I know my 2013 GS 350 AWD does not have rear steer so I don't know what this thing is that is in the spot the rear steer box would go. Anyone know what it is?

 

 

Click on the image and see the yellow item circled. It is behind the axle, between the cams that control the toe for the rear wheels. I believe it is exactly where the rear steer box would be and mounted similarly.

It was a NY/NJ lease car for the first few years before it came to Kentucky. I think it looks worse than it is though I can probably use it to justify a new exhaust to my wife.

 

Can't really tell, but is it connected to the differential housing? Looks like some kind of bushing.

You should get that rust taken care of though... I'm in Canada and my car is no where near as rusty. I just spray it annually with this stuff.

 

 

There is a an aluminum looking body with those bushings on each end and a hose or wire sheath that plugs into it that you can see.

 

I bet you can hear the salt and brine they put on the roads eating the metal away.

 

The new exhaust would have to be a full catback as you cannot take any chance here since the rust has already spread a little bit to the midtype section as well.

 

Looks like it was driven into a lake. Good grief.

 

It's just surface rust. It won't hurt cast iron. My other cars are a 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 (7.6l) and a 1971 Buick GS 350 (5.7l). You've not seen rust until you've seen a nearly 50 year old car's underneath, especially since the 1971 came from northwestern PA!

These are what I use on the old cars to treat the rust. They turn rust to magnetite, a black surface that seals it.

 

Here's a pic of that thing from the Tanabe site. It is exactly where the rear steer box would go so I don't know what purpose it could serve.

http://www.more-japan.com/blogs/wp-c...UST_FSPORT.jpg

 

My 18 RWD has the same thing. Maybe it's a cover piece into the rear differential where part of the rear wheel steering would go if optioned that way. Not really sure though.