Rusty Hub Cabs: What's the best way to get it off?

[JezzaWilliams]

Hi all,

I've just gotten my passat second hand, and the previous owner unfortunately had it parked outdoors. I noticed a bit of rust on the hubcabs which bothers me and would love to see if I can scrub it off nicely.

Do you have any tips on what the best way would be to do this? Assuming the very start is to remove the wheel, but what type of cleaning agents and brushes would you use? And does it need coating afterwards?
55000

TIA,
Jez

[Lucas_R]

Yes you will need to remove the wheel first. Go buy yourself a wire brush like this: Trojan 4x15 Row Brass Wire Brush - Bunnings Australia (https://www.bunnings.com.au/trojan-4x15-row-brass-wire-brush_p0241626)

You can also get wire brushes that attach to your drill. Once you have cleaned the rust off the hubs, then clean it up with some brake clean to remove any dust and any oils etc and then give it a spray paint with either silver or black (or whatever colour you desire) to stop the rust coming back.

I always paint the hubs on my cars because the rust looks horrible. Refer the pics below of the process on my car:

Before:

https://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2020/10/668bbcf8c6f3798dac4fe86d4c546568-1.jpg


After using wire brush:

https://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2020/10/aa972d07e076c804175937efb61d21de-1.jpg


After a coat of satin black paint:

https://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2020/10/3f1dc5f91f296ffe48a4e9e3b6e5bb36-1.jpg

[JustCruisn]

When it is time to replace the brakes, look for some rotors with corrosion protection, like powder coat etc.
I like DBA Enshield, but there are probably other brands too.

[JezzaWilliams]

Brilliant, thanks guys!
I know this doesn't make me sound too knowledgeable, but I actually didn't realise the Hubs are connected to the brake rotors (thought it was really just the disc).
That's good news; they'll be up for replacement pretty soon so I might just leave it till then!

[JezzaWilliams]

The black looks really clean, thanks for the tip!

[petemac110]

Brilliant, thanks guys!
I know this doesn't make me sound too knowledgeable, but I actually didn't realise the Hubs are connected to the brake rotors (thought it was really just the disc).
That's good news; they'll be up for replacement pretty soon so I might just leave it till then!

For clarity, the rusty part of the disc rotor that you’re talking about painting isn’t the hub - it is the disc rotor HAT.

The hub is the part of the car that the disc rotor affixes to, and what the wheel bolts/lugs screw into. Disc rotors don’t have a hub.

I hope that helps!

[JezzaWilliams]

Certainly does Pete, thank you. Good to get the proper naming right for future reference!