TOM'S_ZED Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 (edited) Had the first proper look under the zed today whilst doing the gearbox and diff fluids and to be honest I'm not impressed. Is it normal on these cars for everything to be rusted up it looks like its been parked in the sea all its life the body isnt to bad but all the ancillaries i.e braces anti roll bars track rod ends etc look shagged the cat heat shields are pretty much hanging off. The car has only done 48k. Hope someone can tell me this is normal lol. Its a UK car not an import Edited April 17, 2013 by TOM'S_ZED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun1982 Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I noticed mines got some surface rust on the rear frame, previous owner had it flagged up on it's last mot. Saying that my mate who's a mechanic said it was nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete87 Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 As said floor is good but all my braces and that are rusty I'm going to get a company to undersell mine after addressing the rust, I recently did my arches and they had light surface rust in a few places. Best to sort it out ASAP if your going to keep the car long term like I plan to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun1982 Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Yeah I think I might buy some of that sealant stuff & do mine at some point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM'S_ZED Posted April 17, 2013 Author Share Posted April 17, 2013 yeah sounds like mine actually looks worse than it is. I reckon although an exspensive route new braces from tarmac sportz anti roll bars front and rear new track rod ends re paint the diff cooling fins treat the surface rust then wax oil oh and some new suspension and exhaust system and i might be getting there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM'S_ZED Posted April 17, 2013 Author Share Posted April 17, 2013 and i thought civics were bad lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM'S_ZED Posted April 17, 2013 Author Share Posted April 17, 2013 oh yeah the sump pan is corroded to and a few plastic clips are missing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikesding Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I haven't looked properly under the car but I was surprised at how rusty the bolts were holding in the wheel arch liner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chubby Ninja Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Mines is the same. Its 04 with 31k and its horrible underneath. Im going to take the braces off, sand down to the metal and paint them a nice red or blue so should look alot better 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete87 Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Yeah I think I might buy some of that sealant stuff & do mine at some point Just make sure you do it properly as if you don't you can just cover up the rust and make it worse. I used Hammerite with wax oil in it I sanded down to bare metal then applied three coats also its a good idea to remove the suspension and check the top mounts as mine had surface rust and the r33 used to suffer bad with rusting top mounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM'S_ZED Posted April 17, 2013 Author Share Posted April 17, 2013 can see mine coming of the road for a week or two to get to the bottom of this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete87 Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 can see mine coming of the road for a week or two to get to the bottom of this I think it's just car manufactures don't use as good quality metals like they used to so they rust quicker but as they say prevention is better than a cure. To do all my wheel arches it has cost me like £10 I would have done the underside but my garage is not big enough to do it that's why I will get a company to do it as I have seen there underselling abillitys and there spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamdc2 Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I underseal mine once a year, just get 4 cans of waxoyl a wire brush and go crazy! When I bought the car the rear brace was pretty rusy but once you get the surface rust off and waxoyl it should all be ok. Be warned its a proper messy job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun1982 Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Waxoyl is what I shall use I think lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC350Z Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 mine is an import and was all sealed when imported by my friend and is off road during winter and is nice and clean underneath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amstrange1 Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 You can get Waxoyl branded black underseal in a spray can from Halfords. Very handy for protecting vulnerable bits where there's not much protection on them from the factory. Seems to be fairly common on Japanese cars for them to be light on the seam sealed and underseal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC350Z Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 That's because jap don't salt the crap out there roads so not needed as much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amstrange1 Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 Yep, just a shame that for European market stuff they don't strive for the same corrosion resistance standards that the European OEMs do. I've been involved in a few corrosion tests at work, makes you cringe seeing a new car end up looking like its lived at the bottom of the sea after 2 weeks of testing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC350Z Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 I agree make sense to under seal them all the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS8055 Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 (edited) Had the first proper look under the zed today whilst doing the gearbox and diff fluids and to be honest I'm not impressed. Is it normal on these cars for everything to be rusted up it looks like its been parked in the sea all its life the body isnt to bad but all the ancillaries i.e braces anti roll bars track rod ends etc look shagged the cat heat shields are pretty much hanging off. The car has only done 48k. Hope someone can tell me this is normal lol. Its a UK car not an import Had a look under mine for first time (as the exhaust is blowing). Understand exactly what you are saying. Mine's done roughly 52k and aesthetically looks pretty bad. Edited April 18, 2013 by RS8055 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattross1313 Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Took mine to get the tracking done today - or try to should i say. The guy ramped it up and went to adjust my rear camber (I have to much apparently) and he could not move the bolts. He was literally hanging off the spanner but it wouldn't budge. I then jumped underneath to have a nose and the rust in unbelievable for a relatively new car. (yeah OK, 8 years old). Will most likely get 4 new bolts and go back get my camber done. But will also need to address all the rust - roll bars, general metal work, arms etc....oh and the saw looking brace in the middle of the car....wow!! not much left! First port of call will be to attack it all with a wire brush and see how it looks then use some K-rust (or is it Q-rust?) to treat all of the metal, then seal it in with Waxoyl or similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z350convert Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Mine too looks like it's been kept under the North Sea since it was built. In truth I think it looks worse than it is but the sump was shot as described last week ant the silencer went quite early. The water pipe from the oil cooler seems to have been eaten away by the rust mice so that's going to need replacement (£50 +VAT for a bit of mild steel tubing, according to Nissan). I reckon Nissan skimp on the materials and preparation. Maybe some batches are worse than others. Some protective treatment a good idea if you can afford it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leonk Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 (edited) Have a look at this site for products and loads of info. I've bought stuff from them and would recommend but if nothing else it's good for all the tech info. http://www.rust.co.uk/ Edited April 27, 2013 by leonk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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