How bad is this rusted axle and axle nut?

[Newhart111]

It’s unbelievable how rusted it got. They drop a lot of salt around here in the winter.

Should I worry?

Is there anything I can do to stop the rust from progressing?

I’m hoping its superficial but some of those cracks tell me it goes pretty deep.

Axle seems to work ok except there’s some cracks in the plastic casing of the outer CV joint. -

 

[ms21043]

You sure that's rust? Looks like dirt mostly.

 

[Bailes1992]

Attack that with a wire wheel and I bet it will look pretty good afterwards. Then apply some grease to stop it happening again.

 

[Jetronic]

I also think that's mostly dirt

 

[Snagglefoot]

Pressure washer, then grease. Was the rim design changed? There should be a protective cap over the assembly.

 

[Escape08]

That's not rust, that's covered with soil/dirt. Clean with water. let it dry and spray with WD40

 

[daves87rs]

A mess for sure….

 

[slacktide_bitog]

It looks like dirt to me too. Brush it off with a toothbrush or a metal toothbrush like you'd use for a BBQ/grill and see what comes off

 

[D60]

Looks too much like powder. Agree may not be rust at all. Stop storing your coke in your center caps.

 

[KrisZ]

That looks like dried mud or clay, but there is probably rust underneath as well.

How to prevent it? I brush on a thin layer of copper anti-seize. Well, I used to when I lived in Canada. I don't need to do that in Texas.

 

[Newhart111]

Attack that with a wire wheel and I bet it will look pretty good afterwards. Then apply some grease to stop it happening again.

Thank you, I will try that.

 

[bullwinkle]

Looks like mud, mainly. Hit it with a pressure washer & then a good penetrant. Off road much?

 

[Newhart111]

Looks like mud, mainly. Hit it with a pressure washer & then a good penetrant. Off road much?

No not at all lol.

Pretty sure it’s rust because it started off as rust.

We’ll see..

 

[Dave9]

That's been neglected for a long time. Personally I'd get a new axle nut, in case you need it, then spray penetrant on a few times over a few hours or more, then start attacking the one on there to see what it takes to get off. The axle shaft itself may just need some cleanup, as well as the hub, then grease them before reassembly.

The question is whether to do that now, or just wait till you need to replace the hub or ball joints or whatever and then need to take it apart anyway. In that case you could put some spray grease on it now, which will seep into the cracks better, and just clean the rust off the hub (and grease or anti-seize coat it) while it's exposed, which will at least allow getting the wheel off easier in the future and it will sit truer on the hub, and the back of the wheel itself and center bore may also need similar treatment.

 

[someonesomewhere]

That's been neglected for a long time. Personally I'd get a new axle nut, in case you need it, then spray penetrant on a few times over a few hours or more, then start attacking the one on there to see what it takes to get off. The axle shaft itself may just need some cleanup, as well as the hub, then grease them before reassembly.

The question is whether to do that now, or just wait till you need to replace the hub or ball joints or whatever and then need to take it apart anyway. In that case you could put some spray grease on it now, which will seep into the cracks better, and just clean the rust off the hub (and grease or anti-seize coat it) while it's exposed, which will at least allow getting the wheel off easier in the future and it will sit truer on the hub, and the back of the wheel itself and center bore may also need similar treatment.

I agree with you, I would wait, personally. Why invite trouble?

 

[Newhart111]

I agree with you, I would wait, personally. Why invite trouble?

I haven’t had a chance yet with my other problems, but I’m planning to change my outer tie rods and lower ball joints soon, so I’ll clean that up when I take my wheel off and then go from there.

I’m afraid what it’ll look like after clean up. I have a new axle nut on hand.

 

[Newhart111]

So I cleaned up this rusted axle nut by chipping away at it with a big screwdriver and wire brushing it.

That slot used to be much thinner.

It looks like some ancient artifact I drew up from the ocean thats thousands of years old.

I don’t think I’ll touch it till I need a new axle. The first piece I chipped off from the front was like 1.5mm thick (not that I think that much metal came off but it probably expands after it corrodes).

 

[IndyIan]

That looks not good! What does the rest of the car look like underneath? I've never seen anything that bad on my active vehicles. 70 year old farm stuff sitting in long grass for a decade or three starts to look like that...
I would spray some oil all over all the bolts on that car, it seems you have some pretty agressive salts being used on your road.

 

[Newhart111]

That looks not good! What does the rest of the car look like underneath? I've never seen anything that bad on my active vehicles. 70 year old farm stuff sitting in long grass for a decade or three starts to look like that...
I would spray some oil all over all the bolts on that car, it seems you have some pretty agressive salts being used on your road.

Yeah they go nuts with the salt around here. They even salt when it’s not snowing just to drop salt. It looks like it happened over a long time but most of it happened in last 2 years maybe.

The rest of the car looks ok believe it or not. The other axle I had to change couple years ago (original axle like this one) and it only had a little rust. It did not look anywhere as bad as this one.

Not sure how I will get this off when the time comes.

 

[TomYoung]

I would try brake cleaner aerosol and an old toothbrush on the OP's wheel. Wire brushes have their place, but always should be cautious when threads are involved. Not sure what is going on with the second picture. Does not look good. Is this a before and after???