Preventing license plate rust and repairing a rusted plate

Post by **FireFox31** » 16 Jun 2023, 00:20

How do you prevent rust on the holes in your license plate? My plates appear to be aluminum (non-magnetic, white corrosion) while my OEM license plate bracket and nuts are likely steel. Could that be causing dissimilar metal corrosion? I will likely get new brackets, stainless nuts, and rubber washers for both sides of the plate holes. But is it safe to use stainless nuts on regular steel bracket studs?

I want to repair the aluminum on my plates. What's a good adhesive to bond a new piece of sheet metal to the back side?

Yes, I post odd threads like this primarily to spark discussion which is more interesting than me doing solitary research online.

Post by **P80GLT** » 16 Jun 2023, 03:15

Galvanic corrosion caused by the different chemistry of the aluminium and steel bolts, aluminium being the softer it will oxidise quickest. I use 3M sticky tape for my plates to prevent this happening

Post by **abscate** » 16 Jun 2023, 04:44

Nylon washer from Lowe Quality and the m6 SS cap nuts from Belmetrics . Nasty corrosion, probably salt induced

Post by **foggydogg** » 16 Jun 2023, 08:47

Cleaning vinegar should treat the damage. Maybe hit it with clear coat after, and a washer under the nut ?
The cap nuts that came with the blue-box bracket I put on one of mine years ago have held up pretty well, but another source for stainless is
https://www.boltdepot.com/Product-Detai ... oduct=7436
I've bought stuff from them, usually more than one item to offset shipping, it always arrives sooner than I thought possible.

Post by **erikv11** » 16 Jun 2023, 09:38

Cap nuts from Volvo have always rusted for me. I use stainless m6 cap nuts and stainless m6 washers. Bought 100 of each many years ago from McMaster-Carr e.g. https://www.mcmaster.com/products/cap-n ... ess-steel/. Each car in the fleet has 8 of each, no corrosion.

RayF · Post by **RayF** » 18 Jun 2023, 18:44

FireFox, I'm afraid your only option for those license plates is this: Commit some fairly serious crime, then once sentenced to the state prison, get assigned to a prison job MAKING LICENSE PLATES. If you're a good obedient worker they might let you re-create those as a side project.