Rusty Wheel Hubs

Icehquk

Active Member
Jun 22, 2007
164
0
Staffs
Thread not working any chance of posting pics again ? Would love to see results and compare black to the original alloy colour.

Before pic isn't the best but we know how bad they are starting to look.
After with Matt Black engine paint:

calliperafter.jpg


Not a fantastic pic but you get the idea and if anyone wants I can always take a better one when the sun is shining ;)
 

MatG

Active Member
Jul 31, 2007
114
0
www.astraownersclub.com
I have this issue as well, but I will just sort it myself. I like the black above looks great ;) for those of you that have only used shampoo and no wheel cleaner, I would say the damage was done before you got the car. Every car will be cleaned before it is given to you, dealers will use the quickest products to clean a car IE abrasive products/materials!

For cars to have rusty hubs in show rooms with little miles on I would say its a good chance its the dealers using poor products to clean the cars before they go on sale.
 

lethbridge

Guest
Can anythig be done to prevent this?, I have a TDI FR on order and would like to do everything possible to prevent this, painting them is not an option as this car will be owned by the leasing company so am really looking for any products I could put on when I first get the car?
 

tim1505

Guest
I have a '07 cupra and my hubs are pretty rusty too. If the dealer doesn't sort it under warranty then I'm complaining to Seat uk. Rust will corrode and break down metal so this must be a manufacturing defect with the hubs. A new £19k car should not have a dot of rust anywhere on it as far as I'm concerned, keep you posted. If you paint them then this might invalidate the warranty ? Everyone with rust on their hubs should ring this week and bombard the dealers with complaints. Its the only way, people power.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

MatthewB

Active Member
Oct 14, 2007
75
0
I'll be complaining about mine to SEAT UK. 2 dealers I have spoken to have said that it's normal. It's only surface rust and isn't a cause for concern. Mine have got progressively worse in 6 months of ownership and I think it lets down the overall look of the car. I think if they can rustproof so much else on the car, why not the hubs?
 

JB

JB
Mar 18, 2008
148
0
late to this thread but i have just picked up a 56 leon fr tdi with the same issue and every leon on the forecourt had it!!! Also checked other cars and they had it too, my dad BMW 520d had it also - even after he painted them! His M5 did not have this problem though!!!

I was wondering whether to complain but dealer said not a warranty replacement
 

tim1505

Guest
Went to local dealer at Gatwick today and they stated not a warranty issue ! Yeah right. Said most of the cars are like it, even the service guys own leon who inspected mine. Said they could be painted but at a cost. I don't think so after paying £19k !! Says there's been lots of complaints etc. has told me to contact S
eat uk direct which i'm doing this week.Keep you posted.
 

chrisboyle999

MFD3 for sale, inbox me.
Nov 28, 2006
1,838
0
Geordieland
Went to local dealer at Gatwick today and they stated not a warranty issue ! Yeah right. Said most of the cars are like it, even the service guys own leon who inspected mine. Said they could be painted but at a cost. I don't think so after paying £19k !! Says there's been lots of complaints etc. has told me to contact S
eat uk direct which i'm doing this week.Keep you posted.


tim dont hold your breath.
why do you think there are several threads on here about rusty hubs and people painting them?
answer, basically because they all rust (sooner or later), and seat wont replace them under warranty.
paint them yourself before they get worse or put up with it i'm afraid.
 

tim1505

Guest
Cheers for the reply/advice Chris, I'll whinge to Seat uk and do my bit for the cause. Its a real poor show. My old '54 Cupra was fine , you'd thought in this day and age and at that kind of money it'd be sorted from the off. Maybe I should've bought that GTI !!!!
 

JB

JB
Mar 18, 2008
148
0
I agree - won't be changed under warranty but I have complained to SEAT UK anyway!My car is a 56 plate and has surface rust on them - not too bad though - whats best line of attack - wire brush, paint (anything recommended?), spray with WD every so often? There seem to be a couple of niggles on Leon Mk2 - rusty wheel hubs, dash rattles from air vents, condensation in headlights - I never had any trouble with my Mk1 Cupra.
 

alx_chung

Dark Lord of the Torque
Sep 11, 2006
1,537
0
In front of a PC....
I agree - won't be changed under warranty but I have complained to SEAT UK anyway!My car is a 56 plate and has surface rust on them - not too bad though - whats best line of attack - wire brush, paint (anything recommended?), spray with WD every so often? There seem to be a couple of niggles on Leon Mk2 - rusty wheel hubs, dash rattles from air vents, condensation in headlights - I never had any trouble with my Mk1 Cupra.

Sounds like a good plan. I would recommend some Hammerite paint for the wheel hubs. Might do mines when the better weather comes round.
Alex
 
Jul 10, 2007
1,270
1
Leeds
As I say Toyota's have the same problem and they won't fix it either. It's just the type of metal apparently.

By the way, the comment about wheels being outside warrenty. Other manufacturers guarantee their wheels.

I had most of the wheels replaced 3 times on my Celica (at least 3 of the wheels were changed on an annual basis) due to corrosion. I know a couple of people who had MX5's with a similar issue. Both manfufacturers replace wheels under warrenty with no issues.
 

Rampage

Trainee Northener
May 24, 2003
1,035
2
As I say Toyota's have the same problem and they won't fix it either. It's just the type of metal apparently.


If they used a decent paint on them then they wouldn't rust.
The paint is so thin. With more paint on them they won't rust.
As for Seat not covering wheel with their guarantee, so what?
You've still got your statutory rights, manufacturers don't legally have to provide a guarantee.
 

klf2007

Guest
how do audi and VW not rust? on the seat hubs its etched onto them the audi rings and VW badge! theres no seat badge or mention!!! (once you sand off the rust).

ive done mine because the hubs are so visible through the alloys. i jacked one wheel up at a time, used course wet and dry paper, followed by fine wet and dry paper, turps to cean throroughly let it dry and used a matt black HIGH temperature enamel paint. been on a year and rust hasnt came back through.

the reason it rusts in the first place is because its cast iron which has been only surface treated. rust effect is purely cosmetic and def the wheels wouldnt fall off!!
 

JB

JB
Mar 18, 2008
148
0
absolutely agree - just looks shite! Will do mine when the better weather comes! I have seen VW with the same, and my dad's fairly new BMW 520d does it too (although not on the M5 - obviously better construction).
 
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