WARNING: Disappearing car paint...

[John F. Russo]

....is happening even though you don't see it!

This problem may have been discussed before. But I don't frequent the board as often as others.

Problem
I have driven my car for 52,000 miles and noticed that both lower sides of the car just behind the front wheels, and to a lesser extent behind the rear, have been "sand blasted". The paint damage drops off from the front wheel well edge for about one foot and about 6 inches from the rear wheel well edge down the side of the car toward the rear. My car painting specialist told me what I had, but I wasn't convinced until after I compounded and polished the area with no noticeable improvement. (Any other methods?) The condition was is not very apparent until you shine the car headlights of another car in the dark against those areas. It really magnifies the problem under this test condition.

Cause
The cause is twofold: the oversized width of the tires (Pirelli 255/45ZR18 front and Pirelli 255/50ZR18 on the rear and driving conditions. I very rarely drive on dirt roads for any distance greater than a few hundred feet. When I do so, it is at slow speed otherwise I can hear the small stones hitting the car body. I drive my car daily year around in Massachusetts. So I feel very confident that the sand on winter roads has being sprayed continually against the side of the car continuously has caused this condition.
(I apologize that I come from this state. My politics are further south than the deep South. But I'm on the front lines (while you guys are watching) of an embarrassing social battle but I do serious battle continually. If you all just watch and do nothing, the same thing will happen to your state.)

My Remedy
After I repaint both sides of the car, I will be applying polyurethane plastic (Autobhand or equivalent unless someone else has a better solution) along the entire length of both sides of the car just below the trim. It will have to be replaced periodically. I'll find out over time and let everyone know. I also want to put a tar like material or other behind the tire in the wheel well (Any suggestions?). The paint on the lower wheel wells has been completely worn off and is now sand blasting the bare metal. I will not put mud flaps behind my tires. It's like putting a veil on the nude statue of Venus de Milo! No! No! No!

Recommendation (to MM owners)
This condition is happening to all cars that have wide wheels, maybe even OEM tires. You will not notice it, but from day one it is happening as soon as the cars wheels run over any sand or dirt. You will not see it but it is happening to every car--I repeat from day ONE!

[bagpiper]

I have noticed the same problem at the rear wheels 25000 miles and slowly becoming white and I do not drive mine in the winter.Thought about trying the black car color polish to see if it would darken it.

[John F. Russo]

I have noticed the same problem at the rear wheels 25000 miles and slowly becoming white and I do not drive mine in the winter.Thought about trying the black car color polish to see if it would darken it.


Wow! Another Massachusetts guy. I'm from Reading, where are you from?

You've got to stop the problem with either using 'bicycle' wheels for tires or put a protective covering--extra clear coat? How about a wild idea like about 1/32 in thick clear coat that can be polished out periodically?

I still think the urethane is worth trying. It's a matter of how long it will last.

I will be going with the wider rims on the rear tires and the problem will be as bad as in the the front if not worse.

[bagpiper]

Wow! Another Massachusetts guy. I'm from Reading, where are you from?

You've got to stop the problem with either using 'bicycle' wheels for tires or put a protective covering--extra clear coat? How about a wild idea like about 1/32 in thick clear coat that can be polished out periodically?

I still think the urethane is worth trying. It's a matter of how long it will last.

I will be going with the wider rims on the rear tires and the problem will be as bad as in the the front if not worse.
I live in the Blackstone Valley area

[pantheroc]

Is there any tear-away clear liners that could be added for long road trips to reduce this effect? I'm thinking of the windsheild tear-offs on Nascar windsheilds.

[chucky]

our paint sucks but another thing that beats on the paint in those area's is belive it or not brake dust.

[John F. Russo]

our paint sucks but another thing that beats on the paint in those area's is belive it or not brake dust.


In this case, it isn't the paint quality, it's the wide wheels and dirt conditions.

[Larry Durham]

When you have those areas painted, look into the paint used on some big rigs, I think it's call Emerron by PPG. It's a urethane based paint made to resist chipping.

[John F. Russo]

When you have those areas painted, look into the paint used on some big rigs, I think it's call Emerron by PPG. It's a urethane based paint made to resist chipping.


Are you suggesting that I paint down the lower sides of the car over my blue color car? Or are you talking about just painting behind the tires in the wheel well area?

[Mike Poore]

Is there any tear-away clear liners that could be added for long road trips to reduce this effect? I'm thinking of the windsheild tear-offs on Nascar windsheilds.

There's a product that's applied in sheets, cut to fit, that was shown at the Carlisle All Ford Nationals, the last several years. Stone guard, perhaps? You have to look very hard to see the stuff, even when applied to the hood, and we were very impressed by the product. I'll go looking through my stuff for it, as I think it's a possible solution to the problem.:)

This could be the stuff we saw at Carlisle, Clear Guard. Here's the URL: http://www.autopaintguard.com/

[John F. Russo]

There's a product that's applied in sheets, cut to fit, that was shown at the Carlisle All Ford Nationals, the last several years. Stone guard, perhaps? You have to look very hard to see the stuff, even when applied to the hood, and we were very impressed by the product. I'll go looking through my stuff for it, as I think it's a possible solution to the problem.:)

This could be the stuff we saw at Carlisle, Clear Guard. Here's the URL: http://www.autopaintguard.com/

It is most likely the polyurethane that I use now but made by 3M instead.

Any suggestions for protecting the wheel well area. Especially the blue painted edge (blue car) that wraps around from the outside of the car to the insidebottom of the wheel well?

[Mike Poore]

It is most likely the polyurethane that I use now but made by 3M instead.

Any suggestions for protecting the wheel well area. Especially the blue painted edge (blue car) that wraps around from the outside of the car to the insidebottom of the wheel well?

They custom fit it for each application, John. They apply it with heat and adhesives.
It ain't cheap, but it costs less than paint, and according to them, nearly indestructible.

[FW_Linc/Merc]

Use spray in bedliner instead of undercoating. You can buy spray bedliner in a spray can. The advantage is that dust/dirt does not get imbeded. Undercoating turns brown over time because of the trapped dirt and cannot be cleaned easily. Been using the bedliner for over 7 years now on my Mark and I think I have only had to touch it up once. You can even remove tar from the surface without affecting the coating.

[GAMike]

Hi John:
"I will be applying polyurethane plastic" Down here in Atlanta, Car Dealers have been selling the heck out of what they call "Clear Bra" for the front of vehicles. This is a 3M film that is cut to cover the front metal parts of the hood and fenders as well as healights and mirror backs. The guys I know that apply it, do it by cleaning application area with some form of solution, then cutting straight sheets of the 3M film with exatcto knives right on to the metal area to be covered. This could be the solution you are looking for. Since dealers charge about $500 for the work on the front of vehicles, I don't know what it would be for the work you require, but the secret is finding a guy who applises this film from a 3M role of ilm, and not a prefab kit that some installers try to lay on you.

Good luck & I hope this helps.

[John F. Russo]

Use spray in bedliner instead of undercoating. You can buy spray bedliner in a spray can. The advantage is that dust/dirt does not get imbeded. Undercoating turns brown over time because of the trapped dirt and cannot be cleaned easily. Been using the bedliner for over 7 years now on my Mark and I think I have only had to touch it up once. You can even remove tar from the surface without affecting the coating.




This is a great testimomial.

I'll get this product for the wheel wells.

Is there any brand name for this "bedliner"?

Thank you very much.

[Leadfoot281]

Great thread! I live on a gravel road. It's almost a mile to pavement, so the first 10 minutes of any trip with the Marauder is very slow.:(

I have a few chips in the paint behind the tires, but I think thats due to rocks flying out of the tires at higher speeds.

The plastic panel below the rocker panel on my Silver Birch MM is black and I would like to paint it body color, but no one thinks it can be done. I'll look into the film covering.

I do know the paint mentioned is tough as nails. It's frequently used on Tractor restorations (my Dad restored John Deere 2 Cylinders) so you know its tough.