Paint those rusted drive shafts???

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

tap4154

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2018
Posts
1,008
Reaction score
986
Location
California
Ram Year
2018
Engine
3.6 V6
I think mine was rusty the first day I brought it home, brand new. I'm not concerned at all about it, it's a truck. I suppose if you're showing your truck with mirrors underneath it, you might want to paint it, or if you want it to look nice for the homeless guy that's trying to steal catalytic converters from underneath your Hemi.

Otherwise, who cares? No one's going to see it, and it doesn't harm anything. It's just surface rust and the shaft will naturally stay in balance if you leave it alone. I always go by the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
 

Thornback

Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
Posts
52
Reaction score
54
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2018
Engine
Hemi 6.1
If you're a perfectionist remove the rusted shaft, have it sandblasted and then powder coated. Afterwards check the balance.
 

roadrnnr

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Posts
328
Reaction score
154
Location
Vermont
Ram Year
2011
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I have all of the exposed metal (Including frame) under My truck painted in Tremclad/rustoleum paint. Driveshaft was the first. I do the cv shafts as well. I touch up/re coat each year. I haven’t touched the driveshaft though in two years! She still looks like I did it yesterday!

Is that Tremclad available in the US? Can't seem to find it anywhere.
 

Lyle Longboat

2011 Ram 1500 5.7 Sport CC
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
Posts
1,818
Reaction score
1,796
Location
Moosonee, ON, CANADA
Ram Year
2011
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Is that Tremclad available in the US? Can't seem to find it anywhere.
Rustoleum for you guys, same company and don’t know why they don’t just have one paint. We have some of the rustoleum products here, well in Ontario anyways but I always see Tremclad everywhere and like $7 a Spray can or $17 A can of paint (smaller can).
 

roadrnnr

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Posts
328
Reaction score
154
Location
Vermont
Ram Year
2011
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Rustoleum for you guys, same company and don’t know why they don’t just have one paint. We have some of the rustoleum products here, well in Ontario anyways but I always see Tremclad everywhere and like $7 a Spray can or $17 A can of paint (smaller can).
OK cool I guess I allready have it then
 

Ed F

Senior Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
164
Reaction score
139
Location
Tryon, NC
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7 Hemi
They just put some kind of “road leveller” down in on main road Two days agai to keep it smooth and the dust to minimal. Hence the 500 potholes lol. Some days are worse than others.

I wonder if they use the same maintenance schedule we have on our mountain? Every 2 years they bring in a half dozen tri axles of fill but it always get spread in front of HOA board members homes...
 

Lyle Longboat

2011 Ram 1500 5.7 Sport CC
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
Posts
1,818
Reaction score
1,796
Location
Moosonee, ON, CANADA
Ram Year
2011
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I wonder if they use the same maintenance schedule we have on our mountain? Every 2 years they bring in a half dozen tri axles of fill but it always get spread in front of HOA board members homes...
Idk, but it’s like they forget the whole other two roads in the community and only does one that last until the next rain fall (which is today, thunderstorm
Today) lol.
 

Socalramfan

Senior Member
Supporting Member
TOTM Winner
Joined
Feb 12, 2017
Posts
4,271
Reaction score
5,104
Location
Huntington Beach
Ram Year
2011 Big Horn
Engine
4.7
This thread had me wondering. Nope... no rust, given its an aluminum one, and I do steam clean everything. The OCD part of me says take care if the universal joints though :waytogo:
 

tap4154

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2018
Posts
1,008
Reaction score
986
Location
California
Ram Year
2018
Engine
3.6 V6
If you're a perfectionist remove the rusted shaft, have it sandblasted and then powder coated. Afterwards check the balance.

Powder coat is no guarantee of rust prevention. I live near the beach and everyone that gets a powder coated gate or powder coated lawn furniture ends with it rusting within a year. Rust never sleeps, but I don't lose sleep over my drive shaft rusting. It's only cosmetic, the drive shaft isn't going to disintegrate.
 

WY.Ram

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Posts
534
Reaction score
505
Location
Larkspur, CO
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4L Hemi
I can't stand rust on three things, my truck, my tools and well .

Most know the "before" look so I'll spare the bandwidth, but the after I will show a couple peeks.

Not sure how to coat the driveshaft and stop, I had to address every item under there including the exhaust and dropping the skids to be super **** rattle can guy.

Surface prep included a good wash and dry, quick brush for loose, rust reformer primer, and then the sexy Canyon Black. The exhaust is done in high heat 2000F black.

20200424_050747.jpg 20200424_004346.jpg 20200424_000603.jpg 20200524_120723.jpg Screenshot_20200524-230030_Video Player.jpg

Now if she's flexn her junk or were going over backwards, she'll still look good from most angles, especially without a rusty shaft. (thank gawd she doesn't have a rusty shaft)
 
Last edited:

Gr8bawana

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Posts
1,274
Reaction score
1,059
Ram Year
2017
Engine
6.7 CTD
Unless you're driving around in a show truck, who cares what the underside looks like? As long as the rust isn't making the truck unsafe to drive nobody cares. It's just gonna get dirty next time the truck is driven down a dirt road. :pp:
 

Lyle Longboat

2011 Ram 1500 5.7 Sport CC
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
Posts
1,818
Reaction score
1,796
Location
Moosonee, ON, CANADA
Ram Year
2011
Engine
Hemi 5.7

WY.Ram

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Posts
534
Reaction score
505
Location
Larkspur, CO
Ram Year
2016
Engine
6.4L Hemi
Unless you're driving around in a show truck, who cares what the underside looks like? As long as the rust isn't making the truck unsafe to drive nobody cares. It's just gonna get dirty next time the truck is driven down a dirt road. :pp:
Apparently I care, at least enough to try and mitigate the uglies.

My mod list is approx 80% performance based and will never be "seen". I am not polished and I'm obviously not building a show truck, but I guarantee her and I do like to show, usually with WOT.

I hate rust, passionately. I also live in a state where I can beat it with my time, effort and decent materials. Not everybody does, I get that. But stage a rusty truck next to a non-rusty and roll a poll. I've got a sixer of favorites that says a non-rusty shaft will win the princess contest. :)

There's nothing wrong w caring how one presents while waiting for the rest of the field to finish.

[emoji482] to the good life


Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
 

Graygoose

Indecisive Car Owner
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Posts
16,824
Reaction score
31,460
Location
Oklahoma
Ram Year
Convert, for now.
Engine
small
Sexy chit there, well done! I buy that truck Everytime! (They're just not for sale very often)

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
thanks, my wife thinks Im nuts...but I say "booty always has to look good"


end of argument LOL
 

Wes Veness

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2019
Posts
248
Reaction score
284
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Ram Year
2019 SLT Classic
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Unless you're driving around in a show truck, who cares what the underside looks like? As long as the rust isn't making the truck unsafe to drive nobody cares. It's just gonna get dirty next time the truck is driven down a dirt road. :pp:
Me, I like anything i own to look good!!! Look good = Feel good!!!
 

Graygoose

Indecisive Car Owner
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Posts
16,824
Reaction score
31,460
Location
Oklahoma
Ram Year
Convert, for now.
Engine
small
Yes was in the box.
 
Top