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.

[rollingsevens77]

red oxide is the best way to protect bare metal as a primer then throw a 2k paint over it once dry,500ml should be enough,hope this helps

[Langing]

red oxide is the best way to protect bare metal as a primer then throw a 2k paint over it once dry,500ml should be enough,hope this helps

G'day Mate! And thank you for the help. I am very interested in finding the best solution for protecting bare metal parts because I've been trying to clean all the dirt, rust, oil, and corrosion off every part I take off, hoping to give my car extended life as a nice looking machine, while making it more pleasant to work on in my garage. After a degreaser, most often I will use phosphoric acid first, then use buffing compound and a die grinder to make the part look 'finished'.


What is 'Red Oxide"? Sorry, but I'm relatively new at doing my own auto repair and maintenance, and have never heard of it. I understand oxidation of metals, and think rust is red, and my first thought was a paint used by artists. But, then you were talking as if it were a primer. And I have seen some pictures of Australia where the rock formations look to me like 'Red Oxide'!