I know of the certain ares that are prone to rusting like the floors, the firewall, the wheel well lips, and the spare tire area. I want to know why these are the common areas? Any ideas? When I bought my camaro, my pare tire area was perfect. Now it has a hole, and I know it will grow. I just want to know the cause, and maybe I can stop it. Any ideas at all?

 

Exposure to salt and moisture. I am from Ohio and this is a big issue there but my latest car I bought in NC and has no signs of rust.

 

That does make sense. Atleast this year they haven't needed salt yet! Or even the plows for that matter. Well, I assume washing the underside every now and again would help slow it down. I just need to fix the holes I had. If I could weld I'd be done.

 

Wash and undercoat just where water is splashed into especially the original mud flaps are a bad area

 

A lot of the reasons for the rust in some of those places are due to the ancient body seam sealer they used at the factory. I know that a lot of cars have problems behind the kick panels as well, and I know that there is a problem with the front end of the rockers, where the metal bends come together, that the seam sealer has busted off of. I had the same problem in the driver's rear stowage compartment where about 6 sheet metal panels come together that form the wheel well (I used to get about an inch of water back there driving in a decent rain!). I'd guess that this is a common problem, with the seam sealer breaking off after getting hardened and vibrating loose due to driving conditions.