wheelarch rust '90 944 turbo

[stevejohnson]

Have just noticed some bubbles of rust on rear of rear nearside wheelarch- I don't think it has ever had accident damage/new paint there- investigated battery tray and found some dry acid deposits in well and some flaky rust around drain hole, is it a common place to get rust and is it due to battery acid over the years?
what to do?
1) leave (currently have to look hard to spot, but does it deteriorate quickly?)
2) local repair
3) new rear wing

interestingly my 83 944 has no sign of rust in same place

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I would be loath to choose choice 1 - by definition if there's rust showing it will be worse underneath and will only get worse. Quickly. Worse now the air is damp.[]

Local repair must be the only option, as the rear panel is not a simple bolt-on wing.

Maybe it's time for a serious look at where the cars are rusting, what can be done to prevent it and a list of best repairs to each area?

 

[stevejohnson]

Thank you, Paul.
I live in Kent, I'd be grateful for any recommendations of a bodyshop.

 

[Fen]

How low down the wheelarch is it? There is a crud trap in the bottom corner of the arch which is exacerbated by debris hitting it from the wheels chipping of the paint and stonechip protection.

 

[944turboS]

My Turbo had the same problem & I know of other cars suffering in the same way.
Localised repair is the best way to go as the battery tray makes a larger repair a real female dog of a job.

 

[Diver944]

My Turbo had similar bubbles on the opposite rear wing right underneath the clear stone guard stickers. A local bodyshop rubbed the offending area down and treated it before respraying the wing. The actual corrosion was very very minor but it never gets better by itself and if left will only get worse.

 

[stevejohnson]

the rust is low down with small bubbles under the clear stoneguard film, it comes up to about 2/5 of the wheelarch, it is not a result of stonechips gone rusty, there was some crud in the wheelarch which I cleaned out, but under this was healthy painted metal, my feeling is that it is rusting from the inside (although the paintwork in the corresponding place in the battery tray looks OK)
If I go for localised repair, should the battery tray receive some attention?

 

[carlmthompson]

New rear wing is the best part of £700.

Oh and they have to cut it out at the b-pillar, sill, and rear badge / number plate / valance panel.

Needeless to say, checking the damage and at worst a local patch might be a more sensible (and cost effective) solution.[:-]

 

[Guest]

Yep....local repairs is the way to go I think...i'm currently in the process on my own car

Regards

John Daly.