Can FRP aluminium wings rust?

[cerbagriff]

I've got a Racing Puma which I am told has ali wings instead of the usual steel types. Imagine to my suprise when washing the car earleir today when I found 'rust' bubbles on one of the wheel arches. Can aluminium rust? Can aluminium corode? Or is it a blister in the paint - sure looks like a rust bubble? Any other FRP drivers found this problem?

[NickFRP]

i used to have a FRP and never notice this. phone Puma build and get there comments on it. THEY are FRP MAD!!

[egomeister]

Aluminium can still corrode even though it can't rust. Has the corrosion broken through or is it just bubbling?

Steel will corrode with a "red oxide" type of colour while I would expect aluminium to be a more powerdey white kind of corrosion.

[space_cowboy]

Nick Pumabuild are not as 'FRP Mad' as they where as Alan has said he is moving more towards the Ford ST's. Also customer service has taken a bashing, many people on Pumapeople are not happy with Pumabuild anymore.

cerbagriff I would post this question on Pumapeople if you havent already very helpful bunch of people.

[cerbagriff]

Thanks for the advice. The 'rust' hasn't broken through the paint yet - and I'm loathe to prod it too much. Will contact the Pumabuild or Pumasport people later this week to book in for a service and ask them to have a good look.

[Marquis_Rex]

My 928 had aluminium wings, and had a small bubble in the paintwork.
The aluminium corrosion forms aluminium oxide- which is more solid and robust than Iron oxide rust- so shouldn't crumble in front of your eyes.
In fact It was a few years before I dealt with it and it didn't really spread on my 928.
Once it was dealt with it never came back.

If only the same could be said about my 24 year old BMW

[mr_c]

If it was the rear wings I thought they were steel?

The front ones are aluminium and shouldn't rust, but might oxidise a little bit if air can get to it.

EDIT: My old imperial blue Fiesta Zetec-S looked like it had rust bubbles on the arches but they were in fact imperfections in the paint.

Edited by mr_c on Monday 31st July 08:54