Cleaning ground contact.

[rc51kid]

As part of my PM i was thinkng of clening my electrical ground ontacts around the truck. Is this anything more complicated than unbolting them and hitting it lightly with a wire brush or some 200 grit? I dont want to remove some type of coating and then have the metal corode creating a problem.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Wire brush, deox-it, copper anti-seize

The ground studs in my '07 volkswagen appear to be cadmium plated, but the grounding points on my cruiser . . . . don't. at any rate, deoxit and copper anti-seize should improve the connection and protect the metal.

 

[Otamiway]

When i upgraded my grounds, after clean I used a liberal about of dielectric grade on everything. great water barrier as well.

 

[NLXTACY]

When i upgraded my grounds, after clean I used a liberal about of dielectric grade on everything. great water barrier as well.

This is what I did. That being said I had zero oxidation but likely because Toyota rust proofing may have helped that

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

When i upgraded my grounds, after clean I used a liberal about of dielectric grade on everything. great water barrier as well.

Yeah, the copper anti-seize is basically dielectric with copper flakes in.

 

[Otamiway]

Yeah, the copper anti-seize is basically dielectric with copper flakes in.

That is just a plus in my book....

 

[1973Guppie]

just get at it with a wire brush and then use a file to open up some bare metal. Then use dielectric grease on the contact and the metal.

 

[livinoffroad]

I bought a can of this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009CFNL46/ref=oh_details_o06_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 as it appears to be the best price on silicone dielectric grease. I also bought this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005RNEH5O/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 to see if there was any difference, but it's the same stuff, for twice the price.

 

[rc51kid]

Would you screw it all together and then use the dielectric grease or put it on all the individual parts before assembly? I guess i am asking if you want the grease between all of the body and ground strap or just coating it all from the elements?

 

[livinoffroad]

Would you screw it all together and then use the dielectric grease or put it on all the individual parts before assembly? I guess i am asking if you want the grease between all of the body and ground strap or just coating it all from the elements?

Dielectric grease is electrically resistive, not electrically conductive, so assemble everything first, then coat with grease, to prevent electrolysis and corrosion.

 

[Overland Tailor]

What Livinoffroad said....

Everyone thinks dielectric helps conduct and that's false.. Prevents corrosion thus keeping the normal conductive pathway intact.

Great point Livin...

 

[Parsnip]

Would you screw it all together and then use the dielectric grease or put it on all the individual parts before assembly? I guess i am asking if you want the grease between all of the body and ground strap or just coating it all from the elements?

If you're using star washers they will bite through the grease. If not then see below.

Dielectric grease is electrically resistive, not electrically conductive, so assemble everything first, then coat with grease, to prevent electrolysis and corrosion.

Bingo!!!