Strut mounts/top mounts

[xantiagreen]

Hi, I was cleaning the car and noticed that from under the front wheel arches the mounts seemed in good shape but realised that all hell could be breaking loose where I cant see in between, now would it be a good idea to un bolt the strut mounts/top mounts and either paint with a good quality anti rust paint and cover it in thick grease and sandwich back together or clean the rust of if any and grease and back together, as I've had heartattack moment once before groaning, squeaking off the kerb and nasty bulge through bonnet.

Thanks in advance.

[xantiagreen]

forgot to mention is Tectyl wax spray any good by Valvoline, says it hardens up and cannot be washed off and so on, spray the mounts with this stuff and grease.

[citronut]

i belive the problem with applying wax and or grease to the strut tops will cause them to fail quicker,

as the way these are constructed they rely on the bonded rubber over the surface and in between, to hold the two main component parts together,

rustproofing wax's and grease will deteriorate the bonded rubber,

[xantiagreen]

i belive the problem with applying wax and or grease to the strut tops will cause them to fail quicker,

as the way these are constructed they rely on the bonded rubber over the surface and in between, to hold the two main component parts together,

rustproofing wax's and grease will deteriorate the bonded rubber,

Ohhh Sugar I've already applied grease by carlube in between the wheel arch and rubber mount and also greased from top and sprayed wax. How do I remove it all.

[myglaren]

Ohhh Sugar I've already applied grease by carlube in between the wheel arch and rubber mount and also greased from top and sprayed wax. How do I remove it all.

[Stickyfinger]

TherMite ?

[xantiagreen]

BT endured years of thermite damage when they had payphones everywhere (apparenlty)

Any hows do the ther-mites eat the grease leaving it nice and clean, some grease, penetrating oil companies say it's ok to use on metal, plastic, wood and rubber.

[Old-Guy]

Anything petroleum-based will attack the rubber to a greater extent. The usual failure mode in the UK is that the steel mounting flange (under the wheel-arch) rusts out where it's not visible. In part this is because the rubber is porous enough for moisture and air to reach the bare steel under the rubber. If you clean off the wax/grease/oil with hot water and detergent (but soak as little as possible, allow the rubber to dry in a warm place overnight, then paint the mating surfaces of the mount and the wheel-arch with a thin coat of underseal and re-fit the mount while the under seal is still soft. This will stop (salty) water creeping in between. Wash spilt LHM off the rubber with warm soapy water.

In hotter climates, like down-under, the problem is different; the rubber deteriorates in the heat.

[citronut]

i personally belive the metal only starts to rust after the bonded rubber coating starts to break down/perish/crack,
this in turn allows the wet to get to the metal, and also wet gets trapped between the metal parts and the rubber