Rust Repair Panel installation Guide

Unsightly rust is a great way to send the value of your care plummeting, so if you’ve noticed rust appearing on your car, then it’s something you’re going to want to address as soon as possible.

You can purchase rust replacement panels from our online store at Retro Spares, but how do you actually install them?

In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions and guide you to a successful rust repair panel installation.

How do you repair rusted body panels?

Rusted body panels are unsightly, but they can become easy to fix with a bit of practice and care.

Before you get started, you need the right tools for the job.

Most amateur rust repair installations will require the following tools:

• Angle grinder
• Sander
• Chalk or Welding Crayon
• Metal chisel
• Fasteners
• Welding clamps
• Pliers
• Welder
• Scrapers
• Media Blaster
• C-Clamps or Vice grips
• Retro Spares Rust Repair Panel

Retro Spares sells a wide range of Rust Repair Panels for a variety of models and makes, so make sure you get the right panel for your job.

The basic process for repairing rust is the same whether it is big or small and can be broken down into the following key steps.

1. Gather your supplies

Gather all the tools you require and bring them to your working area.

2. Identify and remove the rusted areas

Rust starts under the paint and rises to the surface as it eats through the paint and spreads.

That means if you can see rust on the surface of the paint, then there’s likely to be more underneath.

Use your sander to remove the paint and see how far the rust has spread. If it’s a small patch and the rust has not eaten all the way through the metal, you may be able to repair it without cutting out the panel.

If the rust has eaten through you’re going to need to cut out and replace the affected area.

Use your angle grinder to cut out the affected area.

3. Mark Off the Repair Site

Take your rust repair panel and hold it over the area it will replace. Use chalk or welding crayon to mark on the panel the cut you need to make.

4. Carefully cut your repair panel

Carefully make your cut along the lines you marked in the previous step. Make sure you take extra care at this stage as any mistake here and you will need to make another cut.

5. Weld in new panel

Once you’ve completed your cut, trim the cuts down and tidy so that your new panel fits satisfactorily. Now you can clamp it in place with vice grips or C-clamps and carefully weld it in place.

Depending on the size of the area affected by rust, you may need to repeat this process across multiple sites and may require multiple rust repair panels.

You also need to consider the area you are working in.

If you are working in a garage, ensure that the area you are working is clear of cans of gasoline or any other flammable materials.

How do you keep quarter panels from rusting?

Quarter panels can be particularly hard to fix, so prevention is always better than cure when it comes to quarter panel rust.

Of course, this applies to all car panels.

So, how do you prevent your quarter panels from rusting?

Cleanliness is key

Allowing dirt to build up is probably the number one cause of rust in quarter panels, as dirt holds moisture which aids the oxidisation process.

To ensure the best possible clean, you should consider jacking your car up and removing your tyres and washing everything in the wheel wall.

Another tip for rust prevention is to remove any rubber strips behind the rear wheel. These strips  allow moisture and dirt to build up in the seam between the quarter panel and the inner wheel wall.

Some garages refer to these rubber strips as “rust strips” because of how they cause rust.

Another tip to detect if rust has already begin is to go inside the trunk and pull the side panels back so that you can see the inside of the quarter panel.

Take an oil can with motor oil and shoot the same seam between the quarter panel and the inner wheel wall from the inside of the car with oil.

If you have a lot of rust, oil will drip out the other side, so be sure to put something down underneath the car to capture the oil.

If you can see visible rust, soak it with oil to neutralise the rust and stop the spread.

Is fixing rust on a car worth it?

This really depends on the make and model of the car and the overall mechanical shape of the car.

If the care is a prestige or classic vehicle and in good mechanical shape, then yes, fixing the rust on your car will prove a worthwhile investment.

If you can do it yourself, great! You will save significant labour costs.

If the car is of little value, has a lot of kms on the odometer and is in poor mechanical shape, then repairing the rust might not be such a worthwhile investment.