Rust in the centers of all four wheels.

[wtibbit]

Here's the solution to our "1st World" problem OP. It's pretty easy to operate yourself, or, you can hire someone to point the business end at the issue and press the spray button.

https://a.co/d/0ONj51A

Here's the result.

Sponsored

 

[Korben Dallas]

Here's the solution to our "1st World" problem OP. It's pretty easy to operate yourself, or, you can hire someone to point the business end at the issue and press the spray button.

https://a.co/d/0ONj51A

Here's the result.

Did you have to do any prep work To remove the surface rust?

 

[TyPope]

Remembering how the soap to ease assembly tended to cause the accelerator pedal cover to slip off, I'm wondering whether grease would make it easier for the wheel cover to inadvertently come off.

I often wonder about unanticipated side-effect of something otherwise obvious.

After removing surface rust (how to do that without removing more paint in the area? may have to take the wheel off to have good access), Rustoleum (lots of masking tape to keep it off of anywhere unwanted) might help, although any paint might get scratched off by the metal clamps.

There's something called Fluid Film; I don't know how slippery it is.

There's also a WD-40 gel, which might tend to stay put and at least be less messy than grease.

This looks interesting:

https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Rust-Proof-Anti-Squeak-Lubricant-Maintenance/dp/B0DHGH8MPH

No idea what other alternatives there might be that offer some rust protection without being slippery.

Maybe it doesn't matter, but I'd think twice before using any regular grease.

Just leave the rust. It's always been there. It will always be there. Every car. Every manufacturer. Every motorcycle. Every truck. There will always be rust there. Or, I suppose, you could go through the effort and sand the rust out, grease the area, and enjoy seeing a greasy, dirt-filled area instead... Get the little covers from Abstract Ocean or somewhere and cover it. They are nice little covers and look good. Or, put your big covers back on and move along. My 2 cents.

 

[wtibbit]

Did you have to do any prep work To remove the surface rust?

No, other than a quick wipe with a damp paper towel to check for dirt. You can spray Rustoleum directly over light surface rust.

But if that light rust bothers you, you can use this instead. The color doesn't match quite as well but it's supposed to chemically "transform" the rust. I didn't bother because I've had some much success just using the other product by itself.

https://a.co/d/7eMu407

 

[wtibbit]

Just leave the rust. It's always been there. It will always be there. Every car. Every manufacturer. Every motorcycle. Every truck. There will always be rust there. Or, I suppose, you could go through the effort and sand the rust out, grease the area, and enjoy seeing a greasy, dirt-filled area instead... Get the little covers from Abstract Ocean or somewhere and cover it. They are nice little covers and look good. Or, put your big covers back on and move along. My 2 cents.

You are correct, Ty!

I only painted mine (just the part of the hub exposed by the wheel, with absolutely no prep work) because I hadn't put hubcaps or wheel covers on my truck yet and didn't like the way the rust looked. I already had the paint and it took about 15 seconds per wheel.

Incidentally, I installed a set of the little aftermarket hubcaps not long after I painted over the rust. Months later I pulled off the hubcaps to install the OEM wheel covers and the hubs looked just like they did after I painted them - no rust.

 

[Deleted member 22486]

Just leave the rust. It's always been there. It will always be there. Every car. Every manufacturer. Every motorcycle. Every truck. There will always be rust there. Or, I suppose, you could go through the effort and sand the rust out, grease the area, and enjoy seeing a greasy, dirt-filled area instead... Get the little covers from Abstract Ocean or somewhere and cover it. They are nice little covers and look good. Or, put your big covers back on and move along. My 2 cents.

This is very true. That center hub is steel, not stainless steel. It’s designed to have a little surface rust. Nothing to worry about. Every car on the road does the same thing you just don’t see it.

 

[TyPope]

You are correct, Ty!

I only painted mine (just the part of the hub exposed by the wheel, with absolutely no prep work) because I hadn't put hubcaps or wheel covers on my truck yet and didn't like the way the rust looked. I already had the paint and it took about 15 seconds per wheel.

Incidentally, I installed a set of the little aftermarket hubcaps not long after I painted over the rust. Months later I pulled off the hubcaps to install the OEM wheel covers and the hubs looked just like they did after I painted them - no rust.

Good to know. I thought about doing that but didn't feel like taping off the wheel or lifting my beast. So, Abstract Ocean to the rescue: Center Caps

 

[HaulingAss]

I wouldn't paint it, it's not going to last long enough to be worth your time, that's why manufacturers don't paint wheel hubs. A little surface rust doesn't matter, I would just hit each one with a 1/2 second burst of Stabil rust inhibitor, give it a fast circular swipe with a shop towel, and call it good.

 

[Crissa]

It’s also entirely possible that at least some of this rust is from brake dust ...

No, the spindle and hub are made from specific softer (and harder) steel for specific wear considerations. It's not stainless and this is expected, normal, and it'll be fine.

Not all rust is a disaster. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering_steel
(Not that this is weathering steel, just that's an example)

-Crissa

 

[klm2klm2]

The same happened to mine. I purchased wheel caps to cover it up. Got 'em on Amazon. Cheap. You can search for "center caps cyber truck". Keep on truckin'.

Sponsored