Re: Torsion bar rust - scotchbrite OK?

[tylergraves@xxxx]

I'm curious; does everyone agree that the fine scratches produced by 
scotchbriting the torsion bar are ok? I would think any scratches 
would be of concern. I won't even touch the thing in fear of 
scratching it with a ring or tool of some sort. Some feed back on 
this would be nice because I would like to rest easy and perhaps 
remove some slight corrosion.

Thanks,
Tyler
#3472

--- In dmcnews@xxxx, tobyp@xxxx wrote:
> The torsion bar is made from cryogenically tempered spring steel, 
and 
> is highly stressed due to the 90 degree twist that it has to go 
> through every time the door is opened or closed. Any scratches or 
> corrosion pits (even microscopic pits) can lead to fatigue cracks 
in 
> the bar, which will eventually result in failure of the bar in 
> fatigue. The bar should be thoroughly cleaned with a fine 
scotchbrite 
> pad or stainless steel wool, but not regular steel wool. The iron 
> particles in steel wool will create a corrosion cell very quickly, 
if 
> they are imbedde din the material of the bar. The cleaned bar 
should 
> then be painted with a good rust-inhibiting paint, or treated with 
a 
> rust inhibitor such as cosmoline, or something like it. BTW - 
> replacement of the bar is no big deal ... BUYING the replacement 
can 
> be, as I understand it.