My half-@$$ed rust repair

[MuddyButt]

Went and got a quote to get a rust patch repaired on my fender and the lowest price they said for the repair was $700 thought it was a little ridiculous for a rust spot that's no more than 2 inches in diameter. So I said f it and went ahead and tried to fix it myself. So I got some bondo, rust converter and touch up paint and started messing up my car. This is the half a$$ job that I ended up with and I'm pretty happy with it actually since the objective was just to stop/slow the spread of rust.

Wish I had better pictures. I just used my phone.

 

[Scramble]

The finished job looks great but to be honest I think the rust will still spread underneath.

 

[T4R2014]

Yeah... might look fine but I would have cut out the bad metal and welded new stuff in. Filling holes with bondo makes me cringe. You get what you pay for IMO.

 

[Ryan_289]

I know it looks good now but unless you cut the rust out it will come back behind the bondo and be much worse than before. You might try a small sandblaster to blast the rust out but it will be very hard to get it all out.

 

[xcmtb83]

Looks good...enough for fender flares. Unfortunately the rust isn't gone and will continue to open up the hole even larger.

 

[powrguy]

Went and got a quote to get a rust patch repaired on my fender and the lowest price they said for the repair was $700 thought it was a little ridiculous for a rust spot that's no more than 2 inches in diameter. So I said f it and went ahead and tried to fix it myself. So I got some bondo, rust converter and touch up paint and started messing up my car. This is the half a$$ job that I ended up with and I'm pretty happy with it actually since the objective was just to stop the spread of rust.

Wish I had better pictures. I just used my phone.

Well, I don't know how long it will last, but I have a rocker that I plan to clean, prep, then use POR-15 and some glass with a couple more coats of POR-15, then fill, prime, and paint. I hope to get a couple years out of it, but we'll see.

 

[MuddyButt]

Rust usually isn't a problem where I'm from in NC. Bought the car used and it spent a small portion of its life in Washington DC I suppose that's the culprit for the rust spot. Hopefully it won't come back.

 

[MuddyButt]

Of course if the rust does come back and I can't stand to look at it I will get it fixed professionally. I'm sure it won't be any more than the estimate I got before. Figured I would just try to fix it myself for cheap before spending a lot of money at a body shop and even they can't guarantee that the rust won't come back.

 

[bolt]

Looks great to me! I'm curious how'd you blend it on the rear quarter ? Or did you paint the whole quarter?

 

[MuddyButt]

Looks great to me! I'm curious how'd you blend it on the rear quarter ? Or did you paint the whole quarter?

Honestly I got lucky and got a good paint match from napa. I spayed it on then I used rubbing compound and polish after it dried I also took advantage of that body line that goes parallel to the fender to hide the slight difference in color. If I spent more time sanding the bondo it probably would have turned out a lot better.

 

[MuddyButt]

Yeah... might look fine but I would have cut out the bad metal and welded new stuff in. Filling holes with bondo makes me cringe. You get what you pay for IMO.

I agree 100% I didn't think there would be a hole all the way through initially but once I started poking the rust that hole showed up. However I know I didn't want to weld onto my car because I have neither the supplies or skills to do so.

 

[gueyestan]

I think the rust will still spread underneath.

 

[Brilliant]

Looks good. Be sure to seal back side of the filler too.

 

[bolt]

I agree 100% I didn't think there would be a hole all the way through initially but once I started poking the rust that hole showed up. However I know I didn't want to weld onto my car because I have neither the supplies or skills to do so.

"Cool on you" for even trying! I'd doubt that rust will bother you again for 5 to 8yrs depending on your vehicles storage spot. I've done similar type fixes learning what i'm sure you did to, its all about the spot's final preparation and paints application.:nod:

 

[MuddyButt]

Looks good. Be sure to seal back side of the filler too.

Made sure I did that's where the rust started from.

 

[MuddyButt]

I think the rust will still spread underneath.

Let's try to stay positive here everyone. Can't we just pretend it will last forever.

 

[MuddyButt]

Looks good...enough for fender flares. Unfortunately the rust isn't gone and will continue to open up the hole even larger.

Haha I actually got fender flares from a scrapped 4runner as a back up plan if it turned out too bad. (The black plastic ones that screw right on.)

 

[arezahorch]

I think the rust will still spread underneath.

 

[xcmtb83]

I think the rust will still spread underneath.

It certainly will and perhaps even faster with flares installed.