Wheel Hub Rust :(

[mc-obesity]

Hi guys!

Just got my 62 plate All Black Diesel Scirocco GT 170 a few weeks ago and its great!
However when I have been cleaning it Ive noticed quite a lot of rust round the wheel hub area where the alloy bolts on.
After abit of googling it seems to be a fairly common issue with Audi's and Sciroccos
Has anyone else had this issue? If so can you advise the best methods to remove the rust and prevent it from reoccurring?
Ill try and get a picture of the rust too and put it on.

Just for the record I'm a total newb when it comes to cars... for example im 19 and never changed a wheel haha

[dimexi]

I dont think this is a major problem. Rust does tend to occur in areas where water collects. Or in areas with dissimilar metals (wheel hubs + alloys could be dissimilar).

I'd say get the rust off by washing it clean - maybe a light bit of elbow grease with a wire sponge, careful not to scratch your wheels.

Then apply some WD40 to the area that's rusting, or other suitable kinds of grease, to protect the layer.

This is off the top of my head, other people here might have better solutions. For instance, check the mods bit of the forum - detailing and cleaning

[Peacock8]

I believe I have heard that this is a problem on later model sciroccos. I have an 09 and the hub don´t rust. How about cleaning them, removing the rust and giving it a paint layer, silver or something, maybe the same color on the brake calipers! I think silver would look good!

Ørjan.

[Mark V]

Painting is the only solution. Its very common on VW's as the part was never painted in the first place. However my Golf 6 did have silver painted hubs and corrosion was never an issue.

[mc-obesity]

Thanks for the reply's people!
Its not a major issue it just doesn't look very nice on the eye

I went out and got a wire brush and some WD40 to try.
If that doesn't work ill be investing in some paint (Thoughts on black paint?).
Ill attempt to take my wheel off on saturday... (Should be fun..) and try to clean the rust up.

Heres a picture of my new Scirocco then the rust

Car.jpg

Carrust.jpg

[dimexi]

Absolutely love your wheels!! Don't scratch them with the wire sponge! Hope it works

[salsajoe]

Absolutely love your wheels!! Don't scratch them with the wire sponge! Hope it works

Nice wheels. Suggest you take the wheels off and use some 1000 wet and dry on the hubs and then paint with some heat resistant silver paint. Will look a 'proper job' when done!

[mc-obesity]

Forgot to let you guys know what happened....

So, i took the back right wheel off fine.
I used the wire brush to take the rust off which worked great
Put abit WD40 on to try and prevent further rust for a while...

After i did that i thought "hmm i might as well clean my alloys properly"
So, i stood the wheel up (dont ask why)
I went to turn the hose on and turned around...
To my horror my little git of a nephew decided to roll my wheel along the drive (he is 3)
As he tried to roll it, it fell over onto the face of the wheel and has scratched every spoke!

I think i nearly cried haha!

But anyways i left it at one wheel after that traumatic experience.. Tbh it looks like its starting to rust again already so yeah i think paint is going to be the only way to get around it. You guys think black paint would look daft or "too much"?

[Mark V]

Oh dear - sorry to hear about your wheel.... I think any paint in a neatral colour, silver, grey and even black will look fine compared with rust!

[alanr]

will por 15 paint caliber paint work on hubs ?

[salsajoe]

will por 15 paint caliber paint work on hubs ?

Should be fine. Calibre paint is heat and chemical resistant. Just make sure the hubs are free from brake dust and grease prior to painting and leave for the required drying time. I tend to use engine heat resistant paint as it dries in about 10 mins. Out of interest what colour?

[alanr]

silver i think

[alanr]

just painted my callipers and hubs woth POR 15 starter kit silver

well pleased

wd 40 alone and it will be rusty again in a couple of weeks , not with por 15

cheers .

[salsajoe]

Any photos?

[deno 1]

+1 on the pics.......lets check them out.

Sorry to hear about your wheel.......i WOULD have cried...lol

[dimexi]

just painted my callipers and hubs woth POR 15 starter kit silver

well pleased

wd 40 alone and it will be rusty again in a couple of weeks , not with por 15

cheers .

Yep, the grease was only a temp solution I had from the top of my head . That kind of solution is only good as long as it doesn't wash off, and that's difficult in the UK.

Glad you sorted it out. Hope you fixed your alloys too, look for some cheap alloy refurb companies