What’s this on the axle?

[Jen2885]

Looking to buy a dodge. It’s a 2017 1500 v8 with 61k miles in Virginia. Trying to get a mechanic friend to check it out, but figured I’d see what the masses say. Rust under the truck - got it - fairly common esp with salt roads in winter. But there’s a black spot on the rear left axle near the tire and it feels / looks like that stuff in the commercial where the guy sprays the bottom of the boat to fix holes and the boat “floats”….. I don’t know what this is. Is it normal? Or does the axle have a hole in it from rust and it’s been patched? Anyone ever seen this or done this to their truck?

 

[Brandon-w]

Almost looks like a tow truck hook scratched it. Nothing to worry about I don't see any cracks

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[Jen2885]

Am I confused as to what I’m seeing then? Because the black part feels different than the rest of the axle … and it’s not a smooth transition from the black to the normal silver/etc where it’s rusting

 

[Brandon-w]

It looks like undercoat or a thick layer of paint. Also remember when rust is under paint it will raise the paint up to feel thicker.

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[misfit77]

Kinda looks like a small oil leak prevented rust, but i see a finger print on the left.

Odd for sure.

 

[PoMansRam]

There's no way the rear axle tube rusted through. It does look like a shot of that ziebart type (terrible) undercoating in that particular spot. Why it would be just there I have no idea. If the entire undercarriage is coated with rubberized/tar type undercoating, run away from it.

Does the truck look decent? I don't envy anyone in the used market right now. Completely insane pricing.

Be sure to thoroughly test the parking brake on that truck. Check for P-brake cable sag afterwards. Tell tale sign of rusted up P-brake mechanism which is a $1200 dealer fix.

 

[Brandon-w]

There's no way the rear axle tube rusted through. It does look like a shot of that ziebart type (terrible) undercoating in that particular spot. Why it would be just there I have no idea. If the entire undercarriage is coated with rubberized/tar type undercoating, run away from it.

Does the truck look decent? I don't envy anyone in the used market right now. Completely insane pricing.

Be sure to thoroughly test the parking brake on that truck. Check for P-brake cable sag afterwards. Tell tale sign of rusted up P-brake mechanism which is a $1200 dealer fix.

First thing I thought when I seen it was they gave the apprentice the undercoat gun. [emoji23]

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[Jen2885]

 

[Jen2885]

Sorry don’t know why it posted pics twice - someone asked how it looked. Overall the truck is in VERY nice condition…. Aside from whatever is going on underneath— and I don’t know much about what to check when looking at used cars (obviously) aside from general overview, corrosion under the hood, etc. I’m trying to not get walked over or talked into something bad … but Im so anxious I feel like I don’t make a decision.

 

[Jen2885]

If the entire undercarriage is coated with rubberized/tar type undercoating, run away from it.

Be sure to thoroughly test the parking brake on that truck. Check for P-brake cable sag afterwards. Tell tale sign of rusted up P-brake mechanism which is a $1200 dealer fix.

how do i know if the whole thing is coated? It will look like the black spot all over?

…. where’s the parking brake cable located …. ‍

 

[Brandon-w]

You can grab a knife or something sharp and dig at it. It will Either feel waxy or. Rubbery and come off in chunks.. Park brake cable is the bigger black round line. Looking at the pic of the other side of the axle it's been tied down a few times my the looks. Seems rather odd not gonna lie.

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[Brandon-w]

This is park brake.

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[PoMansRam]

how do i know if the whole thing is coated? It will look like the black spot all over?

…. where’s the parking brake cable located …. ‍

It looks very clean underneath and I see no evidence of the undercoating I mentioned above and that's a great thing. The parking brake cable runs along the outside of the frame rail on the driver's side of the truck. Press and release the P-brake a bunch of times and make sure the P-brake will hold the tuck steady while in gear. Then check to see if that cable sags below the frame afterwards.

 

[Daw14]

The rest of the pics make the truck look good, hard to tell what’s in the other pic. If priced right and a thorough going over/test drive go for it.

 

[Bob Macknight]

check to see if it has a strong odor,could be gear oil?

 

[4xdad]

rub it and smell it if it smells like sulfer its gear oil if it is not slippery at all it could be brake fluid if it smells sweet it could be wd 40 pb blaster or some other kind of weasel ****

 

[Ribtipram]

Looks like a jb weld or pc7 epoxy to me. I agree that no way is the axle rusted thru. Even dinged or poked thru is hard to believe. Why its there is anyones guess. Anything is possible people do stupid **** with their trucks

 

[caulk04]

Stop worrying about it, it's nothing. Really.

 

[chri5k]

It's OCD.

 

[JRs 17 Ram]

Looks like 2 part epoxy to me