# 2011 Chevrolet Malibu - Rusty axles **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet\ **Created:** [July 18, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530 "2020-07-18T23:10:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SamuelContreras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SamuelContreras](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SamuelContreras)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530/1 "2020-07-18T23:10:32Z")
What is adjuster? also, i took my car to get an alignment and i was told the rear wheel could not be aligned due to axle being rusted. does a rusted axle inhibit a wheel from being aligned? if so, how do i repair it? ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530/2 "2020-07-18T23:57:13Z")
Give us some context on the adjuster thing. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelContreras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SamuelContreras](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SamuelContreras)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 12:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530/3 "2020-07-19T00:34:43Z")
Thank you, Gorehamj for responding! > **[Stuck Wheel Adjusters Can Be Loosened -- but It Takes Patience](https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/dear-car-talk/stuck-wheel-adjusters-can-be-loosened-it-takes-patience)** > > Patience is just one of the things you'll need to work on a car that's lived on salted roads. I’m going to be up-front here, i’m a laymen when it comes to knowing my way around cars but i take the time to try and educate myself so i decided to google " rusted rear axle inhibits alignment" and came across the link above. It sounded very similar to the issue my car is having but it didn’t clarify what an adjuster is. Just trying to get a better idea on what rusted part on the rear wheel could be impeding my car from being aligned so that i can tackle that head-on and avoid unnecessary mishaps and be well-prepared, as well as efficient and effective. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530/4 "2020-07-19T00:42:02Z")
The adjusters are eccentric bolts/washers that allow rear camber adjustment. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/7/177c3496ac054f2a75cda39d54125e861a41be49.png) Tester ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 4:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530/5 "2020-07-19T04:47:15Z")
If you take a car from the salt crusted roads of Western NY where all our cars turn dirty light gray in the winter no matter what color they are to Florida or Georgia, you will find most shops just say “We can’t fix that, it’s too rusted” to repairs that Buffalo mechanics fix every day. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 10:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530/6 "2020-07-19T10:50:35Z")
> [@SamuelContreras](#): > > does a rusted axle inhibit a wheel from being aligned? if so, how do i repair it? Very possible, we can’t see how bad the rust is, the shop did. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530/7 "2020-07-19T13:33:34Z")
Those bolts with eccentric washers for alignment adjustment that tester posted rust themselves inside the suspension arm bushings they mount. If they rust enough, it is like welding them in place. You have to beat the out and replace with nice clean new ones if you need an alignment. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530/8 "2020-07-19T14:46:16Z")
What was result of shop visit? No alignment? No cost? ---
**Author:** ![SamuelContreras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SamuelContreras](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SamuelContreras)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-chevrolet-malibu-rusty-axles/167530/9 "2020-07-21T00:41:28Z")
Mustangman - where can i locate the eccentric washers on 2011 Malibu LTZ on the rear wheel? I was able to loosen some bolts on the rear wheel but i am unsure if they are the right ones. Cavell- the result of my shop visit is that i left and realized soon after that there was very minimal adjustment if any at all. So, i called i told them that i would fix the rusted part and take it back for an alignment for no charge at all.