Wheel well rust issues - Looking for suggestions

[buckethead99]

I have rust on my wheel wells - by far the worst is the rear passenger side...pics below. What are your suggestions for a fix ?

Ive read some people have sand the paint rust down to the metal and then applied primer, paint and the 3M. I DO care how my mz3 looks but I don't really care if the inside of the wheel well isn't perfect.

I've already out some good money into my 2007 Mazda3 lately and I'm not looking to keep doing it!

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/7438/1P6yd8.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/8454/x2fYZr.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/44/y94AGg.jpg

Suggestions & advice greatly appreciated ! (If it matters its a 07 HB with approx. 155kms all driving done in southern Ontario)

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Yours doesn't look too bad you probably won't blow through any spots if you were to grind it down to bare metal. However blending in that area yourself might be a little difficult.

If I were to tackle a DIY (which I don't recommend with the 3) I would take these steps.

Grind down to metal, POR15, prime, paint, clear.

Take your time every step, follow the POR15 instructions to the letter and you MIGHT get a couple years out of the DIY efforts.

[oraor]

Ya just sand it down, prime it and paint it. The rust will be back in a year or less though.

[6strings]

I enjoy seeing more rust on my car.
Makes it look vintage or steampunk.

[Cab0oze]

Ya just sand it down, prime it and paint it. The rust will be back in a year or less though.

This. Except use a grinder or wire wheel rather than sanding, sandpaper won't get it.

But if it was me, i would do it anyway. In fact, back when I was much noobier, I did... pics if you want: http://www.engsoc.org/~caboose/upload/Mz3Projects/Rust%20Fighting/

[oxide]

i just had the same issue on my last 07. thing is the rust behind the lip can be even worse. it would have cost 800 to get it redone at the body shop but after some feelers on here and even though i only had 83K on the car it wasn't worth the headache for me. i traded up

[Jackal]

This. Except use a grinder or wire wheel rather than sanding, sandpaper won't get it.

But if it was me, i would do it anyway. In fact, back when I was much noobier, I did... pics if you want: http://www.engsoc.org/~caboose/upload/Mz3Projects/Rust%20Fighting/

Looks like you did a great job! Did the rust come back after a while?

[Cab0oze]

Looks like you did a great job! Did the rust come back after a while?
Yeah, after a year it was coming right back through the paint. Considering how little I knew about painting at the time, it actually turned out great. Despite it looking OK, by no means did I do a good job... but I was young and stupid :P

[staax]

Grind down to metal, POR15, prime, paint, clear.



I second using POR15... great stuff.