http://www.flickr.com/photos/61477245@N02/7009171217/in/photostream

Ok those who know me know i like a clean car and am still de wintering the yeti , So was horrified to see the rust starting to take it's toll on the rear wishbones after a couple of years and 40,000 miles. I dont think i have had a car that has started to age like this before so quickly however on the upside it does seem localised to the rear wishbones which over the next week or so will be dealt with , i think its just the minimal paint coverage they apply these days and the exposed area.

Surely thats just surface rust though?!

Have you seen the new underbody washer from Karcher!?

http://www.karcher.co.uk/uk/Products/Home__Garden/chassis_cleaner.htm

Cheaper way is to get into somewhere that does an underbody wash when snow has gone and occasionally when salt goes down .

Cheapest way is to find a nice ford and drive through it a few times!

Proper job of cleaning your Yeti - the pics of the underside are really interesting. Oddly, the Octavia Scout has the same rear wishbones, but they are protected on the front and lower faces and by plastic sections. I'm pretty relaxed about surface rust on these components - I remember buying a Focus 10 years ago that was covered in rust on the suspension - there was no coating at all on some of it. I queried it with the dealer who said it was normal. At least Skoda make an effort to protect these bits.

No good for this area, Drought Order comes into force next week!

BTW I wonder if the recent news items about using Water Cannons in England to control any riots have considered Drought Orders?

I can just see a jobsworth coming along in the middle of a riot and saying "You can't use that here".

Checked our 5 month old yeti today and we have some surface rust already forming on the rear wishbones so looks like were off to skoda dealer to complain and for a solution as I'm pretty much sure this should not be happening at 5 months old.

Has anyone applied waxoyl to their underbody to give it some winter protection

Sorry, but surface rust on wishbones is perfectly normal. They get blasted by everything on the road, soaked in water, and coated in salt. What do you expect?

Oddly, the Octavia Scout has the same rear wishbones, but they are protected on the front and lower faces and by plastic sections.

I thought the Yeti got this protection too, or is it only fitted as part of the off-road package on the 4x4's?

I thought the Yeti got this protection too, or is it only fitted as part of the off-road package on the 4x4's?

Mine are covered in plastic protective parts and yes, I have the RRP fitted.

Not there in the OP's photos at the Flickr link.

I have just painted all the black suspension parts on my month old Yeti with Waxoyl as I can see that they won't last long without some extra protection. All those blacked torx screws that hold on the wing undershields and mud flaps are also particularly vulnerable.

I asked about this problem a couple of months back but nobody was interested.

I will be giving our Fabia the same protection too.

Gents, by the time that wishbone rusts enough to weaken it or fail an MOT the rest of the car will have already dissolved / failed!

Components under the car aren't supposed to look pretty.

If you really want to shorten a cars life move close to the sea!

Did you use the black underbody paint or clear spray? I was wondering about over spray on to the brake Fisk.

Does anyone know if the yeti body panels are galvanised? I had a mk 5 golf which was supposedly.

All those blacked torx screws that hold on the wing undershields and mud flaps are also particularly vulnerable.

Those screws were absolutely fine after 6 years on my previous car.

Some realism needed here. Unless you treat the undersides in the same way as the bodywork (ie washing regularly, removing salt etc), then you WILL get some surface rust.

This is perfectly normal and really doesn't warrant any panic whatsoever. Good luck if you head "off to the Skoda dealer to complain", but I don't believe you would be using your time wisely in doing so.

Did you use the black underbody paint or clear spray? I was wondering about over spray on to the brake Fisk.

I painted on black Waxoyl with a 1.5" soft brush - not the best way but otherwise you would have to remove the wheels and cover the discs etc. - I think that is overkill unless there is a lot of rust.

Those screws were absolutely fine after 6 years on my previous car.

Well they must use different screws for the Russian market - mine were rusty after 50 miles!

Guys if your fussy like me treat them or paint them !

I agree with the comments about reality they will need to be really beyond the life of the car before they are rusty enough to be compromised and even though my fantastic yeti is over 41000 miles old and under warranty still i would not expect these to be covered against rust as it was rightly claimed they are exposed to all elements etc.

I used hammerite gloss black a lot of elbow grease and a sander and sorted them out but like i sad you could just leave them but i try to keep a vehicle as good as it was when new so i am a fussy person with things like this but dont panic !

Peter

I painted on black Waxoyl with a 1.5" soft brush - not the best way but otherwise you would have to remove the wheels and cover the discs etc. - I think that is overkill unless there is a lot of rust.

I decided to remove the wheels anyway for better access and paint all the black painted parts and the plated bolts with a coat of Waxoyl. I think removing the alloy wheels and cleaning and greasing the areas where they fit against the iron hubs is essential as they will very quickly corrode together making emergency removal in the future very difficult.

I know many will think this is all overkill but I cannot bear to look under a newish car and see rust everywhere. It also means it will be a lot easier to make any repairs in the future.

Oh dear I do feel left out. I have yet to inspect the nether parts of my Yeti - if I am really at a loose end I suppose it will pass the time. Have had it valeted twice in 16k miles and it's had the odd jet wash- and she lives outside. I reckon these Czechs dont need mollycoddling..

Quite!!

I think some people have too much time on their hands.

IMHO a good wash one a fortnight in winter, and once a month in summer (or more often to remove dead bodies) does the job nicely.

The hub parts of all the discs on my car are starting to turn brown but I'm not bothered about underneath bits having surface rust.

No-one but mechanics ever see the bottom of the car so is it really an issue?