rust... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jackassisadgk · 03-07-2008, 10:13 PM

my 94 4c camry LE has a patch of rust in the wheel well probably 3"x1". It is rotted almost all the way through. what would you suggest to solve this problem. I haven't talked with my mechanic yet. I'm sure he'll offer to cut it out and weld onto it, but it that enough protection? This is my first car and it has 232,000 miles on it. Mechanically speaking almost everything on this car is new withing the last 10,000 miles or so, excluding the engine and transmission which are both excessively smooth. I got this car as a gift and had to put money into it just to get it to run, so I'm pretty attached to it. I would just like to prolong the life of my car. any suggestions would be wicked appreciated.

eurohazard · 03-08-2008, 01:19 AM

It's probably more cost effective to just buy a new fender. Sometimes you can get lucky and find one of the same color. But even if you have to repaint it, I'm still convinced a new fender will be cheaper than cutting away the rot, sanding to bare metal, welding in a patch, treating the backside, sanding/grinding smooth, then priming and painting anyway.

eurohazard · 03-08-2008, 01:21 AM

Ummmm, I just noticed you said "wheel well', but no indication of front or back?!?!

jackassisadgk · 03-08-2008, 06:06 AM

yeah it's the rear drivers side...

Kep · 03-08-2008, 10:58 AM

You said "It is rotted almost all the way through." If you can't poke your finger through it wire brush it to clean metal, treat it with a rust inhibitor (we use Ospho around here a lot) repaint it and spray a rubberized coating over it. It may last a long time.

By the way, a lot of our wheel wells have a plastic protective insert to help prevent this. Did / does yours? Or is the rusted area outside of the plastic protection? If you have torn out your protective sheet you may be able to get a replacement at the junk yard. I'd still do the routine above.

Kep