protectant for torsion bars

[lazymanor]

WE are new owners of a 2004 3326. I have not been able to find anything about what to use to prevent rust or how to care for the torsion bars. What can be used without leaving an oily film. Any ideas on what the TM dealers use.

[scrubjaysnest]

Ours just have paint. So I would guess a light sanding without dis assembly, primer and repaint would do the trick

[Bill]

Sand / prime / paint will look good for a while. However, the whole purpose of a torsion bar is to flex. Any coating that can't flex with it - and paint is a good example - will gradually come off and expose the underlying steel again. I painted mine once, then didn't bother the next time it needed it. Wish I had a better answer, but I don't.

Just my experience. Others may differ.

Bill

There are coatings that bond molecularly with rust, naval jelly or Fluid Film come to mind. I agree with Bill, you have to use special flexible coatings to survive a TM torsion bar. I have never done anything with mine.

[fourteener]

I wonder if a rubberized undercoating material would work. I know that rustoleum has both a rubberized undercoating and a truck bed liner/tuff coat. I would be willing to bet that the bed liner would do the trick,,,,,,,I may have to give it a try.

[lazymanor]

Talked to Will at the Car Show this last week and he stated they do not use anything as a protectant .This works in Colorado, but may not in coastal areas. Still have not found anything in the older posts.

[FujiPedaler]

You might look into "LPS3" which is a heavy duty lube in a spray can but it does "Dry" out so as not to attract dirt and can easily be remove with a solvent.

I know of a classic car owner who dove it through out the winter in Chicago. He sprayed it all over the car's chasse to protect the finish. A lot of salt used on the roads during the winter.

Good luck.

[Kidkraz]

I'm not a fan of rust either, but I would not want to apply a coating which could trap moisture, promoting more rusting. When the paint peels or blisters, clean it as best as possible and use a paint with a rust inhibitor.
Less rust = longer life.