Whether you recently purchased a new car or have been driving the same vehicle for years, you may be disappointed to discover pinpricks of rust beginning to form around the wheel wells and other locations. The paint may be bubbling, or the rusted area could be creating an aesthetically unappealing brown streak. The good news is that you do not need to give up on the vehicle. An auto body shop with a good reputation can repair rust on a car, but the method used will depend on what type of rust is afflicting your vehicle.
What Is Rust On A Car?
In order to understand how to repair rust on your car, you will first need to learn more about the types of rust that can impact how a vehicle functions. Rust is a reaction between iron and oxygen, which comes into contact with the vehicle through both the air and contact with water. When the iron comes into contact with oxygen atoms, it changes into iron oxide, which is more commonly referred to as rust.
The most common and least damaging type of rust is surface rust. This resides only on the uppermost layer of a vehicle and will creep into cracks and scratches in the paint where the iron in the vehicle’s panels and equipment is exposed. Sometimes it is thin enough that it can even be scraped off. However, if the root cause is not addressed, surface rust will return.
Scale rust is a more advanced type of rust that arises when surface rust has not been adequately treated or has been left unattended for a period of time. Given enough time, surface rust will eat through the outer layer of a vehicle and penetrate deeper into the steel parts underneath. Steel is typically resilient, but when exposed to air, water and potentially road salt or other chemicals, it too can rust. This leaves some of the deeper or more critical pieces of machinery in your vehicle susceptible.
The most advanced type of rust is penetrating rust, which occurs when scale rust is left untreated. Over time, the rust will begin to corrode the metal pieces of a vehicle until holes form. These holes can penetrate even the most vital pieces of the vehicle’s equipment, causing dangerous leaks and breaks that can compromise the car’s structural integrity and safety.
The Most Common Methods Of Repairing Rust On A Car
Because rust can cause severe degradation of a vehicle over time, it is important to treat it quickly, as soon as you are aware that there is rust on your car. The method for removing it will depend on which type of rust is affecting your vehicle.
Sanding The Affected Areas
For surface-level rust, sanding can be an effective means of restoring your vehicle. While you can attempt to sand rust off a vehicle yourself using sandpaper, an auto body shop will have access to abrasion wheels and other tools to make the process easy. Rust will return if the root cause is not addressed, so the area should be coated in epoxy primer and then painted to protect the exposed areas.
Replacing Entire Vehicle Panels
If rust has penetrated deeply into an area of the vehicle, that part may need to be replaced entirely. Penetrating rust that has created holes cannot simply be patched over, but a skilled auto body shop can save you money in repairs by removing only as much as is necessary to stop the rust issue. Aftermarket parts can help to make this process more affordable, and the auto body shop can prepare the steel surfaces for a new panel or part. This will ensure that the new piece looks natural and adheres well. However, this process is more intensive than surface repair, which is why it is critical to tackle issues of rust as soon as they appear.
Work With An Auto Body Shop Experienced In Rust Repair
Whether you need drastic repairs to a vehicle afflicted with penetrating rust or would like to take care of surface rust that has just begun to form, an auto body shop can repair the rust on your car. Robs Customs & Restorations is experienced with removing rust on any area of a car while replacing only the parts that are necessary so that your vehicle functions safely, efficiently and without expensive repairs. Reach out to schedule an appointment to speak with an auto body expert who can evaluate the state of rust on your car and provide guidance on the best method of restoring your vehicle.