle. The factory paint seems to be in good shape on it.
My main goal is to prevent rust on this new axle. I don't really care what it "looks" like, as long as I prevent the corrosion from starting. My questions:
1. Should I leave the factory paint on there and simply start coating it with something like CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor once a year?
2. Should I leave the factory paint on there and spray/brush epoxy primer (and top coat) over the factory paint and then start coating it with something like CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor once a year?
3. Or should I remove the factory paint and then put on epoxy primer (and top coat) and then start coating it with something like CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor once a year?
I don't mind stripping it down and then re-coating it. However, I want to know that I'm actually improving things before I do the extra work. If I was using my old rusted rear axle, this would be an easy decision. But starting with a good rear axle with no corrosion and good factory paint makes me wonder.
Thanks!
Bryan
I am tackling some corrosion issues on a car of mine this summer and am focusing on stuff underneath the car -- brake and fuel lines, fuel tank straps, suspension, etc. The car is in Iowa (USA) and is now 23 years old, so it was time to tackle some of this stuff. One other thing I'm working on is the rear axle which was very corroded. I have removed the rear axle from the car. My initial plan was to disassemble it and get it sand blasted and then coat it with epoxy primer, etc.
However, I came across an opportunity to purchase a used rear axle from a southern California car (same model year) with low miles that had never seen any salt, so I bought that axle. The factory paint seems to be in good shape on it.
My main goal is to prevent rust on this new axle. I don't really care what it "looks" like, as long as I prevent the corrosion from starting. My questions:
1. Should I leave the factory paint on there and simply start coating it with something like CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor once a year?
2. Should I leave the factory paint on there and spray/brush epoxy primer (and top coat) over the factory paint and then start coating it with something like CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor once a year?
3. Or should I remove the factory paint and then put on epoxy primer (and top coat) and then start coating it with something like CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor once a year?
I don't mind stripping it down and then re-coating it. However, I want to know that I'm actually improving things before I do the extra work. If I was using my old rusted rear axle, this would be an easy decision. But starting with a good rear axle with no corrosion and good factory paint makes me wonder.
Thanks!
Bryan