The Red Menace (How to Deal with Rust)
November 14, 2021
Rust. It's worse if you drive in places that use salt on the roads in winter, or if you spend time driving near a body of salt water. But any vehicle has to deal with rust after years on the road. And it's not just that rust can eat away your vehicle's body and fenders. It can be a real problem around your suspension, drivetrain or any place where there's metal.
Rust takes its time. You don't see it until it's already done its dirty work. It can wreak havoc with your electrical system. Sure, vehicle manufacturers do their best to keep it to a minimum, but especially with road treatments like brine around, their task is a difficult one.
The one spot everyone notices is in the paint. You see a little bubbling under the once-smooth surface. By the time it bubbles, it's well involved in rotting away that spot of your vehicle. You wouldn't believe how just a little thing can start the process on its way. A stone chips the paint down to the metal, moisture and salt reach the steel and rust is off and running. It could be a scratch in the paint, a little dent, acid from a parking garage, tree sap, you name it. If you spot it, show it to your service advisor because rust can be more than a cosmetic problem. It can be a safety issue.
While you can see the rust destroy your vehicle's body, you can't see it destroying your engine. But it can. It can eat away at such areas as air intakes or the exhaust system. Not only can it reduce performance, but also it can disable electrical connections. In this day and age where just about everything in your vehicle has a computer component to it, just a small electrical problem can strand you at the roadside.
Corrosion can attack your vehicle's chassis or frame, and they are what provide the structural strength and stability for everything attached. Think powertrain, suspension, axles, window frames. The list goes on and on. Structural integrity is vital to safety, so the stakes are high.
Now you can see why rust damages more than just the good looks of your vehicle. There's one thing to remember about corrosion - much of it is only visible from underneath the vehicle. When you bring your vehicle in to Spartan Tire Brighton for service, our technician can look for any problems from that important vantage point. It's always a good idea to point out any spots that you think might spell trouble. That way you can stay ahead of it and beat rust at its own game.
Spartan Tire Brighton
4880 Old U.S. 23
Brighton, MI 48114
8102277377
Need Service?
More articles from Spartan Tire Brighton

Why is My Vehicle Overheating?
October 11, 2026
When it comes to your vehicle overheating, the signs can be loud and clear when you have a problem. You may see a thermometer-shaped warning light come on or a temperature gauge whose needle is pointing in the red zone. When either of those happen, its important to take quick action to avoid se... More

Straight Steering Starts Here
October 4, 2026
Wheel alignment is one of those maintenance items you probably dont notice until something doesnt feel quite right. But alignment plays a major role in how safely and smoothly your vehicle handles. If your wheels arent all pointed in the right direction, everything from steering response to tire ... More

Grinding, Jerking and Slipping
September 27, 2026
Gone are the early days of driving when people had to manually shift gears in their vehicles. Now, though, we are spoiled by automatic transmissions that seem like theyll go forever. Like everything mechanical, automatic transmissions can develop problems. Signs trouble is brewing sometimes s... More
