2016 RAM 1500 rust issues

[Enomechtrix]

Hello all!

First time RAM buyer here, and I wanted the advice of you experienced truck owners. I recently purchased a 2016 1500. 28000 miles, from Michigan. Stupidly, I didn't look at the underside for rust issues because I was star struck by the truck. I'd like your advice on how bad this rust problem is.





Thank you all for your help!

Connor

 

[caulk04]

What you see there is a non-issue. The real problem ares are the inner/outer rockers and the cab corners as well as the rear wheel wells. Those are always the first places to show up and need addressed.

At this point in the year, keep it cleaned off when you can. Come spring, get all the cavities you can rinsed out real well then before next winter get it treated with Fluid Film or a similar rust preventative. There's a thread in the DIY section that goes over these trucks pretty well.

 

[Enomechtrix]

I appreciate your response, so the rust on the driveshaft and axle isn't anything to worry about? A noob question here, where are the inner and outer rockers?

 

[caulk04]

On those heavy steel parts, you're looking at purely superficial surface rust. Have a read through here https://www.ramforum.com/threads/how-to-fluid-film-your-truck.111020/

 

[G-Ride990]

Nothing to worry about there. That actually looks pretty good.

The driveshaft is made of a special type of steel that is supposed to rust known as weathering steel or cor-ten steel.

I would get a few wire wheels for a drill and try to remove some of the surface rust and paint it for protection.

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

Dude that truck looks fine ... that is very normal especially on the driveshaft like G-Ride said ... You can always clean all that up with a very fine wire brush and spray it with some black or your color of paint and keep it all from turning like that ...

I am about to work on the under carriage myself pretty soon thinking of doing some colormatching on some of the stuff like end links .. brackets ... control arms and stuff ...but that is looking normal

 

[EdGs]

The driveshaft is made of a special type of steel that is supposed to rust known as weathering steel or cor-ten steel.

Nice to know. The driveshaft in my 2015 Ram 1500 is solid rust. Looks very out of place, especially with a clean undercarriage. Now I know why.

 

[Armkb]

I went thru same scenario. Bought a 2016 and didn’t do my homework only briefly looked under the truck. Figured it was only 4 years old how bad could it be! Wrong!! Later found surface rust on drivetrain, frame and some of the body.

Got to work and sprayed phosphoric acid to dissolve what rust I could and sealed it all with Eastwoods Rust Encapsulator. Then later had the under carriage sprayed with NHOU oil undercoating.

Will see how it holds up in the springtime after a winter here in New York. Made my best effort. Hoping for the best.