I use it all the time before primer and paint.
It works well (depending on brand) but it will take care only surface rust.
If you have some big rust first you need to remove it with wire or grinder and then you can apply rust converter.
I use Wurth brand that same thing in spray can or in bottle which is applied with brush
Thing that help a lot with rust is alcohol vinegar.
It is cheep and reacheable.
Put thise parts in vinegar fot two or three days. Rinse with hot water and pass with wire brush. It will renove most of rust.
After that apply rust remover.
Today was another day around the rust.. Cleaned the remover with hot water and a wire brush, but was not good yet.. So more sanding.. And another night with the remover