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Rear knuckle rust

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SciRunner, Mar 8, 2021.

  1. SciRunner

    SciRunner Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2020
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    Location:
    Charm City, USA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    2021 Prime with less than 2000 miles. Noticed driver side left wheel slightly staggered late this evening. Removed wheel and noticed rust on the rear knuckle. Are the rear knuckles made of aluminum? Is it forged or welded together?

    Did not check the other knuckles yet. Concern in one area highlighted in yellow. Looks like a rust at the weld or crack. Hoping just surface rust. The 4Runners had surface rust at the knuckles but not this low in miles on the Prime.
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 SciRunner, Mar 8, 2021
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    at that age, i would have the dealer look at it
     
    #2 bisco, Mar 9, 2021
    Bob Comer likes this.
  3. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Did your car already see salt on roads? If so, I am sure some rust starts early. I never looked at mine that early, but the photo below was taken on my 2017 PP at 27months (~30kmiles) before the third winter. The entire knuckle was covered by rust. I did not keep the car long enough to see how this rust developed. But in my area, no car lasts longer than 15 years without a rust problem. In our region of heavily salted roads, my expectation is that if the car lasts 10+ years without a rust problem causing major repair, it's good.

    upload_2021-3-9_18-52-57.png

    upload_2021-3-9_18-59-9.png
     
    #3 Salamander_King, Mar 9, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2021
    Georgina Rudkus likes this.
  4. SciRunner

    SciRunner Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2020
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    Location:
    Charm City, USA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    Brined and salted roads though never driven when it actually snows. It’s likely surface rust and the knuckle is probably made of cast iron.
     
    #4 SciRunner, Mar 10, 2021
    Salamander_King likes this.
  5. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Brings up memories of growing up in NY and watching the road go by through the rusted out floorboards. Good times!
     
    #5 MikeDee, Mar 23, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2021
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