Have you ever seen a battery terminal that’s covered in white or bluish-green gunk? If so, you’re familiar with corrosion. Believe it or not, this natural process doesn’t just affect our batteries—it can also be a major problem for the metal on the exterior of our vehicles. If corrosion gets bad enough, it can eventually necessitate foreign auto repair in Conway, AR. If you’re a car owner, keep reading. This post will teach you what you need to know about corrosion.
What causes corrosion?
Corrosion is a natural process wherein metal components begin to deteriorate due to the presence of acidic substances (including water). As time goes on, corrosion will spread throughout your vehicle, eventually leading to costly and difficult repairs, which we’ll learn more about below.
Problems caused by corrosion
Obviously, corrosion isn’t our friend. It wreaks havoc on several aspects of our vehicles. These are a few of the most common issues caused by corrosion:
- Seized wheel: A wheel that won’t come off the drum is a big hassle for any mechanic trying to replace your brakes. Usually, this problem occurs when the bearing or axle hub is severely corroded. Your mechanic’s best option is to loosen the lug nuts and then spray a penetrating agent on the hub to remove some of that corroded metal. We’ll then try to clean off the hub and tire and get them looking fresh as can be.
- Stuck drum and rotor: Brake drums and rotors that are stuck together due to corrosion aren’t much fun to deal with for a mechanic. Using a hammer can cause permanent damage, as can pullers and heat. However, as long as you’re careful, you should be able to remove the corrosion using an air hammer without causing any more problems. Use the air hammer on the center of the cap. This impact should break up any corrosion around the hub so that the drum can be removed.
- Rotor seized on the hub: The solution to a rotor that’s welded itself to a flange is quite a bit easier than you might expect, as long as you’re careful. You can use heat to break down the corrosion and destroy the bond between the rotor and the flange. However, be careful how much heat you apply. If the rotor gets too hot, you could destroy the wheel bearing seals.
Can you prevent corrosion?
Since corrosion is a naturally occurring phenomenon, there’s nothing we can really do to prevent it outright. However, you can do your part by keeping your car clean and ensuring that metal components of your vehicle are always properly lubricated. Another bit of advice is to bring your car in for regular inspections. The faster we detect corrosion, the easier it’ll be to remove and correct.
Regardless of the problem with your vehicle, Riverdale Automotive should be your number one choice for foreign auto repair in Conway, AR. Our mechanics have years of experience fixing all sorts of issues with foreign vehicles. If something seems amiss, come to see us—we’ll quickly diagnose the problem and repair your car!