While washing my 2004 F150 Lariat (white) yesterday I noticed some very very small specs of rust starting on my lower drivers side doors above the factory chip guarded area. The specs are very tiny and the paint is not chipped. You have to look very close to see these and if my truck was not white they might be undetectable at this point. I hope this is not a sign of things to come and was wondering if anyone else has seen this on their trucks?

 

Probably worth going over that area with either a polish product or a clay bar. That's nearly certainly rusted rail dust that's on/in the top layer of paint, not your sheet metal rusting. It'll come off.

Had the same spots on my last white truck.

-Jim

 

It could very likely be brake dust from the front brakes that gets stuck in the clearcoat and looks like small specs of rust. I had a white Dodge that had the same thing going on. A clay bar would clear up the problem, but you will have to do this on a regular basis unless you get some brake dust guards.

 

I don't have that problem, but one thing I did notice while detailing my truck the other day were some tiny specs of rust already forming on both my front and back bumpers. I know that rocks can start this, but a lot of them were forming on the back bumper where I cannot fathom how rocks would hit in that area. Anyone else starting to notice this or am I alone here?

 

After reading here about rail dust, I called a local detailing shop and described my problem - his response was that rail dust is a very common thing on white vehicles and easily taken care of with a clay bar etc.... Thanks everyone for the replys. Once again, this board proves very helpful.