Did my thorough spring Jeep clean today and noticed tiny rust colored spots all over my Jeep. At first I thought it was coming from the metallic in the paint( bright silver ) but i then noticed the spots on the rims (aluminum) ,rear flares as well as the rear corners of the bumper.
My best guess is that it is coming from the metallic brake pads due to the fact that it is all on the sides and not on the hood or tailgate. It took quite a bit of rubbing to remove all of the spots.
Am i crazy or has anyone heard of this before...i am afraid if i did not remove all of the spots they would eat through the clearcoat and into the paint!!!

 

I would say the most effective, but least invaisive, surface contaminent removal would be a clay bar. Assuming it is not actually rust, the bar should remove it. See my writeup that contains details on the clay bar system:

http://home.comcast.net/~kingslea1/Jeep/Detailing.pdf

I do swear by claying to remove surface contaminents. Once my 1968 Torino, which had a really nice paint job, was the victim of paint overspray at a garage. The clay system removed the overspray without affecting the clear top coat at all. My wifes new, at the time, vehicle paint felt rough to the hand. My body man, a good frind of mine, said it was from locomotive brake dust that is hot and imbeds in the paint during transport. Having told me of the clay bar system prior, he said, "you don't need my services. You know what to use." Once again, clay made a believer out of me. Now what it won't help with is scratches or other "in-set" paint flaws. It exfoliates surface contaminents. OK, I'll be quiet now

 

Sounds like rail dust and if so the clay bar will usually take care of it.

 

Thanks I've always wondered how the clay bar works!

 

I've got the same situation - they are all over the sides of the body. I washed it yesterday, but did not have a chance to try my clay bar on them.

There are no rust spots on the hood or tailgate, so the brake dust theory makes sense to me.

Anyone else with this problem?

 

What is interesting, once you get the vehicle cleaned (a smooth finish to the touch) from the factory. Over time, it will be the horizontal surfaces, such as the hood, that will require claying from time to time. I guess the environmental contaminents settle more on those surfaces.

 

Thats good ole brake dust!!! (used to be a detailer!!) Clay bar works great.

 

I have to confess that I cleaned up my Jeep yesterday. I used tar remover and took off all the tar and "rust looking" spots off the sides. And gave it a good wax job. Looks like the day I got it again.

 

I live in Illinois where the roads are coated in salt in the winter. I saw those little spots and freaked out. My Jeeps too new to be a rust bucket. I have a friend that has a detail shop and he told me it was tar. In little amounts it is brown. Not black. Clay bar took it right off. Door hinges are another story. I'm gonna powder coat them.

 

i also had this problem with my 07 tacoma and had it in the dealer three times. then i gave up on it and traded it in for my JK. they used the clay and it would be gone for a few thousand miles then it would come back. good luck