Replacing A-Pillar Seals - To paint or not to paint

[roj]

I'm in the process of replacing the A-Pillar seals and I'm going through the torturous process of getting the old ones off. I'm about to get the weatherseal strips off and I can see we have a lot of the white powdery aluminium underneath.

Should this be simply cleaned up and everything put back (to Lotus service book standards) or should those windscreen pillars and slight top section (where the top of the seal sits with its two plastic plugs) be painted or coated with something?

Any help /advice would me most appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

Cheers, Rog.

[Tuga2112]

i dont think theres anything that can be done to prevent or slow down the deterioration of that aluminium. id be interested in finding that out as well.

when my seat spacers started getting that they very quickly (matter of 3 years) lost a considerable portion of their size. but in that case. replacement with stainless spacers was a easy task, your case is a bit more intricate.

afraid i dont have anything particularly helpful to add.

[Saltire]

I'm in the process of replacing the A-Pillar seals and I'm going through the torturous process of getting the old ones off. I'm about to get the weatherseal strips off and I can see we have a lot of the white powdery aluminium underneath.

Should this be simply cleaned up and everything put back (to Lotus service book standards) or should those windscreen pillars and slight top section (where the top of the seal sits with its two plastic plugs) be painted or coated with something?

Any help /advice would me most appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

Cheers, Rog.

I’ve now taken mine off three times (don’t ask ) In each case, I had some oxidation of the aluminium underneath. My approach was to rub it down with coarse steel wool, then use a hi-build primer and satin black top coat. The paint hasn’t flaked off, so I’m hopeful that’s a reasonable approach.