Rust and Rock Chip Repair

Hey ya’ll. Just took my bed shell off after a few years and noticed it had rubbed through my paint and started rusting. How do I stop the rust and cover it up? Is there a way to clean up the rust that has leaked onto the good paint?

Bonus question, looking for the same fix for the rock chips on my hood and roof.

From what I’ve read, sand paper and touch up paint? Is there a certain method to go about this? I’m very DIY but don’t have much auto paint experience.

 

bump

 

Depends how nice you want it to be.

The plastic trim on the bed sides will cover up some of that. You could try and remove the rust staining with some iron remover spray and then sand the remaining surface rust off and buy some 040 super white touch up paint and touch it up, same with the windshield chips (some paint pens have a sanding tip for this purpose). Long term durability not the best but you could spray some fluid film over the repairs before you put the bedside trim back on.

Ideally you’d have a body shop repaint those areas but will be more costly, you could at least get a quote.

 

That rust is not on top of the paint. It is forming under the paint and bleeding through it. It needs to be sanded down to bare metal.

 

I had a metal rack system that was mounted under the shell that rusted and bleed through to the truck. I didn’t even know it got to the trucks paint until I took everything off the bed. I was hoping the small area could be sanded and a paint pen? Don’t want to paint the whole panel.

 

Yes the bed side covers do hide most of it but the rust can be seen a little. Do you know what kind of sand paper would be ideal to start with?

 

Was able to get most of the rust removed with iron-x. It’s gone from bleeding on the paint. Then I used a clay bar to try to remove any contaminants. I ordered the paint pen through Toyota but I’m unsure how to sand these spots effectively because I don’t want to make it bigger.

 

Following along on this one as my ‘13 is showing its age around the windshield and back window and would also like to slow the growth if possible.

I have found a few things on my research but haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet. Hopefully some with more experience will chime in.

What I was thinking so far…

 

The paint pen with the sanding stone tip would work, just be careful to tape off the area around it. Alternatively, a red scotch bright scuff pad would work, I’d also tape off the surrounding area in this case as well. Follow up the sanding with some isopropyl-alcohol and then paint. If you can find a clear coat paint pen you could also top it with a coat of the clear coat if desired.

 

ordered that sanding tool also, but was does the rust neutralizer do exactly?

 

A rust converter works by chemically reacting with iron oxide (rust) on a metal surface, transforming it into a stable, inert compound, usually a dark-colored substance, effectively stopping further corrosion and providing a base for painting by creating a protective layer on the rusted area; this process typically involves an active ingredient like tannic acid which binds with the rust to form a stable compound like ferric tannate, while additional polymers in the solution help create a protective coating.

I have a bit of a bad spot on the back of the cab. I plan on using the brush pen to sand the loose stuff then try to convert where I can’t reach before painting.

Rear

Front

 

Looks like we both have some work to do. Will attempt my repairs later in week and report back. Going with ChrisFix method on YouTube.

 

Look forward to hearing about your experience

 

I did my bed sides yesterday. The good news is my bed caps cover most of it anyways so unless I pointed out the spots I touched up you probably wouldn’t notice. Three spots took about four hours because the sanding takes a long time and you have to let each layer dry. I’ll I have left to do is buff it with my DA polisher. It’s not perfect but I’d say I did good enough for a DIY job and preventing rust. Not sure how my shell and rack system even rubbed through the paint in the first place.

 

If you had to do it again would you change anything? Was the extra sanding tool beneficial? Did you do clear?


Looks good BTW

 

I followed Chris Fix video about repairing deep scratches (watch this video it’s really helpful). That extra sanding tool helped a bit but the little fibers break easily. The sanding tip on the paint pen is harder and easier to removed the big chunks. You definitely want to pick up a pack of sanding paper from 800 grit to 5000 grit. Yes I used the clear coat pen from Toyota it’s a must to seal in the paint.