Just a quick rust treatment question (with picture!)

[zencamper]

Hey guys,

I've gone through the Wiki rust section and just wanted to check what I'm planning on doing is going to be OK. Here's the rust on the dreaded fridge side Seems to have been aggravated by the constant rain and snow over the past 2 months:



The van has been treated with Waxoyl since its birth (!) I was told and the wheel arches and stuff are kind of matt-black and looking solid which is Waxoyl if I understand correctly??

Anyway, so following the Wiki article, I'm thinking of just doing a temporary solution (I'm not really keen on welding or ripping out the inside and it doesn't seeeeem too bad!) So do you think it'll be OK to get a wire brush and clean out the seam (or just gently chisel it out?) then apply anti-rust paint or just Waxoyl to that seam? I'm off to the North Devon area for most of this year so it's going to be a prime rust location and I want to do a little to combat that.

Cheers!

PA

[sjmtlewy]

As others will no doubt tell you, this panel frequently rusts from the inside out due to condensation from the fridge. To assess how bad it is, you really need to pull the fridge out and look behind (or peer through any vents into the space behind that you might have, if removing the fridge sounds like too much of a hassle).

If its not too bad, you might get away with wire brush + vactan + brush on seal + paint. But its liable to come back if theres still rust on the other side.

[eatcustard]

As sjmtlewy says

[zencamper]

Thanks to the both of you! Just the guidance I needed. I've had a look through the vents under the fridge and it looks OK - 2 rust patches about 5cm wide but nothing very big comparing it to the picture of the fridge side panel in the Wiki...at the top of the fridge through the vents it looks clear.
So, at the risk of sounding like a right lazy bugger ( ), I'm going to go for the second option - I've found some Vactan and brush on underseal, and then I'll paint over. If it gets any worse I'll think about the bigger job!

Thanks and consider this rust question sufficiently answered

PA

[eatcustard]

Zen

You must wirebrush the rust out of the seam.

Then rust treat it, otherwise it will be pointless

[zencamper]

Got you Eatcustard! I didn't put that bit did, I!
Thanks for the emphasis

PA

[sjmtlewy]

Also, I meant seam sealer, rather than underseal. Its the flexible stuff that goes down the crack, you can get it from halfords or similar.

[zencamper]

Sjmtlewy, so am I covering up the seam with the seam sealer (once the rust is out and treated)? So the seam will be 'closed' in the end, right?


PA

[billy739]

the seam in the picture looks like it is surrounded by filler?

this would mean there is some more rust than you can see... i would have a peep from inside
you may as well just give it a t cut , remove the orange and just polish it until you can dig it a bit

[zencamper]

Billy, not sure if its filler in there or just sealed, to be honest. What's a T cut, though?

cheers,

PA

[billy739]

just had another look , defo say there is some filler there
is it the middle seam or the one nearthe rear? if its the rear one remove the rear lamp and look from the rear.

[kevtherev]

T-cut
abrasive paste for cutting back layers of paint

[zencamper]

hehe, looks like there's no quick answer when it comes to rust,eh
It's the middle seam, Billy.
And cheers Kev!
Seems like I've got quite a few options now...hmmm.

[kevtherev]

some interesting reading here regarding seam rust

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... =seam+rust" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[zencamper]

I liked the guy's Panel Wax anecdote - sounds like some kind of magic!

Think I'm going to piece together everyone's input and deal with it tomorrow before I hit the coast later on next week

I'm quite looking forward to just getting my wire brush to the seam and getting as much rust as I can out of there...

cheers people,


PA