Rust on back axle

[michaelg]

My 2011 Pug runs like a champ but my mechanic has said there is quite a bit of rust on the back Axle.

I'm thinking wire brush and repaint but the mechanic said I'd only really be painting over rust.
What other options would I have ? Replace ?

[ItsGreen]

Depends how he means quite a lot of rust. Is it penetrating or just surface? I honestly wouldn't worry about surface rust, I don't think I've ever seen one of these axles that far gone that it gave me cause for concern. If it is just surface, and you did fancy doing something about it, I'm a fan of POR-15, which is basically a thick, heavy enamel paint. Just don't get it on your skin or in your hair because it takes forever to come off.

If it's actually penetrating, and like I say, I doubt it, you might as well put a refurb axle on.

[michaelg]

Depends how he means quite a lot of rust. Is it penetrating or just surface? I honestly wouldn't worry about surface rust, I don't think I've ever seen one of these axles that far gone that it gave me cause for concern. If it is just surface, and you did fancy doing something about it, I'm a fan of POR-15, which is basically a thick, heavy enamel paint. Just don't get it on your skin or in your hair because it takes forever to come off.

If it's actually penetrating, and like I say, I doubt it, you might as well put a refurb axle on

Thanks for that, I don't know if its surface or penetrating, perhaps some scale rust.
I'm only really that concerned about it in relation to the CVRT (Roadworthiness) test which I have in about a months time.
My mechanic said that recently they have started to fail vans if their was too much rust.
He seemed to think they might just give me an advisory but I'll have to wait and see.

Would it be a big job to replace an axle ?

[Romahomepete]

I am a firm believer in products like Lanoshield and Lanoguard, I use Lanoguard on my land rover and my Berlingo based Romahome.

Remove all the loose rust then apply using a spray. You don't have to bother about where it goes but regular retreatment is needed.

Peter

[ItsGreen]

Depends how he means quite a lot of rust. Is it penetrating or just surface? I honestly wouldn't worry about surface rust, I don't think I've ever seen one of these axles that far gone that it gave me cause for concern. If it is just surface, and you did fancy doing something about it, I'm a fan of POR-15, which is basically a thick, heavy enamel paint. Just don't get it on your skin or in your hair because it takes forever to come off.

If it's actually penetrating, and like I say, I doubt it, you might as well put a refurb axle on

Thanks for that, I don't know if its surface or penetrating, perhaps some scale rust.
I'm only really that concerned about it in relation to the CVRT (Roadworthiness) test which I have in about a months time.
My mechanic said that recently they have started to fail vans if their was too much rust.
He seemed to think they might just give me an advisory but I'll have to wait and see.

Would it be a big job to replace an axle ?

It's a heavy job and you do have to think it through well before you act. I can do one by myself with the pallet truck and a few jacks, but I do allow myself a couple of days. I'm by no means a mechanic, but I've done a few. First time I did one took about a week with plenty of time breaking stuff, getting frustrated, and waiting for parts I didn't think I'd need.