Expert: William Forster - 9/12/2007

Question
Just bought a '91 Toyota PU in decent shape but the rear wheelwells are both covered with rust, maybe 1-2 inches up from edge of well. I don't care about aesthetics (I'll probably paint it with primer when done) but I would like to clean up that rust. I don't have any specialized tools but do have an electric drill with wire brushes. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

Answer
Lance, some things are better left alone. If you don't have the proper tools, don't even attempt to do this. grinding the rust off and primering it will actually make the problem worse. Primer has no capability to protect the newly bared steel from the elements, and once rust takes hold again, it will run through the panels like wildfire. On your Toyota, these were NOTORIOUSLY rusty trucks, and the rust is actually bubbles coming through from the back side- a classic rust out. The bubbles are going to look better than Swiss cheesy rust holes that will be left by grinding the paint bubbles off. Bill