Hood hinge corrosion

[chrisazm]

Here is a macro close up…hope my 2 cents gives a little relief…

So my original post was about the hood specifically because it is steel and the hinges are aluminum. Maybe they have done enough on newer vehicles or maybe not.
The hood area:
Hinge- aluminum
Bolt- steel
Hood- steel
Corrosion when water contacts gets between hood and hinge or between bolt and hinge

Tailgate: same as hood

Door hinge area:
Hinge- aluminum
Hinge pin- steel
Bolt- steel
Door panel- aluminum
Backing plate the bolts thread into- steel
Bottom of door panel has a steel plate inside as well at the curve.

Possible corrosion when water contacts between bolt and hinge, hinge pin and hinge, or inside door panel and steel plate. My gut tells me that most corrosion occurs when water gets underneath the hinge and inside the door panel. This causes corrosion between the backing plate and the door panel which it why it bubbles from the inside. I don’t know if they have done anything to prevent this. Isolating the hinges may prevent the hinge from bubbling. The gap looks like it will allow even more water inside the door panel. Maybe the newer models are ok but the older ones definitely aren’t. If you want to cross your fingers go ahead but if you want to fix it yourself I am offering a solution. I am painting all surfaces and using paint and RTV to prevent water from entering the areas where the metals contact each other. No bare metal and no water. Double protection!

 

[bigdaddyspank]

A RTV as you just suggested sounds like a great idea to me without breaking the OEM paint.

 

[chrisazm]

A RTV as you just suggested sounds like a great idea to me without breaking the OEM paint.

Here is how I’m applying the RTV. After painting I am putting a circle around each bolt hole in the door then a vertical line at the front edge to help prevent sand from getting between the door and the hinge. I found some sand that was digging into there. I am painting a line along the top edge of hinge and down the back edge with touch up paint. But leaving the bottom open so any water that works its way inside there can drain out. I’m also applying primer and paint to the area where the bolt head fits inside the hinge.
I wouldn’t recommend RTV around the outside of the hinge because if water gets in there it might be trapped between the door and the hinge for a while making things worse.
The reason I’m not using RTV on the visible areas is that silicone tends to attract dirt and dust.

 

[Earl 392]

Here is how I’m applying the RTV. After painting I am putting a circle around each bolt hole in the door then a vertical line at the front edge to help prevent sand from getting between the door and the hinge. I found some sand that was digging into there. I am painting a line along the top edge of hinge and down the back edge with touch up paint. But leaving the bottom open so any water that works its way inside there can drain out. I’m also applying primer and paint to the area where the bolt head fits inside the hinge.
I wouldn’t recommend RTV around the outside of the hinge because if water gets in there it might be trapped between the door and the hinge for a while making things worse.
The reason I’m not using RTV on the visible areas is that silicone tends to attract dirt and dust.

I have been following this my thoughts are if you use RTV you may not be able to pull that hinge off the door without prying them apart and potentially damaging the door or hood or tailgate . Just my 2 cents

 

[chrisazm]

I have been following this my thoughts are if you use RTV you may not be able to pull that hinge off the door without prying them apart and potentially damaging the door or hood or tailgate . Just my 2 cents

Yea that is a valid concern. However I have thought about this and never intend to do either of those things. If something happens I can always use a razor blade

 

[chrisazm]

Yea that is a valid concern. However I have thought about this and never intend to do either of those things. If something happens I can always use a razor blade

Oh with the tailgate I installed the teraflex tire carrier and that comes with a rubber gasket to cover the bare metal.