What to do about this rust in 2000 Legacy?

[destey]

Bought a nearly rust free Virginia car, hoping to keep it in good condition. Hasn't started poking on the outside on that side yet, but that will probably happen soon. The other side has about the same thing but is poking through. Any idea what I should do or have done?

 

For reference, this is the area. Its the drivers side rear well.

 

 

Here's the rust

 

 

Edited November 2, 2017 by destey

[Subasaurus]

the absolute easiest thing that i do is buy some BBQ Grill paint that is actually made to stop rust/prevent it, as long as its in a spot that no one can see, sufficating the rust from oxygen will stop the rust as long as you paint behind and infront of it. done it so many times on my vehicles, but perhaps theres some other easier and cheaper way to stop it for a few years that someone else might know here...

Edited November 2, 2017 by Subasaurus

[destey]

So I talked to my neighbor, who used to work at a body shop, and he said he could cut out that area and weld in a new piece. Maybe I should take him up on it? The passengers side I saw a little wetness from driving in the rain along the weld on the opposite side of the above pic. It must be rotted through.

 

All the Subarus around here rot out in that area quite bad. This looks like the early stages before it gets to that. The outside rust on that rear quarterpanel seems to start from not only the inside of the weld but also it rubs on the bumper cover and that rubber strip they slide on the wheel well.

 

I'm almost thinking the only way to keep it from getting worse is to have it cut out, what do you guys think?

[987687]

Cutting it out seems like a ridiculous extreme, covering it over will just let it rust through in silence. You can probably reach in there with a die grinder with a carbide on it, or a long handled wire brush and clean it up to bare metal. Then paint it, not a huge deal.

[Subasaurus]

Cutting out and welding a new piece of metal is definitely the correct way of fixing it, I was just saying a quick and easy way since it's hidden away from sight rust

[Rooster2]

I don't know that I would spend much money on doing body work on a 17 year old car, in hiring the body man to do a cut and weld. It appears from the photos that the rust is entering the trunk from the outside, and rusting inward. I would just go with some rust proof paint, grill paint, or whatever,  applied to the inside and outside, and call it a day. Yes, it will probably start to rust more in the future, but sealing off the rusted area will slow down the advancement of future rust.

[987687]

Yes, and if you hide it further away it can rust on in silence. I guarantee if you just paint over that with any product on the shelf, it'll rust through.

[destey]

I don't know that I would spend much money on doing body work on a 17 year old car, in hiring the body man to do a cut and weld. It appears from the photos that the rust is entering the trunk from the outside, and rusting inward. I would just go with some rust proof paint, grill paint, or whatever,  applied to the inside and outside, and call it a day. Yes, it will probably start to rust more in the future, but sealing off the rusted area will slow down the advancement of future rust.

 

17 years old, yes but its a GT limited and its quite clean inside. Almost no rust anywhere else. Put some work into it recently, lots of new parts so hoping to get a good life out of it. Every subaru I've owned rusted out pretty bad in that area (owned 7 95-99 subarus), just hoping to avoid that for once

[idosubaru]

Really depends where its starting from. Hard to tell if it’s really starting there or possibly has issues inside the inner wheel well or somewhere which you’ll never easily contain without extensive work.

 

Rust starting from under/outside is likely more problematic due to salt where inside rust starting from a leaky trunk may be less benign. My tractors get rust from being outside in the elements but never see salt so the rust takes decades to cause problems. I have zero rust holes even close in my Kubota, can’t dream of having a Subaru like that.

 

Might get lucky but usually that stuff ends up being worse than you want.

 

Ideally it’s cut out. That’s a seriously substantial job and I hope you and this person realize what you’re getting into and agreeing to.

 

It’s a lot of work - cutting, forming and welding.

Then you gotta deal with paint - preparing blending and painting is also extensive work done correctly. You probably don’t want a $500 MACO spray.

 

You could attempt a simple repair now and just deal with it if it comes back quick.

[brus brother]

I was recently at a small car show and someone had an ancient Russian made car. Every seem and joint was coated in oil. The owner claims this is the only way they can keep rust at bay.

I have heard of farmers using this on their plows and machinery. Not sure if it works but it sure is cheap!

[Rooster2]

I was recently at a small car show and someone had an ancient Russian made car. Every seem and joint was coated in oil. The owner claims this is the only way they can keep rust at bay.

I have heard of farmers using this on their plows and machinery. Not sure if it works but it sure is cheap!

Yes, I have heard of this. The oil does stop oxidation (rust), However, it is really a messy, but like said........sure is cheap!

[Subasaurus]

Oil does work, extremely well actually, just messy, older subarus from the 80's leaked a lot of oil "naturally" so many of them did that, that there's a joke floating around saying that the Subaru came with the rust prevention option from the dealer. (By having the whole underside of the vehicle soaked in oil not purposely)

[Subasaurus]

I was recently at a small car show and someone had an ancient Russian made car. Every seem and joint was coated in oil. The owner claims this is the only way they can keep rust at bay.

 

Probably a Russian AvtoVAZ LADA (i think thats how you spell it), those cars are pretty cool, they look like volvo 240's. except it reminds people of communism, still cool that they were imported in the 70's, although i thought it was only to Canada but some seem to have made it to the states, perhaps the 25year old rule import, but anyways rusted to hell like old Subaru's, seen only 1 running around in my life in my city.

[brus brother]

Probably a Russian AvtoVAZ LADA (i think thats how you spell it), those cars are pretty cool, they look like volvo 240's. except it reminds people of communism, still cool that they were imported in the 70's, although i thought it was only to Canada but some seem to have made it to the states, perhaps the 25year old rule import, but anyways rusted to hell like old Subaru's, seen only 1 running around in my life in my city.

Exactly. It was a Lada and it was this fellow's daily driver.

Very proud owner originally from the old country.

Located in Westport , CT guy said he takes regular long haul trips to Boston etc. with nary a concern. Every joint and weld had oil on it and it seemed to be holding up pretty well.