Anything happening to the paint on White Rams?

[Tagalong]

My friends' son purchased a 2001 white 2500 4X4 Ram TD (new off the lot) and he's been trying to find out what is happening to his paint. There seems to be tiny specks showing up over the surface of the truck. The specks look somewhat rusty but I can't see any surface pinholing or anything that would indicate these specks are coming through the finish. They can be compounded off however they continue to return. We are trying to see if this condition is resulting from the dirt or road surfaces he drives over. Interestingly, he recently visited his dealer and the person he spoke to said that this is (or has) been happening to other white Rams. At first you suspect he's driving over something on the road causing this condition. I rubbed many off with just a rag but others needed a mild compound to budge them. So far, they're appearing on the lower sections of the doors and rear tail gate, but as you clean other areas of the vehicle you can find them but they are fewer and smaller. I then took a closer look at my Ram and noticed a few also but they rubbed off. I'll wait until after the mess of winter weather before I get too concerned about this problem. However, my friend noticed them sometime ago. I'm not convinced this condition is coming through the finish. I've been involved in the Collision Repair industry all of my career and can't say I've noticed this type of finish problem before. This problem could be from "garbage" flying off the road but the specks don't appear to have a "splashed on" appearance. Anyone notice anything like this on their white Rams?

Thanks for your assistance.

 

[KatDiesel]

railroad brake dust?

 

[Sageair]

t2001 white Ram,no problem here in the pollution free high desert of Northern Nevada

 

[JPittman]

I had the same problems with my 99. Didn't notice it until a week after picking it up. Anyway, the dealer called it "fallout" and they had seen it before. Small rust colored spots. They buffed it out at no charge. So far the spots have not reappeared.

 

[michael Peay]

The problem you are describing is a little known problem called RAIL DUST. I worked for the DODGE people in my previous life and this was a very big problem several years ago. It is caused when the trucks are shipped by rail and the brake dust etc. gets on the paint. It

is very toxic, and chemically bonds to the

paint. If you use a clay bar and elbo grease on the paint it will not come back most of the time. IF YOU CAN NOT GET ANY RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER GO TO THE REGIONAL REP. He should be able to find history on this problem. If this is what i think it is. DODGE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. It seems to come and go from year to year.

 

[Leon R]

I have the problem with my white 2000 jetta tdi. It mostly appears on the surfaces that collect dirt and road grime ie up the rear deck and from the front wheels back up the lower sides. I have been attributing it to whatever is on the roads. Hard to notice it on any other color than white and it cleans off with the clay bar and wax. It doesn't appear to be rust coming through the paint.

 

[DPelletier]

Sorry, No info on a white dodge, but our fleet has a 93 GMC that is white and it has the same problem. I know exactly what you mean as it doesn't seam to be coming from beneath the paint job, and yet it does return after buffing (over time). The GM dealer stated that it was "environmental fallout" and wasn't a warranty issue (check your exclusions, it is there!). Anyway, I checked one of our fords (beige metalic) and guess what, same problem! You just can't see it without a close look because of the color. Maybe Kat is right, brake dust. I have heard stranger things.



Dave

 

[JWRowe]

spots

Have had red spots on my 96 aqua/white (waterfall) since it was new. Elbow grease with soft cloth and rubbing compound works but not well. Clayed my truck last fall and this works so much better. Not only are the red spots gone but the rest of the crud on the surface goes also. Very smooth after. Geno's has a kit for this also. Still, I washed the truck today and did notice a few spots coming back. Oh well, time to clay again in the spring.



John

 

[SOOT]

My 99 is doing the same thing, but it was'nt until 2 months ago that it started. It' only on the passengers side and the front rim is covered in it, and it will not come off It happened when the passengers side front rotor friction surface came apart along with the pad. Maybe time for a new paint job.

 

[Tagalong]

Thanks

Wow,

Never thought of Brake Dust!!:--)

Of course we're trying to figure out where the train is around here... never gave it a thought about the trains the Ram is shipped on!

We'll give the clay a try!

Thanks

 

[chuck3]

It started showing up on mine last year, and is back again now even worse, maybe did'nt get it all off before.

 

[Bigramguy]

Rail dust on mine too. Pain in the A$$ to keep it from coming back. Clay bar helps,and lots of wax,but it always comes back. DC agreed to partial strip and repaint,but I said no. Might go after them again,as paint is gettin pretty bad now.

 

[Pit Bull]

It's rail dust, big writeup in Motor Trend or one of the big mag's a few years ago. From the article I read it gets embedded in the paint and the only thing you can do to get rid of it is to strip the paint off the truck and have it repainted. No amount of clay bar or wax will get rid of the iron shavings that are embedded in the paint. It will continue to rust. Sorry to hear about this happening again. I bet it is not on the hood and some other parts where they cover the paint with that plastic adhesive stuff.

 

[michael Peay]

Did i mention that if you do not get it all fairly soon after it has happened that you may not ever get rid of it without a repaint. Moral to the story is get it the first time and use a lot of elbow grease as far as the clay bar is concerned. As far as the rest of you that have had this problem for a while you have no choice but to repaint. The problem is the person responsible for checking the vehicle in at the dealer usualy does not have the training for this type of thing and is usualy kept in the dark. When i was there i tried to make sure that the factory reps kept the little guy informed and not just the shop forman. In a perfect world every vehicle would be rubbed down with a clay bar as soon as it drove of the transporter. But its a nice dream. :{

 

[pathaymond]

My white truck had that all over it when I bought the thing even hood in places I bought used with 28K miles anyway I wasnt to concerned over it and with some clay and time I seem to have this stuff eradicated. maybe I am just lucky to have won but It hasnt shown its ugly head at all after a long winter of road rash and hard gravel roads. keep after it and maybe you can be rid of it as well Good luck

 

[JTroiano]

Don't strip and repaint! You will be sorry. I work at a luxury car dealer and we can always get it off using a clay bar and some lubricant. It can also come from any shop that does grinding on metal. We have a body shop across the street form our dealer and I'm pretty sure most of it comes from them. Its not that hard to get off if you have the correct product and a clay bar and some wax make the paint feel as smooth as a babies butt. If you choose to buff it out with compound you are removing a little bit of your clear coat evertime you do it. If you can make you truck perfect without buffing, it is the best way. Hope this helps.

Jon T

 

[TKemper]

I wouldn't repaint either. I think alot of what people are seeing could be from the front brake pads and rotors. Possibly the semi metallic pads and the eventual wear of the front rotors. The reason I say this is a friend of mine had this problem on his 99. He took it to the dealer and they said it was rail dust. OK- they had it compounded and it looked better, but came back. Then he unfortunately had an accident and had to have a quarter panel replaced. New quarter + New paint = NO RAIL DUST A month or so later and the same small rust specs are back on the new paint.

My 97 has the same apparent rail dust. I've machine compounded the truck twice and it still comes back. The last time I clayed the whole truck ( best thing IMO ) it won't take off your clearcoat like compounding, but the rust specs are back. My friend was going to try a set of wheel shields to try to keep the brake dust down and see if that helps. I'm not sure who makes them, but they're vented to cool rotors. Maybe it will help? Time will tell.

I doubt this is limited to white trucks, it's just the easiest color to see the rust specs on. I'd say the clay bar and some elbow grease are the best defense. Hope this has helped. Todd



Edit: I should have made myself clearer on the Rail Dust issue. I do believe it is a problem. Especially if you find it on a new vehicle. My post above was to show what a friend and I have found out after several details and a repaint of part of the truck. The same type of rust specs keep coming back..... even on the newly painted parts. Maybe it's being picked up from the road... ..... road construction areas???? or possibly from the wear metals from the front pads/rotors. Anyhow... that's what we think.

 

[Bluhaven]

What is a clay bar?

 

[JPittman]

It is a clay bar that comes in a kit. One of them is called Mothers California Gold Clay Bar. It states on the box "removes paint over-spray, fallout and other stubborn contaminants. " It comes with a liquid "shine" that is used as a lubricate to allow the clay bar to slide on the paint. As you use it, you will see the dirt it picks up. I have also used another brand, but I have had better cleaning with the Mothers brand. Any auto store should have it, got mine at Pep Boys.

 

[Bluhaven]

Thanks for the reply JP, I'll have to try it sometime.