Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

Have gotten a set of mudflaps for my wrx sti, one of the fixings for the flaps requires me to drill a hole in the inside wheel arch bay, and then use a self tapping screw! Should I treat this hole with some sort of rust prevention? If so what is best used, as I dont want the possibility of rust forming around this hole over time, if it even would??

Jonny_

bit of waxoyl probably couldnt hurt, or hammerite painted on ?

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

So the inside wheel arch is actually metal bodywork, and not plastic then?

[JP]

waxoyl straight over bare metal...??

paint it first with high zinc red oxyde primer, then hammerite, waxoyl...whatever you prefer.

the red oxyde should be the first thing to use on bare metal.

urban

iTrader: (1)

Yes

Jonny_

for a small drill hole... yes... no point doing a coat of this, a coat of that and then something else as well

[JP]

mmm... i like to play safe.

But hen again, my background is land rovers, they sufer real bad from rust, so any little hole, if not treated properly, will sooner or later get rusty and spread everywhere...

all depends on how long you intend to keep the vehicle

Jonny_

haha google waxoyl and everything seems to relate to Land Rovers

disclaimer: parts of this post may contain exaggeration

[JP]

hahahaha, yes.. the poor things suffer a bit.....

this is off one I used to have... bear in mind I only use my LRs for offroading, so they are covered in mud most of the time, except the chassi which is pressure washed after every outing.



and then after a bit of fabrication and welding.... and red oxyde paint!




If it was me... even if a little hole, I would still use the red oxyde though, special on a mud flap where it will constantly be hit by water, grit, salt, etc..

Jonny_

i cant believe that a thread with the words.. drilling, hole and flaps has stayed on topic... must be a sign of some of the other forums i frequent

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

JP wheres best to get this red oxyde paint from, won't need a massive amount. At the moment I got some stone chip protector primer and sprayed that on the front and rear area where the hole is, and then caked the self tapping screw with copper grease. But will defo invest in this red oxyde to be on the safe side.

On a side note, for the front wheel arch bay what is actually behind this bay? as looking at it it would appear the footwell inside the car is right behind it, is there just an open space behind the wheel arch bay?, as I dint want to drill straight through into the footwell where the pedals are!

[JP]

I think Halfrauds sells it....

Lettuce

iTrader: (1)

Lol, i give a look next week. Qestion about using any product on the hole drilled will it actually be worth doing, as you can treat the hole but as soon as i start screwing in the self tapping screw wont it just strip all the treatment i have placed on the hole off?

[JP]

that's a very good point, I never use self tappings as I hate the bloody things, its always bolt and nut

you could drill the hole, screw the selftapper, so the hole takes part of the shape and cut.

then coat the hole and the screw in red oxyde.

for holes I use a cotton bud to apply the red oxyde