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Due51

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I have a 2008 Ford Explorer with over 200,000 miles. I bought it new. Never rust-proofed it. It has held up extremely well

Thanks. I've been wondering if I should do this. I have a 2008 Ford Explorer with over 200,000 miles. Never parked in a garage. 100% of it's life spent in Michigan. Looks like new and I have never rust-proofed. Recent picture below. I hope my Bronco holds up as well... but I've been considering giving it an edge with a little rust-proofing...
B5C5D25A-639E-40C5-AACD-9227C304053C.jpeg
Kudos to you taking such great care of your cars. That Explorer looks brand new.
I don't know if they use as much salt on the west side, but they lay it everywhere here; in our neighborhood, on the surface streets, and the highway from my house all the way to my work downtown Detroit. The only place I don't encounter salt is the surface streets in Detroit. lol They don't even plow them. (Good thing we got the Sasquatch package :ROFLMAO:)

I debated about getting it done, but a guy I know who has a 25 year old Dodge Ram 2500 had his coated by Ziebart when he bought it, and the truck doesn't have a speck of rust on the body/frame (though the chrome bumpers have issues). That swayed me to get it because I've never seen a 10+ year old Ram that was completed rotted on the wheel well.
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rayhil67

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My two cents on Ziebart, I have talked to a couple of Jeeper’s who have used them for undercoating. From what I have heard they use a thick tar-based spray that hardens and forms a shield like barrier. I think this would be great for a Brand-new vehicle but not something that has any miles on it. From what I’ve seen in blogs and Utube videos, if this is put over top of any rust spots it will give the rust “a home” to feed and grow. I was considering using them but, there are only 2 stores in all of PA the closest is 50 miles from me and they recommend the truck sit for 24 - 48 hours to make sure it properly hardens.

This is a big inconvenience being they are so far away from my home, they also recommend that you bring it back once a year for as long as you own it for 100 dollar “touch ups”. If they were closer I might consider going this route but as of now, if I ever do get my Bronco I’m going to do the DIY fluid film route.
 

WuNgUn

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You definitely wouldn't get this quality of job from a Zeibart or Krown shop!
You get what you pay for, and the fact that the shop let him crawl all under his truck with a camera shows they stand behind their work 👍🏻
 

JohnnyX

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Kudos to you taking such great care of your cars. That Explorer looks brand new.
I don't know if they use as much salt on the west side, but they lay it everywhere here; in our neighborhood, on the surface streets, and the highway from my house all the way to my work downtown Detroit. The only place I don't encounter salt is the surface streets in Detroit. lol They don't even plow them. (Good thing we got the Sasquatch package :ROFLMAO:)

I debated about getting it done, but a guy I know who has a 25 year old Dodge Ram 2500 had his coated by Ziebart when he bought it, and the truck doesn't have a speck of rust on the body/frame (though the chrome bumpers have issues). That swayed me to get it because I've never seen a 10+ year old Ram that was completed rotted on the wheel well.
I list my location as Pentwater, MI because we have a cabin there. But I live in Birmingham... same salt as you. Lots of back and forth from the West side of state though... only difference is the addition of sand to the salt mix there. My office is also in downtown Detroit, but I've been working remote... Not sure I can take credit for how well the Explorer held up... Kudos really go to Ford. I got the truck when our older son was 1 year old. He's now 15 and will be assuming ownership. He's in driver's education right now. I'm not sure he fully appreciates what he has been given... but I'm teaching him how to take care of it.
 

GreenMtnBronco

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Haven't read the whole thread, but it's clear that most Northeasterners get this. @redone17 I am nearby in Rockland and back/forth to VT all the time.. should meet up when I go up to Breakneck in the spring!
@SkyKing - is there a name for this process? would be helpful as I'd like to find someone near me..
 

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Ranbronc

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I drove mine home from the dealer and straight to the garage and applied fluid film.
Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 20211225_104034
Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 20211225_104108
Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 20211225_103958
 

Due51

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I list my location as Pentwater, MI because we have a cabin there. But I live in Birmingham... same salt as you. Lots of back and forth from the West side of state though... only difference is the addition of sand to the salt mix there. My office is also in downtown Detroit, but I've been working remote... Not sure I can take credit for how well the Explorer held up... Kudos really go to Ford. I got the truck when our older son was 1 year old. He's now 15 and will be assuming ownership. He's in driver's education right now. I'm not sure he fully appreciates what he has been given... but I'm teaching him how to take care of it.
Hopefully he heeds your advice. I'm just up Adams Road a couple miles from you.
 

OffRoader90

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Man, these haters are lame. I get the costs, and protecting your vehicle OP. Living in New England, it sucks when the roads are super salted, and then worried about it. Granted I am not too worried but still. Some people do PPF, some people do Stealth PPF, and some people wax and wash their cars religiously. Northern states is a better idea with snow, so I see the value add. I am also considering this and thought your post was helpful, informative and detailed. Enjoy your ride brother-HH
 

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Haven't read the whole thread, but it's clear that most Northeasterners get this. @redone17 I am nearby in Rockland and back/forth to VT all the time.. should meet up when I go up to Breakneck in the spring!
@SkyKing - is there a name for this process? would be helpful as I'd like to find someone near me..
I live on the backside of Breakneck. There are some old emergency routes back here. Planning to explore them a bit this coming season 👍🏻
 

GToddC5

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There's a custom car accessory shop around the corner from me. They do anything from Tint, Stereo, Lift Kits, Wraps, Paint, Powder - you name it. High end stuff too, for high end clients. So I reached out yesterday about undercoating, and was told they use a PPG direct to metal undercoat product. I'm trying to do some research about it, but the industry I work in actually uses many types of PPG products for prolonged exposure to the elements and high wear. They said they would remove skid plates, not cover the Bilsteins, etc. Said they would need the Bronco for two days, and charge $750.
 

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Great wright-up and discussion! I live and drive where massive loads of salt are dumped onto the roads. My friends and I use a rotating lawn sprinkler and push it around under my vehicles after each snow event. this works well at removing salt.
 

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How is this any different than line-x on the undercarriage which everyone says is a bad idea? If you hit something it’s going to crack and leave space for water and rust to come in.
 

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@SkyKing thanks for taking the time to put together such a great tutorial. Living in NY I'm definitely intrigued and interested.

I had my '04 Titan for 18 years and ultimately sold it to buy the Bronco. I took care of it best I could for all that time. When I sold it the body and interior looked mint but the undercarriage was literally rusting away underneath. I dont want to see the same happen to my new Bronco as I hope to have it just as long.

IMG_20211011_115117.jpg


IMG_20211011_115109.jpg


20211011_171307.jpg


2019-07-13_11-17-13.jpg
 

vzqhsg

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The purpose of this thread is to provide information about my experience with professionally rust proofing my 2021 Bronco Wildtrak. This is an update to some earlier threads I started here:

Worried about rust on your Bronco? You should be. Here's why.

Startling video about why you should be worried about RUST!

Background: I live in New England where they heavily salt the roads. My previous car (2006 4Runner recently had to be towed away for parts at 140K miles because the frame had rotted beyond repair – otherwise it was in great condition. This experience jaded me so I was particularly eager to avoid a recurring situation. Disclaimer – my 4Runner was one of the ones (like Tacomas which were recalled for frame rust) that Toyota outsourced the frame to a 3rd party that failed to properly treat for rust. I am now part of current litigation pursuit for 4Runners. That said, I’m now hyper-sensitive about rust and I keep my cars for a long time. This is my daily driver.

My Wildtrak Bronco is a Dirt Mountain POW, delivered on Dec 23, 2021. The day I got it, the roads were heavily salted. In less than 2 weeks, with only 250 miles on it, there was already a strange amount of rust build up on some parts. For comparison, a friend of mine, also in MA, has been driving his bronco since August (not from Dirt Mountain) and the parts on mine that are rusted are still pristine on his (did something happen at Dirt Mountain????).

So, I brought my Bronco to Alpha Cars in Boxborough, MA to have it treated for future rust avoidance. This is a high end shop of perfectionists that restore/sell exotic cars, and provide services such as detailing, body work, performance mods, exhausts, stereo, engine/suspension upgrades, ceramic coatings, PPF, detailing, etc. This shop provided some insightful pics and video of before and after.

Who should keep reading:
  • Anyone who wants to see what the Bronco looks like underneath
  • Anyone who lives in areas where they salt the roads, who wants to learn more about rust protection approaches with before/after video
  • Anyone who wants to understand what Ford has/hasn’t done to protect Bronco’s from rust
  • Anyone in New England who is considering professional rust protection
About this vendor, pricing, and products used:
  • This is a high-end vendor. They are meticulous and the shop is like a museum. There are surely less expensive vendors that offer rust protection services. Personally, I was worried about finding someone I trust, because I am a skeptic on pretty much everything and the value/effectiveness of rust proofing has been debated for decades. This vendor left me confident that they did as very comprehensive job. They did a combination of cleaning/prepping the undercarriage, sanding rusted parts, treating them with rust converter, adding multiple coats of “hard wax” to the undercarriage, and spraying “Waxoil” into the frame and body cavities. They removed wheel wells and other parts. The treatment is intended to last for the lifetime of the car. There are other products that other vendors and DIY consumers use including Fluid film, NH oil, tar-like undercoating, and other products, which all have pros/cons and price implications. If your car is already heavily rusted, the cost would be more because it would require more preparation. For my vendor, with my "new" car, it was around $1200 to clean, prep and apply 4 coats of hard wax to the undercarriage. I had them go further to get inside the frame, rocker panels and other areas with Waxoil, for a few hundred more. If you choose to do business with Alpha Cars, and mention my name (Jeff Abbott), they will give you $100 off your service. No I don’t work for them. (978) 237-5906. Ask for Jacob. They are good guys.
Before you tell me that I wasted my money:
  • I understand that my Bronco is new and barely had any rust on it. However, I was alarmed at how quickly rust had already formed on some hardware and other parts in less than 2 weeks and it makes me cringe. I plan to keep my car for a long time and again, my 4Runner was just hauled away for parts from frame rust. Not going to let that happen again.
  • I understand that there is a realistic chance that I could have ignored this issue and I may never have a mechanical problem from rust ever.
  • I understand that there are DIY products that cost less and will help protect from rust, each with pros and cons.
  • I understand that rust proofing, ceramic coating, and other things are associated with snake oil salesmen, and some people feel that rust proofing doesn’t do anything at all, isn’t needed, or even makes things worse. I chose this vendor because I believe that they have integrity and expertise and the best products and processes, and will stand behind their work. Can I prove that it was worth it? Not yet.
Jeff, I don’t want to spend the time watching these videos. What are the key takeaways?
  • According to Alpha Cars, compared to most other cars, the Bronco has very little rust protection from the manufacturer. For example, the body panels have between 5 and 9 mils of paint thickness. FYI, a mil is a thousandth of an inch (not a millimeter). The Bronco frame has only 0.5-1.0 mil of paint, which is nearly nothing. For comparison, Alpha Cars tells me that most American cars have between 1-2 mils on the frame, and European cars usually have have more. Some places on the Bronco have no paint at all where they should.
  • Different products have pros/cons. Hard wax is for the undercarriage and it is more resilient to the outside world. Unlike oils, hard wax is designed to stay on the car for life with little to no maintenance. Unlike the old-school tar-like undercoatings, hard wax doesn’t gum up your undercarriage to the point to where you couldn’t get a wrench on a nut. The hard wax was applied over several days in 4 coats. Waxoil, is more liquid-like and is sprayed to the enclosed areas, where it can travel to hard to reach areas and penetrate. Also, DIY versions of these exist, and other people will use Fluid Film, NH oil, spent motor oil, or even WD-40, but these require annual reapplication.
  • It’s up to you as to how thorough you want to be, and it comes with a price. In my case, they not only treated the undercarriage and frame, but they also removed the wheel wells, flares and plugs in the frame/rockers to access many enclosed areas, including the entire inside of the frame. In the case of the Bronco, there are so many built-in holes in the frame, they did not need to drill the frame to access everywhere. In my case, they also sanded and rust treated the drive shaft and axle shafts. I may paint them too – really just for cosmetic reasons. My yellow Bilstein shocks are now black :(.
  • I am very pleased with the service and quality from Alpha Cars in Boxborough, MA. I believe they did this as thoroughly as possible and they clearly take pride in their work. Again, if you give them my name (Jeff Abbott), they will take $100 off your service. And again, they do lots of other stuff that new Bronco owners would be interested in.
Okay, enough already, show me the Before/After Videos:

BEFORE VIDEO
with evaluation. This has a great analysis of the paint thicknesses, and shows where Ford did, and didn’t, protect the Bronco from rust:


AFTER VIDEO showing everything they did.



And here are some BEFORE pics (keep in mind this is from less that 2 weeks of ownership so it's obviously still in great shape overall and there is no rust on frame yet, but...):
Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 2019-07-13_11-17-13

Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 2019-07-13_11-17-13

Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 2019-07-13_11-17-13

Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 2019-07-13_11-17-13
Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 2019-07-13_11-17-13


And here are some AFTER pics (between 3rd and 4th coats):
Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 2019-07-13_11-17-13

Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 2019-07-13_11-17-13

Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 2019-07-13_11-17-13

Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos 2019-07-13_11-17-13
OK...I didn't read the entire thread. This looks like Ziebart. How does this differ from the Ziebart? I have used it for the past 40 years with good success. Thanks...Dave
 

vzqhsg

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This was my 1995 GMC Suburban. It had Ziebart on it and I had the under carriage done almost every year. This was a picture form 2011, but it looked the same when I sold it on 2017.
Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos Hemmerly Suburban Mar 2011 3 (640x427)
Ford Bronco Professional rust proofing my Bronco - BEFORE/AFTER with pics and videos Hemmerly Suburban Mar 2011 3 (640x427)
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