Author Topic: Rust! (Read 4420 times)

JohnBeretta · « **on:** July 06, 2006, 02:33:51 pm »

I knew my Jetta had some rust problems from the start but I got a big surprise today when I was poking a rusty spot around the plastic liner on the driver's side back wheel well. I gave the liner a little tug and it almost fell off. And I found:

I was pretty much like :shock: .

What can or should I do about this? Cut a patch to fit and weld it on and smooth out the seam with filler? The only problem is that there isn't much to join the patch to.

SMOKEYDUB · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2006, 06:59:08 pm »

is the car worth fixing is my question. but i would cut out as much of the rust as possible or clean it and pain it and stick the plastic back on.

MaxHedrm · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2006, 07:33:30 pm »

I'm hoping that won't be the case with my Jetta ... the pics look clean, but those can (obviously) hide a lot. I pick it up Saturday, cross your fingers for me. :?

As for yours ... hmmm ... widebody time? :wink:

Darkness_is_spreading · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2006, 09:13:48 pm »

That brings back the horrible reminder of my 88 Jetta, that thing has rust every where.... The Floor Pan was the biggest pain, I spent almost all my time fixing the rust on the car only to have the motor go bad after 6 months.... :evil:

Don't do what I did and think you can just fix up the rust and be done with it.... The rust in your picture is going to be impossible to fix, maybe consider a new fender.

But if you want a nice welding project car then you have the perfect car...

LeeG · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2006, 10:02:51 pm »

yup, unless there was localized damage there that wasnt rust protected when it was fixed then I would say that car is in the end of its days. I have chased enough rust.....what you see at first is just the start. And it is really hard work to make it go away and not come back. That corner shown needs a new 1/4 panel welded in. And I would be suspicious of the rocker and the suspension mounting points underneath. And the other side of the car.

You need to decide if the car is even safe. Get under it and use a hammer to give a good wack to the mounting points, see if the hammer goes right through.

Sorry.

I once tore the right rear suspension right out of a Datsun F10 that I didnt even think was rusty. Granted my landing was a little crooked :twisted: so the suspension did take quite a shock, but when I went to weld it back together, there wasnt really any solid metal to weld to.