Rust-Oleum High Heat on exhaust?

Taking my frame in next week for some wool wax and started taking off my running boards (permanently) and spare tire off for prep and noticed some rust spots on exhaust, leaf springs and part of the rear diff after 1 winter untreated

Ordered a wire drill brush and some Rust-Oleum high heat spray to cover it, that should work it out? I saw that wool wax should not be applied to exhaust, not expecting much success on the leaf spring since it moves and paint will probably chip

Also noticing my u joint looks like it has no grease on it? Thing just came back from 25k service

 

Springs/driveshaft is pretty normal and thick steel, so not really an issue. The problem with painting over rust is it can trap moisture if not done properly. I hit my exhaust when I got it home new, but not sure it’s worth doing it on yours. It will burn off anyway, so skip it.

You can sand down and paint the springs and whatever else you want. Use the rustoleum pro enamel as it lasts longer. Hopefully they hit the bolts above the pipes that hold the heat shields in. Those fasteners rust and the shields fall down/rattle over time. I hit them with the gun when I fluid film all the cars annually.

 

Sealed - No more zerks on U-joints for lubing, unfortunately.

 

Do WD 40 first, let it sit 10 minutes or so and then scrub the rust off from those leaf springs, then coat it with POR-15. On the U joints you can try WD40 too, it will eat some of the surface rust, then you can scrub it off with sandpaper.

Use WD-40 then metal brush on the exhaust joint. Like guy above said, they are thick steel so it won't have holes but get that build up off so it won't start rotting.

My brand new 2023 with 15 miles on it had surface rust on transmission U joints too, crazy. I removed it with sandpaper and applied fluid film, no coating.

Areas you can't reach to scrub rust off, don't coat over. Just apply WD 40 then fluid film after some time. It will at least stop anymore moisture getting on that rust and won't seal it inside either.

My 03 4runner I got used literally had rust under the paint.. Like you would see rust, then next to it paint, and under the paint rust.

In general fluid film is so good, just go to shop and ask them to do it, then will clean frame and then oil coat it. It will protect any other parts from rusting further. This is done every winter usually. The oil won't stay there forever, so needs reapplying, especially here in NJ, they have shops near NY too, google it.

Don't let the rust slide, it will get worse in no time.