Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

[Roger D.]

I need to remove the rust from the front and rear original springs on my '72 restore.

1. Is the Evaporust product safe to use on the springs?

2. Another option is that I found a plating company that says they can dip my parts to get them down to bare metal for me. I don't know what chemical or method they use to do this? Is anyone familiar with the methods/chemicals typically used by plating companies to prep parts for plating? Are these chemicals/methods safe to use on the springs?

Thanks in advance.

Roger

[Russ S.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

I have used the dipping process which worked very well.

[Blair K.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

I just recently purchased and used "Metal Rescue". Good product and achieved excellent results on various rust removal projects.

[Alan D.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

Do some more checking. Know if an acidic solution is used on harden bolts the danger of hydrogen embrittlement exists. Hydrogen embrittled fasteners or parts under stress can fail suddenly without any warning. Expect the same goes for springs.

[Steve L.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

I wouldn't use acid dipping because as Alan states, hydrogen embrittlement may weaken the spring and it may break catastrophically. Same goes with the evapo rust products. Sandblasting is the only way to go.

[Paul J.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

Roger, if you're concerned about hydrogen embrittlement, you can bake the part after treating to prevent it. Paul

[Steve L.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

The baking must be done within half an hour at around 375*F. Unless your acid dip people have this facility on site, you are out of luck

[Paul J.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

The baking must be done within half an hour at around 375*F. Unless your acid dip people have this facility on site, you are out of luck

You also mentioned the Evapo Rust products, which you can bake the part after treating in your own home.

[Terry M.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

Have any of you seen how automotive coil springs are made? One of those Canadian produced cable TV shows -- "How Its Made" or "Factory Made" -- had just such a segment some time back. Unless the spring was originally blasted after it was formed (unlikely for our style SALA springs, but SOP on the coated springs on McPherson Strut suspension) it will have the remains of mill slag from the hot roll forming operation. Acid dipping or blasting will remove this coating and result in an eye pleasing but inappropriate finish for NCRS judging. If your goal is to do well in the "cleanliness contest" types of judging go forth and blast or acid dip using the above precautions given by others.

[Steve L.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

I agree with you Terry, the logistics of cleaning up a spring isn't easy for the home restorer. Blasting in a small cabinet is tough and evaporust like a pain. But some want to paint. To me it looks weird with a painted springs as does shafts, diff. etc.

[Steve L.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

BTW," How it's made" is a great show most of the time. Except for the chessy metaphors at the end of each segment. Show is funded by tax dollars if you check the credits at the end.

[Terry L.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

Roger,

How bad is the rust? Is it flaking and pitted or just surface rust? I just finished a set of leaf springs with only surface rust with no faking or pitting. I used an angle grinder with a wire wheel attachment for the leaf springs. The front springs I hand sanded. It was a lot of work but both turned out nice. You will need to find a good way to secure the individual leafs springs when wire wheeling. I used a Black and Decker work bench and it worked good. I painted the leaf springs with gray primer and installed new liners and new cups. I bought the liners and tool to install the new cups from Quanta.

http://www.gastanks.com/1967-77-Corvette-Rear-Leaf-Spring-Rebuild-Kit-Standard-Suspension/productinfo/28%2D05C/

http://www.gastanks.com/Corvette-Rear-Spring-and-Trailing-Arm-Retainer-Crimping-Tool-Kit/productinfo/28%2D14/

I painted the front springs using castblast paint after hand sanding. Like Terry M said, my front springs is not a factory finish. Its a catch 22. leave the springs bare and watch them rust or clean and paint them. I decided on the latter, it was a better choice for me.
If the springs are rusted beyond the surface rust, I would consider finding someone to lightly sandblast them. If the springs are pitted and flaking a lot, the springs may not be serviceable.

[Roger D.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

Ok after alot of cruising around the web, and taking all of the above into consideration (very much appreciated), It appears that I have two options that will exclude my needing to "bake" to remove the affects of hydrogen embrittlement:

1. From reading the "How it Works" section of the Evaporust FAQ page, the mechanism it uses does not appear to cause hydrogen embrittlement. Thus, I believe that it is a possiblity. I'm concerned about it not producing the required natural finish look.

2. Glass bead blasting will not remove or otherwise damage the surface or the metal like sand blasting will.

We bead blasted a couple of other parts today in the cabinet resulting in an almost "aluminum" color to the metal. Is there a method to restore the desired natural finish look to the metal after glass bead blasting?

By the way, the coil springs appear to have only a light to moderate surface rust. My leaf springs have surface rust and some pitting in areas.

Any other input is appreciated.

Regards,
Roger

[Tom L.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

Roger, I glass beaded mine and they were fine. BTW, haven't forgotten you, just busy. The leaf should ship this week.

Tom

[Roger D.]

Re: Rust Removal Method Question for Front and Rear Spring Restore

Roger, I glass beaded mine and they were fine. BTW, haven't forgotten you, just busy. The leaf should ship this week.

Tom

Thanks so much Tom!

On the coil springs, did you have to do anything to get the natural steel finish back after blasting them?

Roger