I have a 9 bolt to go under my Firebird. It's a little rusty, and I want to clean it up and paint it before I put it in.

I'm wondering whether it would be better to use naval jelly, or some other chemical rust remover, to just take a wire brush wheel to it, or to use another method.

Also, what's the best paint to use on a rearend housing?

 

i'd use a sand blaster and POR-15 for paint

 

I don't think you can use a sandblaster on an assembled rearend.

 

Honestly...the only thing I ever use on rear is just regular old engine enamel. POR 15 is great stuff. I usually dont have a can sitting around for that sort of thing because its pricey. If one of my rears needs touched up, I just hit it with some more paint. My jeep axles hole up fairly well and I drag them over rocks, through deep water and mud, and through snow. Every summer I just grab a can of spray paint and just hit the few areas that got messed up. That duplicolor engine paint you can get at like autozone is good stuff. It sprays really nice too so I can usually get away with donig touch ups and not masking anything off.

To clean off the rust, I would just use a wire wheel on a drill. If you do a good job, you will get most of the rust off. And if you are going to use POR 15...you can paint over rust anyways. That stuff is friggin awesome.

I wouldnt sand blast it unless you take out the carrier assembly, the axles, and all the bearings. Then either get it washed or wash it out yourself really well. Sand floating around inside your axle wont be too good for it It might not be a bad time to strip it down and freshen it up anyway if its a used axle. Its always easier to replace seals with the housing out from under the car...

Just my 2 cents.


Justin