Corroded/rusted coil springs. What to treat / paint it with?

ginashamz

Hi

What is the best product to use to treat and paint rusted (surface rust) springs? Hammerite or something like plastikote spray?

AndyMc.....

Snake oil.

Joe_Horner

Andy's not far off as it happens.

The problem with painting springs is that it's in their nature to flex a lot, which paint tends not to like. Eventually it cracks, moisture gets underneath, corrosion sets in and before you know it you've got a broken spring.

If you're concerned about cosmetics then something relatively flexible like plasticote is going to be the best bet but you probably just have to live with the fact it'll fail sooner or later.

If you're more concerned about protecting them then use an underbody or cavity wax spray. Far more flexible and, if it does fail, it doesn't create a water trap.

forgotmyname

Neither because the rust will still be there. By the time you have killed the rust you could have fitted new springs.

EdGasketTheSecond

You used to be able to splash a liberal coat of used engine oil around to pretect things under the car but if you do that now you'd get a MoT fail for an oil leak. You can't paint springs because they are moving all the time and any coating will come off. Mybe Waxoyl might work but I've never bothered and never had to replace a spring yet.

forgotmyname

Seen too many slabs of waxoyl peel away with a layer of rust and leave nothing but a hole.

Joe_Horner

forgotmyname wrote: »

Seen too many slabs of waxoyl peel away with a layer of rust and leave nothing but a hole.

Applied properly Waxoyl or similar (Dinitrol, Bilt Hamber etc) won't form "slabs", just a thin waxy coating that won't peel, lift or flake. Obviously, not to be applied over flaky rust in the first place!

Certain underseals (sometimes "with added Waxoyl"), on the other hand, are the spawn of Satan and form water traps when they split.

Richard53

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

You used to be able to splash a liberal coat of used engine oil around to pretect things under the car

All the cars I owned when I was younger did this automatically. Nowadays, they never do. Huh, so-called 'progress'.

facade

Richard53 wrote: »

All the cars I owned when I was younger did this automatically. Nowadays, they never do. Huh, so-called 'progress'.

Fords never did.
My first Ford (MkII Orion) was the first car I'd ever owned that actually rusted the sump through from the outside :eek: (I suppose that actually makes you right, as it started weeping oil and I had to replace it)

sebloak

are they front springs or rear? rear ones would probably be easier to change for new springs, treat the rust on the mounts and give the axle a coat of paint.

facade wrote: »

My first Ford (MkII Orion) was the first car I'd ever owned that actually rusted the sump through from the outside :eek:

My Fiats going the same way

fred990

Did my rears about six months ago. Mot advisory, VW trade price just shy of £200+ vat for new. Whipped them off and spent a fair bit of time with wire wool to clean them up (and the occasional bit of grinding), turned out to be mainly surface rust and minor pitting.
A fair bit of work but the surface pitting was almost non-existent! 17 year old car, black hammerite paint and looked like new. Mot passed.