Cleaning Axles

[jlogan]

I have a modern dana 60 to get cleaned up and ready for swapping under my truck. It is dirty and has some surface rust just like every other axle out there. What's the best way to get it ready for paint (without breaking the axle down)? I could borrow a power washer, and use a wire brush, but are there any products/chemicals that would make this job easier/better? Is there anything I need to be careful of when power washing? Thanks!

[wrecker]

Don't know if this helps but I've used Dawn dish soap and a few brushes on parts in the past with good luck. Diff covers and manual transmission and a few other items that I wanted to paint. It's very dirty and tedius, but worth it. I did clean up one T-case and after the 2inch cake of old grease was removed, it started leaking. Go figure.

[randyscycle]

Hit your Harbor Freight and pick up a Soda Blaster. They sell them in various sizes.

Bag any important openings, and plug the vent, then have at it. The cool thing about using baking soda is that it will actually remove grease and rust and the remaining soda won't hurt anything if you rinse it with water afterward and dry it well before painting. It also isn't toxic. Its pretty much all I use for that type of work these days. Beats sand, aluminum oxide, and solvents.

[Rommel]

Yep,

And here is some ultra lowcost sodablaster

http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CDgQ9QEwBg

Ive used it nearly the same way, but with bigger pot of soda, just for trying it out.
If your airsupply is big enough, mine is 80 liters, hell knows what that is in gallons, it works very good and the cost is about nothing.
But a real fun, frontside of my garage looked like santa claus was near.

Greets
Martin
In hope of a nice USMC M715 under the christmas-tree... V8

[randyscycle]

But a real fun, frontside of my garage looked like santa claus was near.

I'll bet that you looked like Santa too!

[Rommel]

Yeah , that was in summer every 30 Min. a jump into the pool!
Not to mentioned the fun with the girlfriend coming home and looking at all the mess outside, in the house, in the garage, the toilet....
It was saturday, and the cleaninglady comes on thursday....

[toolman_ar]

I have not had the funds go get a soda blaster, but start with a putty knife. Then when the heavy goop is gone. I use the basic 4" grinder with a wire cup brush. Then wipe down with mineral spirts allow to dry and start painting.

toolman_ar

[MJCougler]

After you clean it with Dawn, brushes, the putty knife, and a rinse, let it dry. Then. spray a little at a time with brake kleen and wipe it down immediately with CLEAN rags or old t-shirts. Then paint it.

Here is what I found on the internet:

Rustproofing
Bob Steele of Pete's Crazy Custom Jeeps in Quebec says, "I have a solution to the rust problem. Paint is fine but it will never stop the rust from inside. Here’s what you do -- scrape off as much dirt, mud, rust scale, and loose paint as you can. 1 gallon of general purpose grease, 1 pint of STP (it's like molasses), 1 quart of motor oil (new or used, you could use a gear oil but there is a smell that lasts for quite a while), mix in a metal container, heat it up to a liquid state with a torch or plumber's torch. (Do this OUTDOORS only, BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE AND OILS, Don't Use Your Wife's Oven, and Don't Use Your Gas BBQ). Then spray with a texture spray gun inside and outside the frame and do the whole tub underneath. It's thick enough warm that it won't drip much.

"Don't do this in your driveway and don't park it in the driveway for a week or so until it has settled. In a hot climate it may drip off some residue but it will stop dripping eventually. You can help it settle faster by driving down a dusty road. And this can be done on a new frame or on an older frame where the oils will reach places that paint won't, and absorb into the corrosion and stop the process. Just once will extend the life of your Jeep, or do this procedure every 4 to 5 years like I did. My 86 CJ is still in great shape and solid, my YJs which I bought in 2003 needed major frame and tub repairs. It may sound messy but it’s the only thing that works for sure!"

[jlogan]

Hit your Harbor Freight and pick up a Soda Blaster. They sell them in various sizes.

Bag any important openings, and plug the vent, then have at it.

What should I bag? From the inner C's outward? Or, if I just plug the vent and the brake line connection, and maybe tape up the locking hubs, can I blast everything else? Thanks!

[randyscycle]

Yep, basically, just keep the soda out of the axle tubes and brakes, and of course, the gear case itself. I generally have the brakes off anyway, so I just bag the outer axle stubs and stuff some clean rags or plastic bags in and around the front axles if they are still in place.


Oh, and MJCougler: I can't imaging trying to work under a vehicle after spraying that concoction all over everything. Plus, the environmental disaster it'd be after a couple of creek crossings, or parking it over anything you value would keep me from doing it. I'm sure it'd definitely preserve it though. Sounds like a great way to preserve parts before packing them away for a long time. Kinda like cheap cosmoline.