Rust on my stock wheels

Hey guys, I was washing my truck the other day and I noticed that all four of my stock 16" steel wheels are starting to get rust spots on them. I've had it for 14 months and am kind of annoyed to see the wheels rusting. Has anyone else had this issue?

My Sierra and Liberty are both A LOT older than my Tacoma and I've never seen rust form on their wheels. Should I just clean the rust off and forget it, or should I take in in to the dealership?

If I clean it off, what should I use?

Thanks

 

i got the same thing idk how to get it off.

 

Even if you take it in to the dealership, I would doubt that it would be covered by their "Rust and Corrosion Warranty" as I believe that it is very specific in terms of "rust-through" and perforated metal.
Personally, I would take the wheels off of the vehicle, and clean and wax them heavily - front and back. After reading your post, I will most assuredly do this to my new '11 Taco as soon as the weather cooperates.
Given the hard time my dealership is giving me over just a center cap that fell off almost immediately, I anxiously await your dealership's response to your inquiry.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wheels-tires/

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/detailing/

there ya go

 

Here is how:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wheels-tires/51358-painting-stock-rims-easy.html

 

What should I use to clean them with? Just car wash soap or something else.

I thought about posting this in the wheels and tires sub forum, but I noticed every topic there was about upgrading tires and wheels. While the 2nd gen sub forum seemed to have a lot of posts about problems with factory equipment.

 

Mine are rusty but I only use them in the winter in the very salty, snowy, slushy conditions.
I like the painting idea for next season possibly but really only see it when I wash the truck. My dealer would probably not do anything anyway...

 

Well if you just wash them, you won't be getting rid of the rust. Once rust has started, it's just going to get worse unless you do something about it.

I'd recommend taking it to the dealer first, and see if they'll repair/replace. If the don't then it's your repair on your dime. Wait until winter is over (not sure what your winters' are like) and when the slush, and salt are off the roads, those rims will need to be sanded down to bare metal, and completely refinished. Have them painted, or powder-coated, and you're back on track. No rust.

 

This! You don't have to paint them black, but once they've started rusting, that means water/salt has already eaten through the paint down to the steel. Washing and waxing will make it look better and somewhat protect them, but sanding, priming and painting is by far the best option.

 

For what it's worth, the steel wheels on all of my wife's Tacomas pitted and rusted early on...1992, 1996, 2002 and her 2005. I should have repainted them but instead just kept them well waxed. However when the polished alloys on her 2011 TRD Sport were pitted and chipped with less than 6,000 miles on the truck I was at the dealer's service door right away. Toyota will replace them as a "one time good will" gesture.

IMO Toyota has an unpleasant history of putting "not so good" wheels on their products. I have a friend that had to have the wheels on his year old Lexus replaced because of pitting and corrosion.

I think it is a "Toyota thing". Never had this problem with the alloy wheels on my GM, Ford Or Dodge trucks

Tom

 

for rims that are already rusted, yes you have to remove the rust
which would mean having to prime and paint.

but my rims where fairly new and had no rust, so just scuff sanding
the original paint was all that was needed for the paint to adhear to.

Two years later through buffalo winters and salt, they still look great.