How to protect the chassis at home?

Chassis protection has two main goals: to prevent corrosion and to shield components from external influences. To avoid rust, it is important to ensure proper chassis protection; While factory chassis protection usually provides excellent protection for many years, it can wear and deteriorate over time due to use and environmental factors. It is generally advisable to address factory protection when its condition has deteriorated or significant wear and damage is observed.

Corrosion often occurs around the wheel arches, where smaller or larger stones kicked up by the wheels can cause surface damage. In addition, the hollow surfaces of the car are also vulnerable as they accumulate moisture, dust, and mud. The area around the double plate is particularly sensitive as it is constantly exposed to impacting elements and moisture.

In areas where wet contaminants accumulate for long periods, the bodywork can rust, the paint can blister due to rust, and discoloration can occur. This not only causes aesthetic problems but can also cause serious consequences by damaging the car's structure. Due to corrosion, important components of the vehicle can lose their rigidity, as thresholds and lower beams can be completely destroyed. As this poses a significant danger, a car with holes in its important structural elements will surely fail the technical inspection.

Chassis protection at home

If we want to carry out aftermarket chassis protection ourselves, it is worth considering that this task is extremely complex and requires other conditions to be met besides hard work. Such as the presence of a lift or pit, without which it is not recommended to start. Under no circumstances should we attempt to tilt the car, as besides being life-threatening, we can cause a lot of damage. If the right conditions are not available, it is better to entrust a professional with the implementation of chassis protection.

1. Preparation
   
   Proper preparation of the surface is extremely important, as no matter what tools and materials we have, if we only preserve rust with them and catalyze the oxidation process with closed moisture. Choose a warm summer day (week) to perform the task and start with a thorough chassis wash. Once this is done, remove the covers and protective covers carefully so as not to break them. Let it dry for 1 day in the heat to make sure there is no moisture on the chassis. If the surface is adequately dry, then inspection is next. Thoroughly inspect the surface and uncover the flaws.

2. Rust removal
   
   The most important and most difficult part of chassis protection is undoubtedly rust removal and passivation. Although the brand can also affect the durability of chassis protection, the quality of the product plays a secondary role. Primarily, we need to focus on passivation to prevent the spread of existing problems. If rust is found on the chassis, it is advisable to remove it with sanding or rust converter if possible. (Where we sanded and saw raw metal surface, we can coat it with rust converter) In the case of narrow places where sanding is not possible, spray the rust converter material onto the chassis from a spray bottle. It is important to follow the application instructions and let it work for the time specified by the manufacturer! Then, thoroughly clean any remaining contaminants from the surface with a degreasing fluid. There should be no oil or other substances left that could degrade the adhesion of the chassis protection materials. Primer the sanded metal parts with rust inhibiting primer.

3. Application of chassis protection
   
   Chassis protection materials are generally applied by spraying, but it is not certain that a suitable compressor and applicator gun are available at home. In such cases, spray products can be chosen, but it is best to combine brushable materials with spray aerosols. Apply the chassis protection with a brush to easily accessible areas, and use spray products where brushing is not possible. Thicker layers can be applied to areas subject to greater stress, but it is not advisable to overdo it. It is important not to mix the exhaust, brakes, and shock absorbers! Finally, use the "rücsi" material to spray the wheel arches and thresholds.

The tasks related to chassis protection are serious and complex tasks, so if we are not sure about our skills or the right tools are not available, it is worth considering entrusting the task to a professional. With proper chassis protection, the car can remain reliable and retain its value in the long run.