[markp99]

I was out washing my 2011 Limited this weekend and noticed a tiny amount of RUST forming along the perimeter of the center cap on my wheels. I also noticed a bit of a rusty stain on the alloy wheels themselves.

Not my wheels, but similar issue.

These caps are simply chrome plated pieces, correct? Or maybe the rust/stain is coming from behind (hubs/rotors)?

How to remove these caps? Not really room to inset a screwdriver in the gap. How about safely removing the rusty stain without affecting the wheel finish?

Ideas?

Thanks!

Note: The finish on my 2000 and 2004 JGC alloy wheels totally failed and flaked over time - I surely want to avoid a similar situation on my 2011!

 

[markp99]

This is exactly my fear. The alloy clearcoat has failed on these rims in this same area:

Again, not my wheels...yet...

I need to clear this up ASAP.

 

[lstowell]

The cap should just push out from the rear unless it has corroded in place.

It will only get worse... once you get it cleaned up, you might want to look at ProtectaClear wheel

http://www.everbritecoatings.com/wheels.html

 

[tommydonnelly]

I'd also like to know if someone has figured out a solution. This is beginning to happen to my '11 Laredo X... Is this a "bumper to bumper" warranty issue???

 

[markp99]

With minimal corrosion like shown in the image above, I am leaning toward NOT refinishing the the whole wheel - yet. I think the best we can hope is to LIMIT the progression of this clearcoat failure and corrosion. Both my prior Jeeps did start off small but did eventually progress to affect the WHOLE wheel.

I am thinking trying to limit water/salt/brake dust infiltration will help slow this down. To this end, I plan to:

1. Scrub the area with a strong detergent and stiff brush (not sandpaper or dremel).

2. Once clean and dry, apply a clearcoat touch-up using a pen like this: Amazon.com: Dupont-Pro-Fusion Color Car Clear Coat Scratch Repair Stick Touch Up Pen For All Paint Colours: Automotive

3. Allow to dry, then apply good quality wax to the whole wheel, treating it like a normal painted surface, especially in the affected area.

4. Pay closer attention to these areas when washing the vehicle...


Any thoughts on this process??

Thanks

 

[tommydonnelly]

With minimal corrosion like shown in the image above, I am leaning toward NOT refinishing the the whole wheel - yet. I think the best we can hope is to LIMIT the progression of this clearcoat failure and corrosion. Both my prior Jeeps did start off small but did eventually progress to affect the WHOLE wheel.

I am thinking trying to limit water/salt/brake dust infiltration will help slow this down. To this end, I plan to:

1. Scrub the area with a strong detergent and stiff brush (not sandpaper or dremel).

2. Once clean and dry, apply a clearcoat touch-up using a pen like this: Amazon.com: Dupont-Pro-Fusion Color Car Clear Coat Scratch Repair Stick Touch Up Pen For All Paint Colours: Automotive

3. Allow to dry, then apply good quality wax to the whole wheel, treating it like a normal painted surface, especially in the affected area.

4. Pay closer attention to these areas when washing the vehicle...


Any thoughts on this process??

Thanks

Sounds like a good process. Let me know how it works out. With winter right around the corner, I'm looking to "solve" this problem too.

 

[BobT]

It looks like rust staining. The wheel is alloy and the cap is plastic so not much to rust except for steel cir-clip that holds the cap in place. If it is that, you will need to replace it or if there is enough metal left, treat it with rust converter.

 

[covet66]

My 20" rims and caps are currently spotless- to keep them that way I am hoping to have enough money to purchase winter rims and tires and remove/clean/protect, and store the nice rims for the nasty winter ahead.

 

[Tarponbeach]

It looks like rust staining. The wheel is alloy and the cap is plastic so not much to rust except for steel cir-clip that holds the cap in place. If it is that, you will need to replace it or if there is enough metal left, treat it with rust converter.

Agree, I usually pre-treat steel like these cir-clips with Permatex anti seize. It is aluminum in color, and works pretty well in keeping rust away.

 

[unimatrixzer0]

Wouldn't this be covered under warranty? Don't they warrant against rust for a certain amount of time or is that only on certain components? I recently noticed what I think is rust behind my gas cap for instance.

 

[jgc4ever]

http://www.jeep.com/crossbrand/warranty/pdf/2014_Jeep_Warranty.pdf

What's covered under Chrysler Group LLC's Warranties

2.2 Corrosion Warranty
A. Who Is Covered?
You are covered if you are a purchaser for use of the
vehicle.
B. What’s Covered
This warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor
needed to repair or replace any sheet metal panels that
get holes from rust or other corrosion. If a hole occurs
because of something other than corrosion, this warranty
does not apply. Cosmetic or surface corrosion — resulting,
for example, from stone chips or scratches in the
paint — is not covered. For more details on what isn’t
covered by this warranty, see 3.5.
C. How Long It Lasts
The Corrosion Warranty starts when your Basic Limited
Warranty begins under 2.1(E).
This warranty has two time-and-mileage limits:​

• For sheet metal panels, the limit is 36 months, with no
mileage limit.

• For an outer-body sheet metal panel — one that is​

finish-painted and that someone can see when walking
around the vehicle — the limits are 5 years or

100,000 miles on the odometer, whichever occurs​

first.

3.5 Certain Kinds of Corrosion Not Covered
Your warranties don’t cover the following:​

• corrosion caused by accident, damage, abuse, or

vehicle alteration;

• surface corrosion caused by such things as industrial
fallout, sand, salt, hail, ocean spray, and stones;​

• corrosion caused by the extensive or abnormal transport
of caustic materials like chemicals, acids, and
fertilizers; and​

​

• corrosion of special bodies, body conversions, or

equipment that was not on your vehicle when it left​

the manufacturing plant or was not supplied by​

Chrysler.







​

​

​

​

​

 

[mswlogo]

Could the "rust" be coming from the rotor hub itself and working it's way out.

If water gets in there, I'm sure it does, then it will forum a rust soup.

That might eat at the finish of the wheel.

The wheel and cap I don't think will have "Iron" rust.

Any place water can collect, needs a drain to get rid of it quick and allow it to dry.

I wonder if putting a fine notches in the cap might be worth it.

 

[BobsWK2]

Could the "rust" be coming from the rotor hub itself and working it's way out.

If water gets in there, I'm sure it does, then it will forum a rust soup.

That might eat at the finish of the wheel.

The wheel and cap I don't think will have "Iron" rust.

Any place water can collect, needs a drain to get rid of it quick and allow it to dry.

I wonder if putting a fine notches in the cap might be worth it.

I bet it is coming from the hub.

 

[BobT]

Could the "rust" be coming from the rotor hub itself and working it's way out.

If water gets in there, I'm sure it does, then it will forum a rust soup.

That might eat at the finish of the wheel.

The wheel and cap I don't think will have "Iron" rust.

Any place water can collect, needs a drain to get rid of it quick and allow it to dry.

I wonder if putting a fine notches in the cap might be worth it.

I was thinking that too. See this thread by JeepJunkie http://www.jeepgarage.org/f107/should-this-look-so-corroded-42961-2.html . Whenever I rotate tyres, I give the hubs, stub axle and nut, just a touch of WD40 being very careful not to get any on the discs. It penetrates well and leaves a fine protective oil film. I'm not in favour of covering it with rust preventative gunk. I could interfere with the hub to wheel friction.

 

[mswlogo]

Here is my fix to hopefully prevent rust on the rim hub.

I thought I was gonna notch the little cap but that won't work (see pic) because it does not go to the edge. These are 18" Dodge Durango Wheels I'm about to mount Snows on. I believe they are setup identical to the Jeep 18's

Notice the 5 Pockets have drains.

The center hub has no drain. So I added one.

 

[Zybane]

I was thinking that too. See this thread by JeepJunkie http://www.jeepgarage.org/f107/should-this-look-so-corroded-42961-2.html . Whenever I rotate tyres, I give the hubs, stub axle and nut, just a touch of WD40 being very careful not to get any on the discs. It penetrates well and leaves a fine protective oil film. I'm not in favour of covering it with rust preventative gunk. I could interfere with the hub to wheel friction.

Wow, that is pretty bad. Rust that bad is starting to affect the structural integrity. When my WK2 gets delivered, definitely going to hit that area with anti-corrosion spray.

 

[mswlogo]

Jeep fixed this problem on 2014 wheels

I started a new thread showing the 2014 wheels and my mod to 2013 wheels

http://www.jeepgarage.org/f109/possible-fix-for-preventing-rusty-hubs-66736.html

 

[peppoli]

No fix on the 17s for 2014, I noticed rust around the centercaps the other day, took the wheel off today and was pretty disappointed. There is no way it's normal for water to sit in there and cause this much rust. My Laredo has been with me for almost 7 months, 4k miles, this shouldn't happen.