Wheel hub corrosion

[notsofast]

I've recently noticed some corrosion on the wheel hubs of my new K9.  It isn't uniform, either on any individual hub or between different hubs - the offside rear appears by far the worst, although the fronts are a bit too mucky to see much (I haven't removed the wheel trims).  Pics attached - one showing the badly affected offside rear, and one showing the fairly clean nearside rear (pics were taken through the trims).

I was surprised, not only because I only bought it last year, but also because the hub finish appears galvanised (though I may be mistaken). Is this corrosion to be expected, or is it a defect?  It's 20 years since I last bought a new vehicle, so I don't know what's 'normal'.

       

[Pedronicus]

You could always whip it back to the dealer as a possible claim under the 3 year warranty. I assume you are saying that the actual wheels are rusting and, the fact you have wheel trims, that these are steel rather than alloy.

[notsofast]

I think it's part of the hub that's rusting - I say "think" because I'm a bit inexperienced at dismantling vehicles and knowing which bit is which, though I looked at the spare wheel and that has a sem-glossy blackish finish, and doesn't have anything resembling the parts that are rusting. The trims are alloy and fit over the top of the blackish metal of the wheels.

[Broken arrow]

They look like the brake discs not the wheels, they can flash rust overnight if it is wet, or not been driven for a while, nothing out of the ordinary there...

[cancunia]

They look like the brake discs not the wheels, they can flash rust overnight if it is wet, or not been driven for a while, nothing out of the ordinary there...

Yep, looks like the discs that are rusting, it's quite normal as they're made of steel & normally not treated, plus they get hot & cold from braking. For peace of mind, you can take it back to the dealer in case it's not supposed to happen.

[notsofast]

They look like the brake discs not the wheels, they can flash rust overnight if it is wet, or not been driven for a while, nothing out of the ordinary there...

Ah, the brake discs - I thought the discs were just the actual disc part that's rubbed by the pads, so showing my ignorance there.  If the part of the disc that's corroding isn't subject to friction during braking, I'm curious why not being driven for a while should make a difference?

[Broken arrow]

you're right, its only the disc that gets cleaned by the pads, the rest of the disc brake just corrodes naturally because its unprotected steel...
they all do it, the disc itself would be worn out before the rust elsewhere would cause a problem.

[notsofast]

At least that's one thing I didn't get wrong!  Bit of a learning curve all this.  Though the good news for me is that this isn't a fault with the van.

[Dino]

I have the same on my 2020 Berlingo Driver van. I have factory black alloys so you can see the rear wheel hubs quite clearly. Brake discs do have rust which I can expect if the van has not been driven for a while in the winter salty road period and especially when lockdown prevented me driving. But on the rear wheel hubs there seems to be surface rust (very lightly coloured) not sure if the hubs are steel or alloy or something else. My vehicle is a leased van due back in March 2022, but will keep an eye on things!!