Wheel rust

[DooMer_MP3]

Hey everyone. I didn't post about this before, but noticed this when I put on the wheels for the winter. When I took off the 17s and put on the 15 steelies, I noticed two things:

1) The center portions of the rotor/mounting point that stick out through the center of the steelies were rusted...

2) Only the back two wheels had a silver metal type center cap that went through the center of the steel rims (which hides most of the rust)... Is this normal? Or am I missing the two in the front?

Is it normal for things to rust after about 4 months after having the car? It was disheartening to notice rust on the center cap and the behind/center of the rim... Anybody else notice this? Thanks!

P.S. I apologize if my description sucks. I have no idea what the actual parts that are rusted are called ...

Chris

 

[scott42]

Noticed it also, though my brother who is pretty much a "car/truck guy", said it was normal and most cars are like that. no big deal other than the look.

 

[Newf]

This is actually quite common on most cars. If it's what I'm thinking it is anyways. Killer is, because our wheels are so open, we can see it all. I was told by my dealer there is some sort of degreaser we can use to clean it up some, but your not supposed to use it very often. Not sur what it was, I want to find out though so when I put my summers back on I can clean em up, paint the calipers, and put summers on in one shot.

If I could only decide on the color for the cali's.....yellow....red.....hmm....and find some god damn paint!

 

[20ESGUY]

NEWF you can find you caliper paint kit at www.mossmotors.com . look under the miata catalog subheading brakes.

 

[Newf]

20ESGUY

Thanks, I just sent them an email. Let's see if these guys actually respond. I wish there was some Canadian place I could buy the stuff.

 

[DBR]

rust on the hubs

has anyone got a solution for the rust on the hub part of the rotors? like the post above says, the spokes on the p5 wheels are so open that you see right thru them and see all the rust on the hubs. i spent a few hours cleaning them two weeks ago (with metal cleaner/paste, steel wool, and a lot of elbow grease) and they looked brand new, but already the rust is coming back.
has anyone painted them (eg using a clearcoat urethane)? any other ideas? thanks.

 

[Sir Nuke]

your rotors/drums are made of cast iron...and they are NOT painted...thus they are going to RUST....you could always clean them up really good and paint them with some high temp paint like engine paint and they will stay that way for a long time.....I have seen the hubs of the rotors painted to match the rotors before....and in my opinion it looked so so.....I would prefer to paint the hub black so it somewhat hides it in the shadows of the wheel. Just don't paint the mateing surface where the wheel contacts the hub....for if you do...it will stick big time!!

 

[kingvitamin]

I was just wondering about the same thing. I noticed the rotors rusting, and must say, it looks pretty bad. In fact its probably the most detracting thing about the apperance of my car. If I was to paint them, would I just mask off the part where the brake pads make contact with rotor? I'm thinking that black would be the best color for the hubs, also.

 

[Sir Nuke]

I was just wondering about the same thing. I noticed the rotors rusting, and must say, it looks pretty bad. In fact its probably the most detracting thing about the apperance of my car. If I was to paint them, would I just mask off the part where the brake pads make contact with rotor? I'm thinking that black would be the best color for the hubs, also.

yes...and the flange where the wheels mate to the rotor...you do not want to put paint between your wheel and rotor...it will stick the two together like glue.

 

[DBR]

i saw a p5 today that had the hubs painted and the inside 1/4 - 1/2 inch of the rotor. the paint on the hub looked fine, but the paint on the inside edge of the rotors looked like it was seared and ready to flake off.

another option is to buy aftermarket rotors that have an anti-corrosion finish.