Rust.... and SoCal

[Kejtar]

It's surprising how fast things can rust in SoCal. I've fought a UCA bolt that rusted to the spherical ball on the frame end and today I helped Brandon press out a rusted bolt in the LCA in the spherical ball. And his was in there rustted really good!
So on that note, what gives with the rust? My UCA was in since last removal under a year, and IIRC Brandon's LCA wasn't in there that long either!

 

[gcurtis]

It's surprising how fast things can rust in SoCal. I've fought a UCA bolt that rusted to the spherical ball on the frame end and today I helped Brandon press out a rusted bolt in the LCA in the spherical ball. And his was in there rustted really good!
So on that note, what gives with the rust? My UCA was in since last removal under a year, and IIRC Brandon's LCA wasn't in there that long either!

Spend any time in Death Valley? Soda Dry Lake? Lucerne Valley?

Many arid areas in which we wheel are corrosive in nature with a high quanity of saline in the soil (think what salt does to vehicles back east). Also, ever wheel in "red" areas (think Moab)? The red of the soil is caused by iron ore which = rust.

 

[GSequoia]

Don't cry about rust! We have it good man.

Now a good question is about your hardware that rusted. What was it? Some hardware rusts MUCH faster than others.

I have an issue with a buildup of surface rust on my body. This is because I live a couple blocks from the beach; I get a fine layer of salt over my Jeep each morning...lovely.

 

[Kejtar]

Spend any time in Death Valley? Soda Dry Lake? Lucerne Valley?

Many arid areas in which we wheel are corrosive in nature with a high quanity of saline in the soil (think what salt does to vehicles back east). Also, ever wheel in "red" areas (think Moab)? The red of the soil is caused by iron ore which = rust.

Yeah, you're right.... to that list I can add water crossings @ Rubicon, Big Bear and others (snow wheeling). It's just that rusted bolts are the last thing on our minds (like th shank to the sphearical ball). I mean how many times we read the posts by people from other areas of the country where they complain about seized/rusted bolts and we go: man, it's nice to live in SoCal.

 

[Kejtar]

Now a good question is about your hardware that rusted. What was it? Some hardware rusts MUCH faster than others.

ummm it says right above: a bolt in the RE spherical ball

 

[Clean Racing]

What? Rust??

You mean ya dont have a leaky oring on a t-case or transmission coating the under side of your rig with oil..... Yeah I Know my t-case is leaking, and I will fix it when ready to do so.....

 

[cracker]

You mean ya dont have a leaky oring on a t-case or transmission coating the under side of your rig with oil

That is probably my saving grace too.

 

[Kejtar]

What? Rust??

You mean ya dont have a leaky oring on a t-case or transmission coating the under side of your rig with oil..... Yeah I Know my t-case is leaking, and I will fix it when ready to do so.....

The only major leak was in the tranny output and the only way I'd get it to lubricate the UCA and LCA bolts would be to drive in reverse!

 

[Bent]

If you guys would keep your rigs clean (under carriage) you would be able to avoid some of the surprises.:twak:

 

[Kejtar]

If you guys would keep your rigs clean (under carriage) you would be able to avoid some of the surprises.:twak:

:moon: I think I know when my bolt rusted It was when I was stuck up to the doors in snow !
Anyways the underside of my rig is mostly clean and the bolt that was rusted to the spherical ball was rusted within the spherical ball and short of taking that bolt out every 3 months there is no way to keep it clean.

 

[Bent]

:moon: I think I know when my bolt rusted It was when I was stuck up to the doors in snow !
Anyways the underside of my rig is mostly clean and the bolt that was rusted to the spherical ball was rusted within the spherical ball and short of taking that bolt out every 3 months there is no way to keep it clean.

Anti-sieze?

 

[Kejtar]

Anti-sieze?

Oh I've bought a whole bucket and I'm somewhat generous with the application of it now

 

[GSequoia]

ummm it says right above: a bolt in the RE spherical ball

No what I mean is the type of bolts themselves. Take those black bolts (black zinc oxide? I forget...), those things will rust if you look at them cross eyed.

I've found that the OEM bolts do not rust however a lot of hardware store bolts that I put on will rust quickly. I have a hunch that if you were to use the right bolts you'd have better results... Of course just what the right bolts are I don't know.

 

[Kejtar]

I've found that the OEM bolts do not rust however a lot of hardware store bolts that I put on will rust quickly.

Mine was OEM, not sure about Brendans though.

 

[Brendan_91XJ]

Mine was what ever came with the RE setup. They replace the front stock bolts with their kit and leave the rear stock bolts.

 

[Kejtar]

Mine was what ever came with the RE setup. They replace the front stock bolts with their kit and leave the rear stock bolts.

DId you end up shortening that bolt? or did you leave it as it was?

 

[Brendan_91XJ]

I left is as is... It doesn't stick any farther that the last one.
So have you decided yet how to display all of my bolts that you have yet :laugh3:

 

[Kejtar]

I left is as is... It doesn't stick any farther that the last one.
So have you decided yet how to display all of my bolts that you have yet :laugh3:

I'm thinking a glass display case in the workshop