Rust Under Gear Boot - Solution?

[DriftinThruLife]

Lately the leather gear boot off my gear stick started getting loose from my console area. I decided to take it off and either fix it up or replace it.

When I did i removed it, I saw that the metal "housing" (for lack of a better word that I can think of) where the gearstick sits in, was rusted over.

Now I know this area is not going to be seen by anyone, but RUST=plague in my mind.

I've thought about sanding off the rust and applying a rust-proof primer.... but going nuts with a grey primer INSIDE my car seems very idiotic, considering the vapours will probably permanently make my windscreen grey.

What would be a more logical solution? What about that WD-40 stuff? Wondering if I can simply "Clean-off" most of the rust.

Ideas please..........

Edited October 20, 2009 by DriftinThruLife

[tridentt150v]

WD 40 won't be permanent, there are rust inhibitors that you can use that would be better, but I'd clean it up and use a paint brush and Galmet or Kill Rust or some such.

[rgr34]

there this stuff u can get cant remember the name of it.. its like a rust converter should clean it up good if its surface rust.... then some fish oil or rust proof paint to keep it from rusting again....

Edited October 20, 2009 by rgr34

[mad082]

the thing you are talking about, is it a ring with 4 bolts (1 in each corner) with a rubber piece in the middle? if so, i have owned 2 imports and both of them were rusty. i have also seen this piece on a few mates imports and they have all had rust on them too. i wouldn't be too concerned about it spreading, but painting it with a rust kill type product certainly wouldn't hurt.

[DriftinThruLife]

Yep that's right! the ring with the screws in each corner with the rubber piece in the middle. I'm not sure why the tighta**es down down at the Nissan factory didn't bother rust-proofing this piece, when it's clearly been happening in previous models. I also had the rust problem with a previous Skyline, but as that car wasn't that expensive to begin with, I wasn't too concerned. However I only recently got this one, and seeing the rust is kinda like seeing needle-tracks on a loved-one's arm.

So the verdict is, get rid of the surface rust with some sort of rust convertor (as opposed to just sanding it off)... and then use a paintbrush or similar to treat it with a rust-proof/Killrust etc to prevent future rust. I think those ideas are awesome. Thanks heaps people!

[tridentt150v]

Of you could get it sandblasted and powdercoated for say $10????