Where to Find Rusted Gears in Arc Raiders
Rusted Gears are a Rare crafting resource required for the Gunsmith Level 3 upgrade — the same upgrade that unlocks legendary weapon blueprints. They only drop from vehicles and industrial containers in specific zones, which makes them one of the most frustrating early progression items. This guide shows you exactly where to find them and the fastest routes on each map.
- Best map: Blue Gate underground car park — highest car density of any map
- You need: 3× Rusted Gears for Gunsmith Level 3
- Where they drop: Cars, trucks, buses, lockers, and generators in Industrial zones only
- Expect: 10–20 runs due to RNG — short focused loops beat long map clears
What Are Rusted Gears Used For?
Rusted Gears are a Rare Industrial resource with one critical progression use: upgrading the Gunsmith workstation from Level 2 to Level 3. The full upgrade requires:
Once you have Gunsmith Level 3 you will not need Rusted Gears for anything critical. Extras can be recycled into 4× Metal Parts and 2× Mechanical Components per gear, or sold for around 2,000 credits. Never throw them away — the recycled materials are always useful.
Where Do Rusted Gears Drop?
Rusted Gears only drop from vehicles and industrial machinery in Industrial-tagged zones. The specific container types to target:
- Car and truck hoods, engine bays, and trunks
- Bus rear trunks and engine compartments
- Standalone generators
- Red toolboxes
- Lockers and breachable containers in industrial buildings
Blue Gate — Best Map for Rusted Gears
Blue Gate has the highest car density of any map and is the community's top recommendation for Rusted Gear farming. The underground Checkpoint and Underpass car park area contains 30+ lootable vehicles in a compact space you can loop in under 10 minutes.
Route: Enter via Checkpoint (southwest entrance) → descend to the underground Underpass tunnels → breach every car hood, engine bay, and trunk in the car park → extract via Checkpoint or the nearest surface exit.
Highest car density — 30+ vehicles in a tight loop
Dam Battlegrounds — Fastest Quick Farm
Dam Battlegrounds is the best map for a fast in-and-out run. Two buses near the North Complex Extraction Elevator are widely reported as near-guaranteed Rusted Gear spawns — you can breach them and extract in under 5 minutes. This is the go-to option when you just need one or two more gears to finish the upgrade.
Additional spots worth hitting on Dam while you are there:
- Hydroponic Dome Complex — gray containers and red lockers between the domes
- Scrap Yard — multiple car hulls
- Generator Hall
- Water Treatment Control area
Fastest single run — buses near North Complex Extract
Buried City — Safest Solo Option
Buried City is the best choice for solo players who want to avoid heavy ARC patrols and PvP. The northwest loop has multiple high-chance spawn points in a relatively quiet area.
Route:
- Northwest Warehouse — two large generators on the eastern side (high chance per community reports)
- Marano Station north car park — breach all car hoods
- Parking Garage — every car on all floors
- Highway vehicles and Grandioso Apartments car park as extras
Safest solo option — low traffic, good extract options
Spaceport — Solid Secondary Option
Spaceport has strong car and locker density, especially around the Vehicle Maintenance area, Container Storage, and staff car parks near the Arrival Building. It is more spread out than Blue Gate or Dam but works well if you are already raiding there for other resources.
Good zones to hit:
- Vehicle Maintenance Hangar
- Container Storage area
- Staff Parking and Security Checkpoint car parks
- Shipping Warehouse lockers
Good density — combine with Courier farming in same run
All four maps in one place
Open any map with cars and lockers pre-filtered — no manual filtering needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Rusted Gears do I need?
You need exactly 3 Rusted Gears to upgrade the Gunsmith workstation from Level 2 to Level 3, along with 5 Advanced Mechanical Components and 4 Sentinel Firing Cores. Once you hit Level 3 you will not need them again for core progression.
Why are Rusted Gears so hard to find?
Drop rates are intentionally low and RNG-heavy. Not every vehicle or industrial container drops a gear — expect to breach 10 to 20 runs worth of vehicles before getting all 3. Short focused loops on Blue Gate or Dam are more efficient than long map clears.
Do Rusted Gears drop from any enemy or container?
No. They only drop from vehicles, buses, generators, toolboxes, and lockers specifically in Industrial-tagged zones. Standard bags, base containers, and non-industrial areas do not drop them.
What is the fastest way to get Rusted Gears?
The two buses near the North Complex Extraction Elevator on Dam Battlegrounds are widely reported as near-guaranteed spawns. Breach both, extract immediately, and repeat. For volume farming, the Blue Gate underground car park has the highest overall density.
What should I do with extra Rusted Gears?
Recycle them at the workshop for 4× Metal Parts and 2× Mechanical Components per gear, or sell them for around 2,000 credits each. They are never wasted — the recycled materials are consistently useful for other crafting.