this is how I plan to prevent rust of the Brat rear shock mounts, with pics here:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=14357

 

First off, I removed all dust, dirt, rocks from the rear part of the shock mount hollows on my CALI Brat. Next, I applied POR-15 rust paint over everything. Then I cut cardboard patterns for the foam packing stuff, to stuff in the hollows. Trimmed to fit so they are wedged in the hollows. Stuffed in, and seam sealed all around.

Next, cut trimmed and applied rubber membrane stuff over that, using seam sealer to attach, and seal off any gaps. Also seam sealed over the factory seams in that area. Then applied another coat of POR-15 over the membrane, and the seam sealer, then undercoated once dry

 

This should prevent any salt spray, etc crap to go behind the hollows which is what causes the rust.

I noticed this when doing the rear shocks on my wagon. I was thinking of shooting grease back there or something so the bolt tips wouldn't crud up.

Fancy!

I need to spend a good weekend with my angle grinder and MIG welder to give my '82 Brat some love...

Hopefully I can find me some new rocker panels in case the old ones are worse than they look...

I suspect that the mounts are not as rigid as they could be, and the mounts themselves flex, cracking any kind of applied coating, allowing rust to start in virtually all situations.

A nice write-up; you should submit it to the USRM if you haven't already. Also, a good application of never-seeze compound on the bolts when mounting the shocks will go a long toward future problems with removing the bolts to replace the shocks.

A nice write-up; you should submit it to the USRM if you haven't already. Also, a good application of never-seeze compound on the bolts when mounting the shocks will go a long toward future problems with removing the bolts to replace the shocks.

yep, did put antisieze on the bolts, and also cleaned the threads of the bolts, and the nuts with tap and die set.