how to prevent rust?

[mrggg]

Hi do I go about doing this?

where is rust most likely to come apart from wheel arches?

thanks.

[Ditto]

Hey.

On the front arches it can appear anywhere along the arch inner (look up), front mud flap upwards, although the main area is dead centre above the wheel, this due to foam padding (larger on diesels).

It's also common for rust to occur at the bottom of the front wing where it meets the sill. Usually on the sill towards the inside edge.

Official line is wings are done FOC, unless previous repair, and there's an official bulletin too. As of this year I believe dealers are also aware of the sills too, or so I am told. Seems to be pick and mix as to what dealers offer before much agro. They don't repair, they replace.

[dronners]

i'd guess the biggest preventative maintainance is to make sure your arches are clear of dirt as much as possible and tend to stone chips that have broken the paint asap

[Scottymon]

Slice off the foam that touches the wings by removing the liner and sending a Stanley down them.

[Ditto]

@dronners how would you recommend tackling stone chips? I've plenty on the bonnet and some on the doors too. Should these be treated? I notice a few large ones have what looks like a clear liquid over them?

[dronners]

if they've broken right through to the metal i'd suggest a touch up pen.  they can look slightly ugly but its better than it rusting.  really with bonnet chips though any cars gonna pick em up.  just gotta wait till its so full of them you can justify respraying it imo

[JamieBiz]

@dronners is right, I use a touch up pen and lipstick until it looks like a teenagers face and then ill respray... if you've got any rust already starting to come through drop it into your local VW dealer and they'll give it a free inspection to determine whether its going to be covered by the 12 year warranty. I had mine back from my inspection yesterday and i was told that they have been previously repaired and aren't willing to have them done for me... which sucks! it must have been a good repair job because there's no way of telling without measuring the paint!

[Ditto]

Thanks, so in regards to chips on the bonnet you just use a touch up pen and lipstick? If I were not to do anything to them, what happens then? Does white mean it's gone to the metal and could cause rust?

[JamieBiz]

Clean the chips out properly and use a touch up pen. (i have a couple genuine VW pens from the stealers) and that will protect it from the elements and will stop them rusting. if the chip is white i would say that its gone through the paint and hit primer. so no, its not on metal.

I wasn't that good at touching chips up to start with but i can get them pretty spot on now.
Either way, a messy touch up that wont rust is better than one that isn't treated at all...

[Mitch H]

Touch up paint then wet sand back and polish with machine :)
Never gunna be perfect but as above hell of a lot better then doing nothing at all

[Ditto]

Ah great.

What procedure would you recommend. Is it a case of getting a touch up stick, applying with a cocktail stick and then building it up to the level of the paint. Finally wet sanding down and polishing?

Is there a safer way of doing so without a wet sand? Quite nervous of the thought of it :)

It's a tornado red car.

[JamieBiz]

You've just to be careful and take your time. use something small and curved like a pen or screwdriver to wrap the sand paper around.
Give it a go, youll be a pro in no time 

[david25]

Search for 2009Nov9CorrosionToGolkMk5FrontWing.pdf
and follow instructions

[Ditto]

Thanks mate. Here's a pic of some of the chips, would a pen do the trick?