Attention Lowered Drivers - RUST!

[Natesriv]

Guys, this thread brought something to my attention I'm wondering if a few (if not all) of our lowered brethren should take a look at.

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/handling-braking-suspension-discussion/15134-any-ideas-why-these-look-so-different.html

I decided to pull mine cowl cover off and sure enough there was rust beginning to do it's work on the driver's strut upper nut. I do recall when I did the install that nut was clean. The passenger side is still like new.

This is because the driver's side has that open mesh to allow water to run off. It also makes it pretty easy for that water to collect in the depression of the upper strut mount washer.. which then comes in contact with the nut.

I'm just letting everyone know you may want to pull your cowl off (easy to do) and inspect that nut. Not sure why it's rusting, perhaps the lowering made more of the threads exposed....which prevents that plastic cap from making a seal...

I ended up sanding the rust off, and then putting a healthy glob of body undercoating on the nut and washer area...

I'd sure love to see if this is a larger problem so we can help avoid some potential problems down the road.

Thanks!
N

Still wet undercoating, but laid on thick!!

 

[KlassKlown]

I put on eibach springs a few months ago and noticed the exact same thing on only the drivers side. The passenger side was shiny clean.

Mmm glob

 

[krakenredbeard]

Subbed

 

[Eric Smit]

weird. good find.

 

[Glenn]

Hi Guys,

Would I be right assuming that this rust problem only becomes a problem if you changeover the struts ? I just had a look with a torch at my drivers side ( RH Strut top here in Australia ) as you can see through the plastic cover...and it appears to have some sort of rubber or plastic top cap on the threaded bolt...you cannot see the threaded strut top or the bolt. It looks nothing like the pics you Guys have posted of the rusted strut tops.

Glenn

 

[Eric Smit]

could you post a picture Glenn?

 

[Glenn]

Standby Eric, I'll see if I can get a good pic of it through the plastic thingy..

As this is an Australian delivered car, I think it was assembled in Sth Korea...so maybe it has something different on the top of the struts ?

Glenn

 

[Natesriv]

Yeah..under the cap (which cannot be airtight...) I'm wondering if non lowered are affected too

 

[Glenn]

This is a practise post to see if I have worked out how to post a picture...

Ignore it if it works...pic of a previous wagon I owned.

Glenn

 

[Glenn]

Ahh...amazing...I'll take a pic tomorrow of the top of my strut and post it now that I have worked out " how to ".

I see on the GM/Sonic on line parts site, the USA Sonic has a plastic " top cap " on the strut...it doesn't look anything like what I have on the top of my strut.

Do you Guys who replace the factory strut refit the " top cap " ? It doesn't look like it from your pics...but maybe it won't fit the new strut ? It looks like an area of the car that is going to get wet anytime it rains or you wash it. Something I'll watch carefully even though I'm still stock.

Glenn

 

[Natesriv]

I replaced...same strut different springs

 

[Natesriv]

weird. good find.

Wasn't me, was my good buddy GigidySonic

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...34-any-ideas-why-these-look-so-different.html

 

[Hulty]

Subbed

You've done this many times on various threads, so now I gotta ask.....what does it mean????

 

[Sonic_Boost]

Both of mine were already rusted when i went to change my springs.. This could be for anyone, not just for people who are lowered.

 

[krakenredbeard]

You've done this many times on various threads, so now I gotta ask.....what does it mean????

Subbed = subscribed.

I just say subbed if I find the thread interesting and I want to be notified of post to that. But I don't have anything at the moment to add to the conversation.

 

[KlassKlown]

I was thinking about putting some silicone gasket where the cap touches so that no water can get in. It's not like I will be messing with my struts anytime soon.

Both of mine were already rusted when i went to change my springs.. This could be for anyone, not just for people who are lowered.

yeah this happened prior to lowered.

Rusting screws for only lowered cars = Myth Busted

 

[KlassKlown]

^ correction, thread's and nuts

 

[Natesriv]

as I said in that earlier thread...this MIGHT...be a problem for all Sonics down the road.. those threads rusting on Gigidy's is alarming!

 

[acamacho104]

I had rust on mine before I did the springs. It caused a bit of a headache when trying to break the nut loose. We used a ton of pb blaster. Then we cleaned the threads with a wire brush till they were shiny and put a healthy amount of blaster back on after we put it back together. Hopefully that rust is being fought off a little now.

 

[ShawnB]

I think GM needs to be made aware of this issue.