Fender Rolling plus Rust = ?

[Sonic31]

Alrighty, so my Mazda (2006 GT without GFX) has the typical rust occuring in the wheel well. At this point, pretty much the entire lip is bubbled rust and it's crept around and has started bubbling on the outside, and in a two places the paint has flaked off.

I am looking into getting a set of rims for the car and...

(*sidebar* - I know the wiser move if to spend the money I am going to buy the rims with to fix the rust, but it's a bit of a long story and in my particular case the rims have to come first)

...if I find a set that requires me to roll the fenders, how much of a fubar am I looking at?

Is rolling rusty fenders a major no no? Will it significantly increase the cost of getting the rust repaired at a later date, keeping it mind they are at the cut out and replace stage at this point.

I did a seach for info, and while there was plenty of info on how-to and when-to I didn't see much about doing it after the rust has kinda taken over the fenders.

Any feedback would be appreciated

Thanks!

[Dave_The_BMXER]

People have been known to roll rusted fenders. Some make out ok some just fubar everything.

How bad are we talking here?

[loki]

If the fenders are rusted as bad as you say, I don't see how you can roll them without them snapping off at the edge.

[Sonic31]

They were already warrantied once thru Mazda, so the paint is newish. It's pretty much bubbled only, all along the inner lip and the bubbling has crept to the outside of the fender about 1/4". Two spots the paint has flaked off in a bit smaller than dime sized pieces.

It think it's mostly surface bubbling and it hasn't really started into the metal yet.

The thing I am most affraid of is when I start to roll, all the bubbled paint flaking off and exposing all the rust/metal. Then I would be put into a situation where I would have to get the fenders fixed right away rather than only getting them fixed before next winter hits.

If it helps I do have access to a fender roller that the ottawamazda guys bought that I can rent/borrow so the rolling would be done with the proper equipment.

[S.F.W.]

The fenders may not snap, but the paint is very likely to crack. If the area is heated properly with a heat gun before/during the process it can help, but there is still a real risk of paint cracking .

[Sonic31]

If the fenders are rusted as bad as you say, I don't see how you can roll them without them snapping off at the edge.

Yikes! Really? The thought of the lip snapping never really occured to me.

[Sonic31]

The fenders may not snap, but the paint is very likely to crack. If the area is heated properly with a heat gun before/during the process it can help, but there is still a real risk of paint cracking .

Hmmm starting to sound like I might be in a proper offset or bust kinda situation.

[Sonic31]

Part of the reason I started the thread is I found a set of Focal F-05s that I kinda liked the look of, but they are 18x7.5 with a 42 offset which, from what I have read, would require me to roll.

Looking like I'll just have to continue the search.

[S.F.W.]

Part of the reason I started the thread is I found a set of Focal F-05s that I kinda liked the look of, but they are 18x7.5 with a 42 offset which, from what I have read, would require me to roll.

Looking like I'll just have to continue the search.

What are you lowered on ? What size tires ? You may not need a roll, 42 is a fairly safe offset.

[Sonic31]

At the moment, not lowered, planning on getting Road Magnet 1.25" springs, and using 225/40/18 tires, or 215/40/18 if I can find em for cheap enough.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I was on 17x7 et 38 and didn't have to roll on sportlines.

[terapr0]

you definitely shouldnt need a roll for 18x7.5 +42
I'm on the 1.25 Road Magnets with 18x8 +45 and have plenty of room to spare. Looks like even after 5-10mm spacers I'll still be fine

[peterm15]

Part of the reason I started the thread is I found a set of Focal F-05s that I kinda liked the look of, but they are 18x7.5 with a 42 offset which, from what I have read, would require me to roll.

Looking like I'll just have to continue the search.

I'm on the same spec rims. And need a roll. It's gotten worse for me and I need a roll ASAP. (cough NATOR lol)

Not lowered I wouldn't need one. ( im on coils)
It's pretty safe.
I am confused as to why you NEED to get rims before rust repair. If you have a damaged rim I would be willing to loan you a set of 15's.

It's gotten worse for me and I need a roll ASAP. (cough NATOR ) lol

[Sonic31]

Well the reason I need the rims before the roll/rust repair, is that I am currently running on my winters on steelies, and my summers on the stock 16's are finished.

Also there is a budget consideration and it does not allow for rolling + repair + rims and rubber.

Thus in order to not kill my winters, I need to get the rims and rubber first.

So, is the general consensus that at least initially I wouldn't need to roll/rust repair with the Focal's but once I got the springs I would have to get it done?

[peterm15]

Buy some used tires in the mean time.

[midnightfxgt]

I ran 18x7.5" +42mm dropped more than 1.25" and never had any issues.

[Sonic31]

you definitely shouldnt need a roll for 18x7.5 +42
I'm on the 1.25 Road Magnets with 18x8 +45 and have plenty of room to spare. Looks like even after 5-10mm spacers I'll still be fine

From your avatar I see you have a new model hatchback, didn't they come with a bit more room for the back wheels? I think I remember reading that somewhere but I'm not 100% sure

On a side note, how do you like the Road Magnets?

[Sonic31]

Buy some used tires in the mean time.

Def a possiblity, I have been looking at them, but I keep on hoping a good priced set of 18's would pop up :D

[Sonic31]

I just thought of something and in my head it sounds right but if I'm wrong please feel free to correct me.

I have done offset calculator thing from 1010tires.ca and it states I would have 6mm less Inner clearnace and the outer position would extend by 20 mm.

So if I measured the gap between the outside edge of my tire (not wheel, as the tire will likely extend past the wheel a bit) to the inside edge of the lip, if it's 25mm (to be safe) or more I should be good correct?

[midnightfxgt]

I just thought of something and in my head it sounds right but if I'm wrong please feel free to correct me.

I have done offset calculator thing from 1010tires.ca and it states I would have 6mm less Inner clearnace and the outer position would extend by 20 mm.

So if I measured the gap between the outside edge of my tire (not wheel, as the tire will likely extend past the wheel a bit) to the inside edge of the lip, if it's 25mm (to be safe) or more I should be good correct?


Yes. This is a good rule of thumb. However, its never as cut and dry :)

[S.F.W.]

you definitely shouldnt need a roll for 18x7.5 +42
I'm on the 1.25 Road Magnets with 18x8 +45 and have plenty of room to spare. Looks like even after 5-10mm spacers I'll still be fine
Keep in mind you have a second gen with much larger wheel wells.

[Sonic31]

Hmm alrighty, well it's a good place to start anyway. I'll measure them up tonight and see what I get. Hopefully something like 30mm ;)

[peterm15]

Like I said the wheels you want is the same specs a mine and I rub lowered. If your not lowered you'll be fine.

[S.F.W.]

Like I said the wheels you want is the same specs a mine and I rub lowered. If your not lowered you'll be fine.
Your drop on coils is likely more aggressive than the road magnets OP is considering, so it is tough to make an apples to apples comparison .

[peterm15]

Your drop on coils is likely more aggressive than the road magnets OP is considering, so it is tough to make an apples to apples comparison .

Oh ya. I get that. It was the assumption that the deal on the rims was great and wanted to jump on those. But was getting rust fixed before lowering. ( priorities first)

[Sonic31]

So, I think I'm fubared. I put a straight edge up to the outside of my rear tire, and measured the distance from the inside edge of the lip to the straight edge.

I got a grand total of 3.175mm.

I guess the one thing I don't know is the offset of my steelies, which is probably stamped on the inside somewhere *sigh*. Time to go figure that out.

[Sonic31]

Grrrrr found the wheel information stamped on the outside, but nothing about offset.

Checked out a few sites for specs for steelies for my car, figuring if they are all the same, that is likely what I have...and some say 55mm offset, and some say 45mm offset

:S

[stevenma188]

I'll share my personal experience. My fenders were rusty, and although there was no bubbling, it was evenly rusted all the way around. I rolled my fender, and the fender rolled, but the paint completely separated from the fender. I broke off the paint and sprayed the inside with tremclad.
I while later, I went back and re-sprayed it with tremclad and tried to toss some grease on the inside to stop it from getting worse, and a piece of my fender actually broke off.

Couple months later, right before my rust warranty expired from Mazda, I took the car in, and they "fixed" them under warranty. All they did was spray it with some sort of paint, and then more goop/grease on top.

[Sonic31]

Alrighty then, looking like it's definitely offset that doesn't need rolling or bust for me

[rdavid11]

need some help anyone??

looking forward to put 18x7.5 +30 offset & 225/40/18 tires on 2012 hatchback.
can anyone tell me if they will fit without issue???

[loki]

need some help anyone??

looking forward to put 18x7.5 +30 offset & 225/40/18 tires on 2012 hatchback.
can anyone tell me if they will fit without issue???

there's a thread for that

[Sonic31]

Sweet, problem solved, found me a set of RX8's so that should solve the offset issue :huge smile

[m3rk]

Hey guys just wondering if I should fix my rust/paint chipping before re-rolling. I had them rolled before but seems it wasn't done low enough close to the skirts and my drivers rear fender is wavy:

http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv349/mmarkerr/20130413_195756_zps9c0a13bc.jpg

Passenger side isn't that bad but paint chipping and rust happening:
http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv349/mmarkerr/20130413_195817_zpsbe419b98.jpg

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I'd roll then fix. Since rolling might chip it more