Wheel Hubs - T27 Avensis

[Berengaria]

New, the 2008 on models have what appears to be satin black wheel hubs that you can see between the alloy wheel and the brake discs.

The pain coating is very thin, and, like on a lot of other cars, they rust very easily and look a mess.

Does anyone know whether the black painted bit you can see is actually part of the brake disc, or separate to it?

If so, do genuine discs come with that section pre-painted?

[TomdeGuerre]

Don't know about the Avensis but I see no reason why they're any different from the Auris which comes with the same sections painted black.

In answer to your questions:

1) Yes, it does seem to be quite a thin coat of paint but I find that smooth Hammerite black does a great job of restoring it.

2) The black painted bit is a part of the brake disc. The actual hub incorporating the wheel bearing is underneath it.

3) Don't know whether genuine replacement discs come pre-painted or not but if I was fitting them on my own car I'd give them a coat of smooth Hammerite paint before fitting them. They are also coated with black paint around the outside edges but that's a trickier bit to paint with a brush unless your middle name is Van Gogh or something.

I think it looks nice because you see an awful lot of cars - some with nice fancy alloys - with rusted hubs & discs and corroded calipers and they look really rough. On some of my other cars I used to burnish the disc section with a high speed wire brush and polisher to stop the rust appearing so quickly.

[Berengaria]

Totally agree about how these things go rusty and then make the car look a mess - wouldn't you have thought he manufacturers would have just powder coated them?

My discs don't need replacing yet, though eventually they will do, so at least it'll be an opportunity to sort he problem out. In the meantime, I'll have to consider taking the wheel off, masking-up and spraying it satin black. What a faff though - that's definitely a job for next summer I think.