Unhappy with Zeibart. What do I do?

[Alpine Warthog]

Is there a way to remove Zeibart undercoating or is there a point where the undercoating is finally thick enough? It's been sprayed annually (2022) since I bought it and every year I'm less and less happy with it.

Warning, RANT follows:
I live in PA with lots of snow, ice, and SALT. The salt life means something different up here. I bought my Gladiator and had it sent to Zeibart because everybody swore you needed to if you wanted to keep it from rusting out.
I have to say, I'm not happy with the service. The sales guys are pushy and relentless. The annual service is a pain to have done because my closest location is 45 minutes away. The annual service just sprayed EVERYTHING shocks and all. My underbody looks like it was dipped a whole bunch of times. but it wasn't a good spray, it looks like everything got a single slow pass. Parts are thickly crusted and there are obvious shadows where they didn't bother to really cover some of it. After the lift they did it again leaving shocks half painted. wire connectors are half coated. It's a good thing I ordered black shock boots and bodies. The classic Skyjacker red would have been ruined. This year I installed the polished aluminum HD steering from Rusty's (love it BTW). Before this year's service I SPECIFICALLY asked for the newly installed steering and trac bar and tie rod ends to NOT be sprayed. I trusted them to do it. Well, I had to rush up there to get it before close and then rush the 45 minutes back home to make other appointments. SURE ENough... They had sprayed EVERYTHING again. More like they threw two grenades under it and called it good. Sloppy spray and tons of overspray everywhere. They were closing and I didn't have the ability to leave it for another night. They suggested soap and water would take it off the areas I didn't want it. I tried it. Pressure washer. NOPE..... SO friggen pissed and don't want to take it back up there to be out a vehicle for another 24 hours. I want to dress up the underbody (started with the steering) as I upgrade things and do the regear and bigger lift, but I don't want the new arms and springs to be half assed sprayed black when they are red or whatever color the lift comes in......

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[DylanM]

When it's still fairly fresh, mineral spirits and a little scrubbing will take it off. If it's been on there for a while then it gets more difficult to remove, needing something more in the lacquer thinner/furniture stripper/oven cleaner spectrum along with more scrubbing. Wrapping or otherwise covering the affected areas with solvent-soaked rags should also help soften the coating.

 

[Stan H]

Is there a way to remove Zeibart undercoating or is there a point where the undercoating is finally thick enough? It's been sprayed annually (2022) since I bought it and every year I'm less and less happy with it.

Warning, RANT follows:
I live in PA with lots of snow, ice, and SALT. The salt life means something different up here. I bought my Gladiator and had it sent to Zeibart because everybody swore you needed to if you wanted to keep it from rusting out.
I have to say, I'm not happy with the service. The sales guys are pushy and relentless. The annual service is a pain to have done because my closest location is 45 minutes away. The annual service just sprayed EVERYTHING shocks and all. My underbody looks like it was dipped a whole bunch of times. but it wasn't a good spray, it looks like everything got a single slow pass. Parts are thickly crusted and there are obvious shadows where they didn't bother to really cover some of it. After the lift they did it again leaving shocks half painted. wire connectors are half coated. It's a good thing I ordered black shock boots and bodies. The classic Skyjacker red would have been ruined. This year I installed the polished aluminum HD steering from Rusty's (love it BTW). Before this year's service I SPECIFICALLY asked for the newly installed steering and trac bar and tie rod ends to NOT be sprayed. I trusted them to do it. Well, I had to rush up there to get it before close and then rush the 45 minutes back home to make other appointments. SURE ENough... They had sprayed EVERYTHING again. More like they threw two grenades under it and called it good. Sloppy spray and tons of overspray everywhere. They were closing and I didn't have the ability to leave it for another night. They suggested soap and water would take it off the areas I didn't want it. I tried it. Pressure washer. NOPE..... SO friggen pissed and don't want to take it back up there to be out a vehicle for another 24 hours. I want to dress up the underbody (started with the steering) as I upgrade things and do the regear and bigger lift, but I don't want the new arms and springs to be half assed sprayed black when they are red or whatever color the lift comes in......

Well, find out what will remove that ziebart. Have you tried mechanics hand cleaner ?

 

[Alpine Warthog]

When it's still fairly fresh, mineral spirits and a little scrubbing will take it off. If it's been on there for a while then it gets more difficult to remove, needing something more in the lacquer thinner/furniture stripper/oven cleaner spectrum along with more scrubbing. Wrapping or otherwise covering the affected areas with solvent-soaked rags should also help soften the coating.

I've got a can of Stoner's bug and tar remover I was thinking about trying, it smells like straight fuel so I'm pretty sure it'll work. I hesitate because I'm not sure how much the polished aluminum would hate that. Hoping that the undercoating hasn't already ruined the finish...

 

[Hootbro]

Only thing I have heard removing Ziebart coating was a heat gun and scrapper. For most people, that is not practical if it is encapsulating everything. Captain Hindsight says the best removal is to never put the stuff on but we are beyond that.

 

[swtrailboss]

If the undercoating is still soft a 3M general purpose adhesive cleaner will work well and is easy on non porous surfaces when applied.

 

[Stan H]

Only thing I have heard removing Ziebart coating was a heat gun and scrapper. For most people, that is not practical if it is encapsulating everything. Captain Hindsight says the best removal is to never put the stuff on but we are beyond that.

Yeah I very much so dislike undercoating . I feel its always best to just sand and paint once a year.

 

[davesparky6]

I’ve never done it, but I feel like the the time for just the 45 min drive each way, spent with a quality application system and a gallon of fluid film and you’d have a better coating exactly where you want it.

 

[Coltron_Actual]

I wish I could help you OP, but the fact Ziebart is still in business never ceases to amaze me, and I hope your story is warning to everyone else. Their product in upstate NY was worse than having an uncoated car I swear.

 

[Rusty PW]

When they Zeibart'ed my JT in 2022. They used aluminum foil to cover up the parts that didn't need it. Shocks, steering linkage, exhaust, etc. I took it back the following year for the touch up. I told them to ONLY do the bad areas. I had to baby sit them on that. They like to put it on thick and heavy. Was suppose to take it back in this past spring and didn't do it. I'll take back in when I think it needs a touch up.

Use kerosene to remove the undercoating.

The JT is the 3rd truck that I've had Zeibart'ed.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Only thing I have heard removing Ziebart coating was a heat gun and scrapper. For most people, that is not practical if it is encapsulating everything. Captain Hindsight says the best removal is to never put the stuff on but we are beyond that.

Yeah, I'm very much stuck. The stoners' bug and tar remover didn't really do much. Took some off but the shiny is very much not a thing anymore. It's not a show truck so I guess I need to just let it go. Next year, I'm just going to drop it off in person (instead of the overnight drop box) so I can look the guy in the eye and make sure it's done right.

 

[Stan H]

I dont like undercoating for most applications if a spot arises that needs addressed the removal of that stuff is to labor intensive. Like hoot said down to the diesel fuel and scrapper . I prefer sanding and painting as I mentioned earlier. The post on fluid film is a great suggestion.

 

[Firingpin1977]

Can’t help you with the removal, but instead of Ziebart next year, find your local Fluid Film shop instead, better product and haven’t been to one yet that didn’t listen to what I asked for. Ziebart is too commercialized to really listen to what is needed by their customers. From Ohio, so I understand the salt and brine dilemma that plagues our trucks.

 

[Hootbro]

Can’t help you with the removal, but instead of Ziebart next year, find your local Fluid Film shop instead, better product and haven’t been to one yet that didn’t listen to what I asked for. Ziebart is too commercialized to really listen to what is needed by their customers. From Ohio, so I understand the salt and brine dilemma that plagues our trucks.

I think it would be a waste of money to Fluid Film or any other oil base coating over Ziebart coating. Good or bad, Ziebart is a product that once you apply it, you have to be committed to it for the life of the vehicle. Apply another product mid stream would cause more issues than it solves.

 

[Stan H]

Yeah if you think about it they come from the factory with paint. It only makes since to just keep up with the paint . It will require every 6 months or before winter sanding and painting but the results are like factory.
I always felt that stuff is a hindrance also to mechanic work . It just gets everywhere. Hate any type of that non removable or permanent type coatings.

Another argument I have against zeibart and all its sister ilk is if you dont know there is a rust spot and they ziebart over it . Its just gonna keep eating away unseen by you the ziebart makes it look like nothings wrong but underneath ,Katy bar the door ,Rust is here to deal some woes

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