Undercoating yay or nay?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
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Undercoating yay or nay?
Well I just moved to Cedar Rapids Iowa from Los Angeles just for 6 months. I plan on shipping the vette here from Los Angeles via an open truck shipment $900 (does that price sound right to you?). It should take 3 days to arrive. My vettes my only car. And out here in the Midwest as we all know snow Salt and all that **** is present. Especially now. So my question to you is should I undercoat my car at the dealership for $220? Thanks guys.
Ps last question; my breaks squeal sometimes. What should I do? What does that mean? And how much would it cost to take care of that? I'm not handy so I'm gonna have an auto place take care of whatever it is that needS to be done. Thanks again guys. Seriously.
Ps last question; my breaks squeal sometimes. What should I do? What does that mean? And how much would it cost to take care of that? I'm not handy so I'm gonna have an auto place take care of whatever it is that needS to be done. Thanks again guys. Seriously.
Last edited by himycorvetteisa98; Jan 21, 2010 at 03:04 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
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From: Gurnee IL
If you are only in the area for 6 months I wouldn't bother, just keep it clean (give it a weekly under carage shower) and give it a super cleaning once winter is over...
I have been giving mine a quickie shower at that maunal high pressure sprayers once a week, nothing crazy but just knocking off the salt build up... Takes a few minutes and cost about $3
I have been giving mine a quickie shower at that maunal high pressure sprayers once a week, nothing crazy but just knocking off the salt build up... Takes a few minutes and cost about $3
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
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From: LaPine Oregon
road salts corrosion and then squeal like a brake.........
The road salts will corrode aluminum as well as ferrous metals ( ever see an aluminum boat oxide itself to death?) The trick is to get a commute 'beater' for winter and garage the vette. What are you gonna do about snow?
Brake squeal: take the rims off and look to see how much pad you have remaining. Or define or describe when the brakes squeal ( cold , stopping, when hot,ect) how long a duration do they squeal? is this all the sudden? Got to helps us out as there are many reasons.
Brake squeal: take the rims off and look to see how much pad you have remaining. Or define or describe when the brakes squeal ( cold , stopping, when hot,ect) how long a duration do they squeal? is this all the sudden? Got to helps us out as there are many reasons.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
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From: Gurnee IL
Possible small pitting or what not surface imperfections like tarnish on unprotected aluminum yeah, full blown corrosion on non-ferrus metals to any ill effect minimal if at all in a short few month period...
I have lived in Northern Illinois my entire life, body panel cancer is the biggest problem here from the salt due to trapped moisture and salt combined with a lack of maintence and thin unprotected sheet metal, it takes years or decades before there is any significant frame or structural part damage even on ferrus parts... Even longer if maintained with a good bath...
There will only likely be salt on the roads for the next month or so and probably not every day, as for the last week the Midwest is already hovering at the freeze level with rain/snow mixes... The rain washing the salt away, I almost took my motorcyle out yesterday because the roads were mostly salt dust free...
Last edited by Exoray; Jan 21, 2010 at 04:33 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 7
From: LaPine Oregon
The question is 'should I undercoat my car'
So will airborne sea salt, probably faster as it's 24/7 every day of the year exposure...
Possible small pitting or what not surface imperfections like tarnish on unprotected aluminum yeah, full blown corrosion on non-ferrus metals to any ill effect minimal if at all in a short few month period...
I have lived in Northern Illinois my entire life, body panel cancer is the biggest problem here from the salt due to trapped moisture and salt combined with a lack of maintence and thin unprotected sheet metal, it takes years or decades before there is any significant frame or structural part damage even on ferrus parts... Even longer if maintained with a good bath...
There will only likely be salt on the roads for the next month or so and probably not every day, as for the last week the Midwest is already hovering at the freeze level with rain/snow mixes... The rain washing the salt away, I almost took my motorcyle out yesterday because the roads were mostly salt dust free...
Possible small pitting or what not surface imperfections like tarnish on unprotected aluminum yeah, full blown corrosion on non-ferrus metals to any ill effect minimal if at all in a short few month period...
I have lived in Northern Illinois my entire life, body panel cancer is the biggest problem here from the salt due to trapped moisture and salt combined with a lack of maintence and thin unprotected sheet metal, it takes years or decades before there is any significant frame or structural part damage even on ferrus parts... Even longer if maintained with a good bath...
There will only likely be salt on the roads for the next month or so and probably not every day, as for the last week the Midwest is already hovering at the freeze level with rain/snow mixes... The rain washing the salt away, I almost took my motorcyle out yesterday because the roads were mostly salt dust free...
I was making a point of comparrison to southern California and Iowa and that one will experience road salt corrosion even if one were to 'undercoat' ones corvette undercarriage . Now we can also compare the coastal corrosion , or Canada's acid rain or perhaps include China's air pollution ( which is 150 times greater than the average readings in Los Angeles in the mid 1960s, according to the EPA) but undercoating the vette undercarriage will not help in any of these areas either.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
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My brakes squeal when I step on them sometimes. This started October. And that was when I was mad at my x gf, I was driving the vette hard for weeks, like slamming on the breaks and stuff like that.
How much Does it cost per pad to have somebody replace it?
And as for shipping my car on an open truck, will it be fine or get effed up by rock chips? Does the shipping cost of $750 (new quote) sound right to u guys?
And as for undercoating, it seems like I shouldn't based on the replies I have. And what I've gathered so far based on your replies is that any exposure to the current road conditions here in the Midwest will begin the rusting process. Am I right here? Thanx
How much Does it cost per pad to have somebody replace it?
And as for shipping my car on an open truck, will it be fine or get effed up by rock chips? Does the shipping cost of $750 (new quote) sound right to u guys?
And as for undercoating, it seems like I shouldn't based on the replies I have. And what I've gathered so far based on your replies is that any exposure to the current road conditions here in the Midwest will begin the rusting process. Am I right here? Thanx
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
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From: Gurnee IL
I was making a point of comparrison to southern California and Iowa and that one will experience road salt corrosion even if one were to 'undercoat' ones corvette undercarriage . Now we can also compare the coastal corrosion , or Canada's acid rain or perhaps include China's air pollution ( which is 150 times greater than the average readings in Los Angeles in the mid 1960s, according to the EPA) but undercoating the vette undercarriage will not help in any of these areas either.
Maintenence is the key, keep it clean and don't give the salt and elements a chance to work, this has bigger advantages then any undercoating...
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Gurnee IL
Will the road salt agrivate it, certainly as will 1001 other enviromental conditions most unavoidable... Will one month of exposure to the current Midwest road salt have any increased significant impact in the whole picture of the car, IMO nope unless it's a hardly driven indoor stored car...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
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From: LaPine Oregon
brake pads
GM pads http://www.gmpartshouse.com/c5partslist.html
I have no idea what the labor rate is where you live , but I do my own maintenance and repair for 40 plus years.
Brakes squeal applied from beaing worn out to the point that the sensor squeals, or rotors being glazed .
I have no idea what the labor rate is where you live , but I do my own maintenance and repair for 40 plus years.
Brakes squeal applied from beaing worn out to the point that the sensor squeals, or rotors being glazed .
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 7
From: LaPine Oregon
True all unvoidable, but purchasing a commute beater for maybe one month of snow and salt and 5 months of just fine weather is a little overkill IMO... He lives on in a costal region already, the difference in road salt damage for one month in the Midwest is hardly going to be any worse then his 365 days worth of costal airborne salt exposure...
Maintenence is the key, keep it clean and don't give the salt and elements a chance to work, this has bigger advantages then any undercoating...
Maintenence is the key, keep it clean and don't give the salt and elements a chance to work, this has bigger advantages then any undercoating...
Actually we don't know if his vette is exposed at all to any coastal enviroment as the LA area is 1300 sq miles. My sister-in-law lives one mile from the coast ( Huntington Beach ) for years and the costal enviroment has virtually no effect on their property or vehicles. Local ordinance restricts the amount of sea salt that is present in the atmosphere. :~)
With this new realization I say just drive the darn thing and squirt the hose under the car a few times and for get it.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
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From: Gurnee IL
I have no idea where the data came to arrive at this map, but it's a corrosivity map of the US and I have nothing to support it not being factual...
What I find significant is that a large part of the Midwest is considered negligible to simply mild, while most of the costal regions are mild/moderate or even severe even those below the 'snow belt'... The Floridia region and the upper east coast region being a plain horrible place to live if you are worried about corrosion on your Vette...
http://corrosion-doctors.org/Corrosi...-corrosion.htm
What I find significant is that a large part of the Midwest is considered negligible to simply mild, while most of the costal regions are mild/moderate or even severe even those below the 'snow belt'... The Floridia region and the upper east coast region being a plain horrible place to live if you are worried about corrosion on your Vette...
http://corrosion-doctors.org/Corrosi...-corrosion.htm
Last edited by Exoray; Jan 21, 2010 at 06:08 AM.
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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I had my sons Camaro undercoated here but haven't bothered with the Vette. It makes quite a mess and even then they dont coat the running gear just the underbody and inside panels. Most of that wont rot on the Vette. I'd only do it if its essential for long term preservation and not sure that applies in your case. I'd say a good hose down would be good enough for the short term. JMHO
BTW in my experience those facts are likely to be good. A warm wet climate particularly with salt from the sea air is a really bad environment. Cold and crisp is fine if the car dries out regularly.
BTW in my experience those facts are likely to be good. A warm wet climate particularly with salt from the sea air is a really bad environment. Cold and crisp is fine if the car dries out regularly.
Last edited by DeeGee; Jan 21, 2010 at 07:33 AM.
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I wouldn't undercoat it - just keep it clean if you have to drive it during the winter months.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Waterloo Iowa
Being a lifelong resident of Iowa, 60 miles North of you I'll give you my 2 cents worth. No, I would not undercoat the car for only a few months as others have suggested. The road mix they use in our area today is a mixture of sand and salt but if you wash it once a week you should be fine. Winter will be over within a couple of months here. I would be concerned about a couple of things tho, like we have a lot of ice and sometimes deep blowing snow and slush which isn't conducive with your Corvette tires and the low profile front end. As far as your brakes go, Cedar Rapids has the normal brake shops and dealers for a town of 80,000. Welcome to Hawkeye country.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
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From: Madison Wi
I've never in all my life heard of anyone undercoating a Corvette. I would never consider buying one if I saw it had been undercoated. It bacically destroys the look of the underside of the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,431
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From: Iowa City Iowa
Himy- welcome to the Midwest. You might want to visit the Cedar Rapids Corvette club (CRCC) while you're here. We're having our monthly dinner outing at the Starlite Room on 1st Ave on Feb 9 @ 6:30pm. I assume your a Rockwell guy, many of us in the Club are active or retired Rockwell folks and you'd be welcome to spend some time with us ( regardless of if your Rockwell or not for that mater). We also have a monthly meeting you might want to consider. If you want more details, PM me. Best regards, Ron
PS- I think I'd just keep the bottom of your car hosed off while you're here, no undercoating!
PS- I think I'd just keep the bottom of your car hosed off while you're here, no undercoating!