Rusted Rotor Hub Gallery
 

While waiting for my car to be serviced, I went around the dealer lot and can't help but notice how "normal" rusted rotor hubs are. I guess Mazda must be thinking their customers like to see rusted rotor hubs on their cars. It must've been an expression of art since each hub has their individual unique rust patterns.

Therefore, I propose a gallery to appreciate these rusted hubs. If we get a sizable gallery, we can send it to MNAO to let them know how much of a good job they're doing with rust control.

Without further ado, here are the specimens:

1. Miata
2. Miata
3. Used Miata
4. Protege5
5. RX-8

Rusted rotor hubs is a standard feature regardless of the color of your RX-8:

hahahah pics 2-3-4 are really bad...hahaaa

Nice detective work, it obviously a universal Mazda problem

I have shots for other cars as well, but so far the Mazda 6's are holding up well. Mazda 3's are too new to be certain. There are 2 Honda Accords in the lot with rust-free hubs.

so why do they rust like that? Mine doesn't look that bad, but there is rust.

They all rust... and rust will be gone when u brake ... ur brake pad will shave off the surface of the rotor...
those cars were probably sitting in the lot for days while it rained..

Um no. We are talking about the hubs. These rust as well and they only get worse unless you paint over them. Hubs shouldn't be rusting this badly IMO. If rusting were only on the rotors, noone would care, we'd just drive the car and it would be gone.

so will this issue be under warranty at all??? I mean the hubs...

It depends on the dealer you go to. It seems like MNAO could care less, but some dealers will push it and do it as a "good will gesture, but only if the care is below 12k miles or 12 months".

And some will it as a courtesy..regardless of the mileage.

you just did:) MNAO people read this and other forums on a regular basis. anything posted here will be and is seen by them. its their job:)

Attached are two shots of my right rear rotor. The left rear is much the same.

Mazda Customer Assistance says it's normal for the rotors to rust. Well, OK, then I'd expect to see the rust at least form uniformly.

Nice macro shots of the hub you have there. I can see a nice texture of color which gives a rustic feel to the looks of those 18" wheels. Don't worry; in time, the silver will turn to sunset orange and you'll have a uniform looking rusted hub. :D

I wouldn't say it's a "problem." The rotors are made carbon steel aren't they? Carbon steel is harder, stronger, and has better heat dissipating properites than stainless steel. Also, stainless is very expensive.

Carbon steel vs. Stainless.

It wouldn't have to be stainless. I don't know if anyone would suggest stainless rotors. There are many alloys of cast iron and steel that would have more favorable corrosion properties. Not all car makes show rust to this extent, and it's not all the high priced makes. It's a cost factor, of course, but it would be worth it to Mazda to have the 8 show better in the field.

Hello
I brought a 2004 rx8 two weeks... I will take better picture, use the sidekick to take this one. what should i do. Is it worth complaining to the dealer? or would that be a waste of time.

23K on the OD and here are mine...

Never bothered to have the dealer replace or paint them. I'll paint them myself soon.

If you bought the 2004 8 new, you supposedly have 12 months or 12K miles from delivery to have it done for good will through Mazda. Your dealer may or may not be willing to do the work at their own expense. You could start by asking the dealer, but you may well have to make the request to Mazda customer service.

Damn those look bad. Do you drive in the snow with all the salt or something? I've had my 8 for a while now and it looks nothing like that. Well I never drive it in the snow and hardly in the rain.

Living in Florida, we deal with a lot of moisture and humidity in our environment. I purchased my '04 used, after it sat on a car lot for four months. The hubs were very rusty, so much so that removing the wheels was a real chore. Once I got the wheels free, I simply sanded the rusty areas down and applied two coats of silver rotor paint, available at any auto parts store. Make sure you purchase high-temp paint, specifically designed for calipers and rotors. Having the wheels off gave me the opportunity to rotate the rubber, too. Simple fix!

this thread rocks........

I'm not sure if you are referring to mine, but yes, they did look really bad and yes, I drive the car through the Northeast winter. It's not only winter conditions that cause the rust, though, as you can read elsewhere in this thread. Mazda said it was due to road salt in the winter and so on, but I made the point that it occurs in other areas of the U.S. also.

I see............... I hope mine dont become like that. I have 12,000 on my car now and I hardly have any.