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Drawbacks and Ramifications

 

Is it worth it to use Magnesium Chloride as a road treatment, if it can cause so much corrosion?

 

Magnesium chloride melts and prevents new ice from forming on the roads; however, it causes massive amounts of corrosion in cars and other vehicles. Some of the things that are most commonly things that are corroded are electrical connectors, exposed aluminum components, exposed brake components, brake tables, trailer frames, rails and bodies fifth wheels, spring hangers, fuel tanks, traps, wheels and wheel fasteners, and fins on aluminum radiators. The most important thing that is corroded is the brakes because vehicle inspectors search for brake rust jacking as one of their top priorities. Rust jacking diminishes brake life by fifty percent, and is most commonly found in the relined shoes, especially the low-priced ones and ones off of the market which have not been painted or painted well. One forth of an inch of rust builds up under and around the rivets that hold the brake to the shoe in the time span of just three to four years. A layer of rust is created in between the shoe table and the material that causes friction in brakes; the rust causes the friction material to crack and break off. Also, using magnesium chloride as a deicer is very costly.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.