What is the best way to protect bare iron metal from rust? Options

[Langing]

I picked off a steering knuckle from a junkyard Celica, removed the ball joint and wheel bearing, and cleaned it with a wire wheel to the point where it seems rust and yuck free. Now it is almost all bare metal and I have two questions:

1) What is the best/easiest way to remove the remaining rust? (I don't have a sand blaster.)

2) What is a good/long-lasting way to protect the bare metal from rusting again?

To show what I am talking about I include a photo of the newly cleaned SN next to my Celica's SN (the one with with bent ears). The junkyard SN is the lighter of the two, the golden rust colored one; it came from a red 1995 Celica and is going on a white 1994 Celica:



Thanks to anyone who takes time to help me by discussing these questions.

[Special_Edy]

Rust converting primer is available at most autoparts stores, follow with any cheap spraypaint or the same brand as the primer for best results. Getting the rust off isnt a concern, its getting the paint to adhere. As long as the paint is intact, water wont get to the metal and the rust will cease to grow.

You could just get lazy, coat the whole thing in rubberized undercoating, and call it a day. Unless you plan on constantly climbing under your car and wiping down the suspension by hand it will inevitably get greasy and grimy. Any paint out of a rattlecan cant be expected to last forever either, its just a matter of months or years before it oxidizes or succumbs to some kind of chemical breakdown.

Older cars were actually manufactured with a rust inhibiting system, slow oil leaks. The grimy aftermath eventually coats everything under the car and creates a water/rust proof barrier

This post has been edited by Special_Edy: Jun 16, 2014 - 1:32 AM