[rotorwrench]

The spring should be disassembled, cleaned of old paint and corrosion using the best method available to you, then refinished, lubricated, & reassembled. Wire brushes may work as well as grit blasting depending on access to equipment such as grit blast. I use glass beads on what ever fits in my cabinet. If the radiator coolant doesn't get on it the moisture from the road will eventually.