12
votes
Large rust hole in spare tire area. (Completely rusted through) How to fix?
The following repair is cheap, easy and should last for 3 to 5 or more years depending on your climate, but it's not the "correct way" either.
Remove the rust, paint and body protection around the ...
- 221
8
votes
Large rust hole in spare tire area. (Completely rusted through) How to fix?
I have no idea if this is legal where you live, or what tools or supplies you have, but this is what I would do to repair a junker/beater. I have used this for quick farm fixes without welding. You ...
- 9,035
7
votes
Bottom of Impreza banged driveway apron
Your car is ten years younger (and has 1/10th the miles) but I suspect I know exactly where you hit.
Most likely, the scrape you heard was the plastic under tray. This piece does what it says on the ...
- 24.3k
7
votes
Bottom of Impreza banged driveway apron
If it hit directly under the front seats, there shouldn't be much to worry about - most of the important bits are further forward or further back.
as @spicetraders says, try to have a look underneath ...
- 28.6k
6
votes
Can I insulate my van's floor UNDER the bottom, in the undercarriage?
I'm tall and can't quite stand up straight in my transit, or at least not with my feet together. It's not as bad as you think, even when cooking. Even to get this much height I had to be mean with ...
- 829
5
votes
Large rust hole in spare tire area. (Completely rusted through) How to fix?
You can fix that by removing the remaining rusted metal, and welding some new steel there. There's really no other way if you live in an area with mandatory yearly car inspections. Try to patch the ...
- 13.6k
4
votes
Is rust a deal breaker? Should I buy it?
The pictures of rust you have posted don't look bad at all. I live in the rust belt and your car resembles a car driven off the new car lot after 1 year.
- 838
4
votes
Accepted
Suggestions for refinishing suspension springs
The very best solution is to powder-coat them - but you need to get them to a paint-ready condition before you take them to the powder-coating company; otherwise, it could cost quite a bit. Harbor ...
- 8,612
3
votes
Large rust hole in spare tire area. (Completely rusted through) How to fix?
If you are not worried about appearances (or failing a vehicle inspection) and the main goal is just to prevent further rusting and closing the hole:
Remove the rust as much as possible (wire brush,...
- 281
2
votes
Can I insulate my van's floor UNDER the bottom, in the undercarriage?
I don't think putting part of the insulation outside the bodyshell is going to be very effective. Metal is pretty good at conducting heat/cold, so your floor will tend to have the same temperature as ...
- 4,412
2
votes
Suggestions for refinishing suspension springs
Aerospace landing gear applications usually require springs to be coated in Duralon (name brand), which is a Nylon compound that is applied much like a powder coat. It is used for its flexibility, ...
- 6,017
2
votes
Accepted
vibration/right side shaking when driving past 60 kph, but only when accelerating
I doubt this is CV joint/axle related as if that was the case you'd feel the vibration regardless of the throttle position. If the problem only occurs during acceleration I'd lean more towards the ...
- 136
2
votes
Rust Underneath Car: How Much is Too Much?
Definitely do the screwdriver poke! I found a gorgeous 1999 Jeep Cherokee. Naive at the excitement of the price I failed to look at the underside. The inspection center poked and prodded. By the time ...
- 21
2
votes
Rust Underneath Car: How Much is Too Much?
Its possibly just surface rust. However to check you're going to have to do the squeeze test between fingers and thumb on the thicker structural sections, then if you still can't determine how severe ...
- 5,037
2
votes
Accepted
What should I do about metal strip sticking out from under car?
The metal strip does not look like it's part of the vehicle. My suggestion is to pull it out. When you do, use some kind of silicone caulking or even black Permatex sealant to plug the hole. You don't ...
- 141k
1
vote
Accepted
Is it worth undercoating an already rusted frame?
It will make it worse. The rust likely contains some moisture to promote corrosion. You answered your own question. Long ago, Amoco did testing on undercoating. When new and continuous it protected, ...
- 3,660
1
vote
Is this too much rust to repair?
If that is the worst rust on the vehicle, then I would say you have bought a solid car and there is nothing to worry about as far as rust is concerned at the moment.
A wire brush down and a coat of ...
- 20.9k
1
vote
What should I do about metal strip sticking out from under car?
It appears to be attached to a plastic undertray, and looks like it's a parts label of some sort. If you're near the dealer, you can have them take it off (it'll be covered under the warranty), or you ...
- 8,612
1
vote
Accidentally removed the rubbery coating from the jack attachment point
That definitely is a strange looking "metal." If in doubt, I've had pretty good luck with this rubberized undercoating. It boasts a "rust encapsulator" formula as well. Remember, prep is 90% of it ...
- 141
1
vote
Accepted
Accidentally removed the rubbery coating from the jack attachment point
It looks like the underbody coating got peeled of, exposing the zinc-coated sheetmetall. The photo does not show the zinc being ruptured, albeit the mentioned dynamic makes it possible that the rust ...
- 7,828
1
vote
Will my exhaust pipe melt nearby plastic or PVC?
Depending on the type of plastic/PVC, if the pipes are too close to an exhaust manifold then yes it's likely that it will melt or at least suffer. However if the pipes are a good few inches away from ...
- 5,037
1
vote
Can I insulate my van's floor UNDER the bottom, in the undercarriage?
An old thread, but still, ...in houses it is accepted as BEST practice to insulate OUTSIDE the existing brick walls, rather than inside
If you insulate inside you will inevitably get cold spots, and ...
- 11
1
vote
Car rattles when someone seats or go out of the car
This noise could be from any part of the car on some type of flexible mounting : suspension parts or even the exhaust. Another possibility is that there is a loose bolt or screw in a cavity under the ...
- 34.4k
1
vote
vibration/right side shaking when driving past 60 kph, but only when accelerating
Check the engine mount or the main pulley (balancing shaft harmonic balancer).
- 96
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