Rust ! Normal or not ?

[Cshaffer126]

So my truck is an 18. I know some drive shaft rust is normal but now I’m getting rust on my rear axle and some little spots on my frame. Is this normal or should I go back to the dealer ? Or just spray it myself ?

I live in VA

 

[CincyCuda68]

I wire brush any spots that show up and spray rust converter then spray paint. It really depends on where you live how fast it happens. I live in Ohio and mine wasn’t as bad as yours but I did spray quite a bit when I upgraded my lift last week.
It’s amazing how fast they start rusting. Mine is an ‘18 as well so only 1 winter under its belt.

 

[Cshaffer126]

I’ve got some rust inhibitor I’ll put on the axle. The spot I’m post worried about is the drive train components

 

[Cshaffer126]

This just seems excessive for an 18...what would a dealer even be able to do ?

 

[DILLIGAF]

Parts made by the lowest bidder give these nice results !

 

[Cshaffer126]

Parts made by the lowest bidder give these nice results !

Quote so this is “normal”?

 

[69GWC]

My 16 had some but not that much, I went under there and washed it sanded it and painted it.
Well see hiw it last its just rustolem rattle can.

 

[CincyCuda68]

My 16 had some but not that much, I went under there and washed it sanded it and painted it.
Well see hiw it last its just rustolem rattle can.

View attachment 179422

Exactly what I used on all my trucks, it will last fine

 

[WY.Ram]

This is what my '16 looks like underneath, Wyoming / Colorado. The truck has seen a bunch of snow and I think CO uses a salt on their roads, Mag Chloride.

I try to keep it washed off but there have been plenty of times where she sat for 2 or 3 days covered in that crap.

I'm stacked up with a variety of rattle cans and wire wheels for my 4.5" grinder, all I need now is a good afternoon where I feel like eating the red dust and she'll be matte black underneath.

Glad to hear the rattle can products are a decent choice. I can handle biannual touch ups to keep that rust crap off my truck.

Did you / are you guys using a primer or brush then just paint?

'16 RAM 2500 pw with a Badass Greene tune feed'n & Fire'n a 6.4L w 6spd
CAI / ARH LTs / Solo / 5.13 AAM / 35" Mickey MTs / DOR / Alfa / Custom Graphics / 4% VLT Tint

 

[blackbetty14]

It’s normal. The DS and the front 4x4 shaft are uncoated bare steel. They rust fast and Get covered. Won’t affect the performance for a long time. I sprayed mine new bc I new this would happen so mine still looks new as well as my rear end. Weld points start to rust first and it spreads. Wire wheel or wire brush to knock the loose stuff off then hit it with a rust converter spray paint, then top coat of your choice.

 

[ram1500rsm]

The rust in driveshafts is normal and everything else looks normal. For the small areas in the axel you can spray Rustoleum black paint, then depending if you live in the salt belt or not you can do Rust reformer and keep them up with fluid film. I have the same stuff in my driveshafts and axel but i haven't done much with it yet. I only see salty roads during winter time and only when we take some time to hit the mountains. My truck is all dusty for the most part as she'll literally see the dirt every other weekend so that's my natural anti rust coating Other than that i'll just spray a light coat of Rusteloum black once a year on the axels and frame where i see rusty spots, though for this year i'll do a light coating of fluid film down there as we have scheduled some vacation time for winter and we'll be on those roads a little longer than normal.


Untitled by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by RAM RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by RAM RSM, on Flickr

 

[Cshaffer126]

Thanks for the replies. After looking under a few trucks in random lots it does appear to be pretty normal. However, it is unacceptable to me that RAM would put out a product that rust so quickly. Those parts should be coated in something. Its only a year old!!

 

[tap4154]

I noticed the entire driveshaft was rusted shortly after bringing it home, and it's also a 2018. Live near the beach, but no snow driving yet. I am surprised they didn't put some kind of coating on it, but I'm not gonna worry about it. Can't imagine it would ever rust to the point of failure.

 

[Cshaffer126]

Sanded and applied rustolium rust reformer and some flat black enamel .

 

[CincyCuda68]

This is what my '16 looks like underneath, Wyoming / Colorado. The truck has seen a bunch of snow and I think CO uses a salt on their roads, Mag Chloride.

I try to keep it washed off but there have been plenty of times where she sat for 2 or 3 days covered in that crap.

I'm stacked up with a variety of rattle cans and wire wheels for my 4.5" grinder, all I need now is a good afternoon where I feel like eating the red dust and she'll be matte black underneath.

Glad to hear the rattle can products are a decent choice. I can handle biannual touch ups to keep that rust crap off my truck.

Did you / are you guys using a primer or brush then just paint?

'16 RAM 2500 pw with a Badass Greene tune feed'n & Fire'n a 6.4L w 6spd
CAI / ARH LTs / Solo / 5.13 AAM / 35" Mickey MTs / DOR / Alfa / Custom Graphics / 4% VLT Tint

I use wire brush (small areas) or wheel and spray rust converter. I use SEM but there are many brands, then rustoleum. My “fixes” seem to hold up better than the original.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Sanded and applied rustolium rust reformer and some flat black enamel .

View attachment 179560

View attachment 179561

Go semi gloss black instead of flat black. Works better at matching the factory looks.