2008 Jeep Patriot

[Wayne M.]

Russell, referring to your other post about hardware, when it comes to unique hardware like that hourglassed control arm bolt, and specialized nuts with anti spin tabs, etc, I would stick to OEM. That stuff should be easier to get than you'd think.

 

[crispyboy]

What an ugly job - been there, done that.
Last year I started to spray Fluid Film under our 3 vehicles with an undercoating gun. It's messy for sure. The fluid film seems to pop any existing loose rust right off after a bit which is interesting. The stuff really creeps. It usually takes about 3 weeks and the Fluid Films starts creeping up the outside of the rocker panels. I bought a gallon paint can of the Fluid Film last year when it was on-sale at Napa.

 

[Wayne M.]

Fluidfilm is one thing I haven't used

 

[RUSSELL5000]

The weather is good this weekend, so on Friday I did the two preparation POR15 steps: cleaner and metal prep. Cleaner worked well and metal prep seemed to really work up the rusted areas well. The POR15 seemed to really adhere well to the rusted areas. I did three coats on the rusted areas.

I hate to admit this, but at 59 I am finding that crawling around on the ground under the car all day is tiring. If I were to do this on any regular basis then I would want a lift.

 

[JR]

If it hasn't already been mentioned, I would hands down undercoat your rig after all of this time and effort. Prevention is key in the rust belt. Fluid film works ok but I think Krown is superior. That being said Krown is not available to the DIYer (dealer application only). Fellow TDR member BIG posted a product on here recently that looks very similar to Krown but is available at the DIY level. I would have tried it this year but just had my truck in Erie for some Line X goodies and he did a complimentary Krown application for me. So it will have to wait until next year.

 

[jgillott]

The weather is good this weekend, so on Friday I did the two preparation POR15 steps: cleaner and metal prep. Cleaner worked well and metal prep seemed to really work up the rusted areas well. The POR15 seemed to really adhere well to the rusted areas. I did three coats on the rusted areas.

I hate to admit this, but at 59 I am finding that crawling around on the ground under the car all day is tiring. If I were to do this on any regular basis then I would want a lift.

Santa Clause brought me a lift for my home garage last Christmas. The only thing I am wondering is why I didn't do it sooner.

 

[Wayne M.]

My daily work gives me a lift to bring everything to a standing height, but Friday I had a 10 hour marathon with the ram.
I Broke down the front hubs, repacked and put new seals in the spyntecs, new pads n rotors, new slides in the calipers, new sway bar links, new front shocks, oil change, grease everything, drop the transfer case oil. All on the ground.
My leg muscles and knees are killing me! I'm 49 and no lightweight.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

The thing I noticed most from crawling around was my back and neck. I don't do twisting like that. I know that this is impossible, but I am certain that the distance from standing to the ground gets longer every year I get older!

JR, when you say undercoating, do you mean spraying a compound like Fluid Film into the frame openings? I am coating all of the painted surfaces underneath that are sound with no rust spotting with coats of Rustoleum bed-liner. I was planning to spray Fluid Film or similar I into those frame openings.

 

[Wayne M.]

The thing I noticed most from crawling around was my back and neck. I don't do twisting like that. I know that this is impossible, but I am certain that the distance from standing to the ground gets longer every year I get older!

I am with you on that!
Undercoating, for example, what I use on salt trucks is pretty good, and I buy it myself.
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/277565O/3mtm-undercoating-black-08881.pdf?&fn=TDS_08881_P.pdf

 

[JR]

JR, when you say undercoating, do you mean spraying a compound like Fluid Film

Yes sir, undercoating probably wasn't the best terminology. Rust prevention IE Fluid Film, Krown, etc. Sounds like you got 'er covered. Nice progress!

 

[RUSSELL5000]

An update.

The weather has been good and crawled and crawled and painted and painted.

All rusted surfaces got the POR15 process, a coat of self-etching primer, and four coats of Rust-Oleum track bed coating (bedliner). All undercarriage areas with sound paint were lightly sanded and cleaned, and then received three coats of Rust-Oleum truck bed coating. Some areas received a coat of Rust-Oleum rusty metal primer and four coats of Rust-Oleum enamel instead of bedliner. The suspension components were scuffed, cleaned, and received four coats of Rust-Oleum bedliner; this includes the frame cross-members. I used POR15 on the necks of the bolts that hold the cross-members to the frame (the areas of the bolts that are not threaded; this is the area which was almost eaten away on the one bolt).

So, can now move forward with some re-assembly!!Oo.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Photos

 

[JR]

My hats off to you for being persistent Russell! I know many a people who have started down this road only to jump ship part way into it. Takes A LOT of dedication.
And this is why I pony up on the prevention every year. It really does make a difference if you keep your vehicles long term.

 

[Wayne M.]

Wow. Looking good!

 

[jgillott]

I agree. Great work.

 

[mwilson]

How do your hands look right now????

 

[mwilson]

You are doing a great job BTW!!!

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Thanks, guys. It IS a dirty job! Maybe I should have called Mike Rowe. :-laf

I had different things this weekend, so little available time. I wanted to install the rear crossmember, but it needs to have a bushing pressed in. I tried to do it with a hammer, but after a session in frustration I took it to a shop.

Today I ordered some bolts for the rear trailing arm - brake backing plate - rear hub and bearing assembly. I tried cleaning up the old ones, but the threads (which are fine) had pretty much corroded away.

I can see why rust kills vehicles: there is no way it would be economical to pay a shop to do this, and most people can't have a vehicle sitting as a project so long. I am using our 15 year old minivan until this gets done. I think it is due for a similar project, but at 175,000 miles I am just going to let it pass on. That, and can only do so many of these projects.

I am getting under my truck next summer, and I am definitely going to be active with the rust prevention. Amazing how that salt water attacks stuff.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Mike,

My hands look fine due to lots of disposable vinyl gloves. I did have "freckles" for three or four days.

I also rolled over onto the container of POR15. In addition to wasting some of the expensive stuff, it immediately soaked through and I have had a big black splotch on my left leg for about three weeks. Everybody said nothing will take it off and everybody is right! It fades a little bit more with each shower, but it is going at the rate at which your body sheds skin cells. I bet it takes another two or three weeks. My wife has had some "helpful" observations regarding the appearance!!

 

[MichaelOverfield]

Mike,

My hands look fine due to lots of disposable vinyl gloves. I did have "freckles" for three or four days.

I also rolled over onto the container of POR15. In addition to wasting some of the expensive stuff, it immediately soaked through and I have had a big black splotch on my left leg for about three weeks. Everybody said nothing will take it off and everybody is right! It fades a little bit more with each shower, but it is going at the rate at which your body sheds skin cells. I bet it takes another two or three weeks. My wife has had some "helpful" observations regarding the appearance!!

Thanks for sharing, I'm still laughing at that one.. no doubt the stuff bonds to skin with a death grip.. only comes off with the dead skin still attached.