Rear Arch Rust on S2000

Conanius · 14 Jun 2009 at 19:57

Right,

Not specific to the s2k, but just in general, who has treated arch rust before?

I've taken a few quick pictures (First two of the rear left arch, the worst in my opinion) and the other is the rear right arch.

Interested to know what people think the best option here is. I want to cure it permanently and want the job to be as new and not have to re do it in 6 months time....

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/endeeci/IMG_2987.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/endeeci/IMG_2988.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/endeeci/IMG_2989.jpg

Defcon5 · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:00

Is this a common S2000 complaint?

Conanius · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:02

I have to be honest and say I dont know.

They have a rubbery/plastic seal over the lip on the rear arch. I took mine off as I had heard they could be rusted underneath and found this.

To be fair its an MY00, so I'm not massively shocked there is some rust.

Clarkey · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:03

You'll need new arches welding in, main dealer job for the panels, probably pretty expensive.

iaind · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:09

Is it not minor enough to grind down, use something like KuRust to make sure, fill it and spray?

Begbie · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:09

Me and my old man done the whole rear arches, cut them out and welded in a new set. Only the real way to get rid of rust unfortunatly.

EvilDreams · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:22

This seems to affect a lot of Japanese cars.

Liverpool-Lad · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:32

The only permanent solution would be to chop it out, however depending on the quality of repairs this may also come back. Its not going to be cheap.

Dandle · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:38

That is by far not bad enough to chop out and weld in new arches. The affected areas need to be cleaned up with a wire brush on a grinder then you can see how bad it is. The affected areas can be neutralised with a rust inhibitor, filled and sprayed.

Clarkey · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:46

Dandle said:
That is by far not bad enough to chop out and weld in new arches. The affected areas need to be cleaned up with a wire brush on a grinder then you can see how bad it is. The affected areas can be neutralised with a rust inhibitor, filled and sprayed.

Yep, and it will be back within a year. Those arches are finished.

Liverpool-Lad · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:52

It looks like its crept in between the inner and outer arch - so it will eb back at some stage.

*Moangroan* · 14 Jun 2009 at 20:52

Clarkey said:
Yep, and it will be back within a year. Those arches are finished.

What about if you grind back. Treat with something decent like that bilt hamber detoc stuff.....its does not look like a chop and weld job to me but you will only know when you start prodding and digging...lol

Mark A · 14 Jun 2009 at 22:15

I wish they would build cars out of a better material than steel. Ive got the same problem with my 2000 Focus. Got it on the bottoms of the doors and arches

. Tried treating it about 6 months ago and its come back. I ground it right back to bright steel as well and used krust to be on the safe side.

With my car being worth about £1500-£2000 theres no point me going to the extremes of getting the affected areas cut out. But on your car its probably a good idea to get it done right.

Dogbreath · 15 Jun 2009 at 09:40

Clarkey said:
Yep, and it will be back within a year. Those arches are finished.

Rubbish, those arches are totally salvageable, no one in their right mind would have complete arches cut out and replaced for that level of rust. The worst spot down by the sill might need a small amount of new metal letting in, the rest can be ground back.

Dogbreath · 15 Jun 2009 at 09:40

Mark A said:
I wish they would build cars out of a better material than steel.

Such as?

Jonnycoupe · 15 Jun 2009 at 09:48

Mark A said:
I wish they would build cars out of a better material than steel.

Firestar_3x · 15 Jun 2009 at 10:03

What is clarkey banging on about, chop the whole arch out for some spot rust....

Lets hope he never becomes a surgeon, "I'm sorry sir you seem to have grazed your leg, its a total loss amputation is the only way forward".....

merlin · 15 Jun 2009 at 10:09

New arches welding in for that tiny bit of rust? LOL!

fonzee · 15 Jun 2009 at 10:11

by those pictures you can't really tell whether it is worth taking them back n protecting, you'll need to get the arch liner etc out and have a good look at the inside first.

R B Customs · 15 Jun 2009 at 11:29

:/ deffo don't need new panels. that's a pretty minor repair to be honest. you will never stop it 100%, it's like trying to stop the sun setting. cars will rust (no smart comments please) a body shop will just grind the rust out and repair the damage.

take it to a few coachworks / body shops for some quotes. The lads I use have just quoted £200 to sort out a very similar problem on my mams mazda MX5- all arch rust + another minor repair.

It wont be as cheap as that, but generally you pay a figure for them to start the job, and exrtra work is not much skin off their nose and won't add a lot to the cost.

Main dealers and insurance whoring coachworks will more than likely quote for new panels, so beware.