Minispares ally beam axle
Turbo Mini Forums

What are people's thoughts on having a lump of ally sat under the car in the elements?

The documentation supplied says that it will corrode if left without any protection and goes on to mention duck oil as an option. Isn't Duck oil pretty much the same substance as WD40?

I would prefer to not paint it. Is there any better alternatives to duck oil?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Strip it down and get it anodised

Heavy coat of lacquer?

Unless it's visible or cause any mechanical problems, I wouldn't worry about it.

It will oxidise on the surface, but it's not going to rot away like unprotected steel.

Been having the same thoughts with my minispares beam.

I'm probably going to paint it with some alloy wheel silver so it looks the same colour but shouldn't corrode as easily.

I'd paint it.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

For the sort of use that my car gets, I'll probably get away with using some spray chain oil inside/hidden areas and leave the outside bare.

It's a fair weather car that does less than 500 miles a year.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

What does it weigh out of interest?

for some reason i'm thinking it was about 5kg built up with all the brackets on

Think Kean had got the weight written down on his board in the garage.

The beam with all brackets, fixings, exhaust hanger, quadrants, brake lines is around 5kg.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

its usuall one of those items what you fit and forget about it sort of, out of sight out of mind.

theres a few options mentioned above. but IMO i would have it powder coated or ...... clear Lacquer it 2 pack is prefrence to air dry ....... fit it forget it

Edited by BENROSS on 3rd Oct, 2014.

I have one aswell, I did think about getting it anodised, but think thats going to be one expensive bill.
Obviously, there are a lot of openings in the beam, and that would be the better way of covering all the races inside and out.

But, think im just going to get it either powder coated (not sure how much weight that'll add) or painted.

That said, i dont think my mini will get a whole lot of exposure

David.

powder coating would be a good option, as its done by electrostatic attraction it'll get inside pretty well if theres any openings.

powder needednt be that expensive either, sometimes you can tell them finish isnt important, and they'll fit it in when theyre running the gun out for another coulour.

for a beam though Y'd probably need somewhere with a proper oven, tather than just the normal pass through conveyer.