Are the wheel wells of your car covered in rust spots?  Rust can form in many different places on your car, but wheel wells are especially prone to rust because of the water, mud, and rocks that are constantly kicked up into them by the tires while driving.  Damp conditions are ideal for rust formation and–if you do not treat it–the rust can spread and eventually eat holes through the metal of your car.  Here are some suggestions that explain how to fix rust in wheel well and prevent rust buildup in your wheel wells where your car is most vulnerable.

The first step is to get a scrubbing brush with a long handle and physically scrub as much of the rust off of the wheel well as possible.  You may need to lift your car up with a jack and remove the tire to get at the rust depending on its location.  You can purchase brushes designed specifically for this purpose from most home improvement stores in the auto section.

Next you need to get a bottle of WD-40, which is also available in any home improvement or hardware store.  Spray any remaining rusted areas with the WD-40 and let it sit and soak in for 15 – 25 minutes.  This step helps to soften the remaining rust so you can do another round of scrubbing.

If there is still remaining rust that you are unable to scrub off, you may want to purchase an acid-based rust remover from the hardware store.  You can apply this remover with a paper towel to all of the remaining rusted areas, but be sure to put on gloves beforehand.  Let the remover sit for 15 minutes and use your scrub brush to scrape away the last of the rust.

Once all of the rust has been removed, you might want to apply an undercoating to help prevent new rust from forming.  You can purchase rust proofing undercoating spray at the hardware store.  While wearing gloves and safety glasses, simply spray the undercoating on the surface of your wheel well, using short spurts to avoid over spraying.  Allow about 15 minutes for the coat to dry and apply a second coat for additional protection.

If you need more help, TalkLocal can connect you with local auto repair services.

Are your brakes making an annoying squeal every time your car is going in reverse?  Squeaky brakes can be a huge nuisance for any driver and they are a problem that many people struggle to deal with.  If you don’t have much in-depth car knowledge and your brakes squeal in reverse, then you may want to read these tips for fixing this embarrassing problem.

The first thing to realize is that some amount of noise when braking is normal and unavoidable because your brake pads wear over time, though the severity depends on the make and model of the car.  Certain driving conditions, such as stop and go traffic and dusty, sandy, or humid areas can make your break pads worsen faster. Abusive braking practices can also contribute to hardening on the surface of your brake pads, which causes them to squeak when applied.  Depending on how far this hardening process has gone, you may be able to sand the surface smooth with sand paper. Otherwise, you will need to get your brake pads replaced.  It is also possible that there is a faulty part in the brake system other than the pads that needs to be tuned.

There are many spray chemicals sold as brake lubricants that can address the squeaking problem, but unless you are an auto expert, you should use caution putting anything on your brake pads. There is a good chance of messing up and doing even more damage.  There are a couple things that you can try yourself, including performing a series of backing up and braking maneuvers.  To do this, you just need to find an empty lot or stretch of road and drive in reverse while repeatedly hitting the brakes hard.  This can sometimes remove the hardened surface glazing that is causing your brakes to squeak.  Even if this method works, it is important to remember that this is not a long term solution.  The driving conditions that caused the surface hardening will eventually cause the squeaking to return unless they are changed.  You can try to use a gentler and more even braking motion in order to preserve your pad’s condition.

If you need to find an auto mechanic to replace your brake pads or inspect your braking system, you should check out TalkLocal.  You can use TalkLocal to get in contact with a reliable local auto technician within minutes.  Just enter a description of your problem, availability, and location on the website and TalkLocal will connect you directly to someone who can help.