After years of protecting your truck while you take it off road the nerf bars, or step bars, are getting rusty. Not only is the rust unsightly but if it gets too bad it also can weaken the nerf bars so they don’t have the strength to protect your truck anymore. The rust is easily taken care of, however, and you will be out on the trail again in no time.
Take the nerf bars off the truck and set them on the tarp. This will make cleanup easier later. Put the bolts that hold the bars on in a cup so they don’t roll away.
Knock as much of the loose rust off with the back of the wire brush.
Use the brush to remove the rust that will come off easily.
Put on the safety glasses and gloves.
Using the paintbrush or rags to cover the rusty areas of the nerf bar with the naval jelly.
Use the steel wool or wire brush to scrub the rust off.
Put the baking soda on the naval jelly after it has dissolved the rust--that will neutralize the remaining phosphoric acid in the naval jelly.
Rinse off the neutralized naval jelly and dry the nerf bars.
Use the emery cloth and wire brushes to smooth out any rough spots and remove any small bits of rust that might remain.
Spray paint the nerf bars. Do one side of each bar at a time and let that side dry before doing the next to eliminate smudging from where the bars were in contact with the ground.
Apply second and third coats the same way to get a durable finish that will protect your investment.
