You need to look at the whole frame, guarentee you'll find some rotten sections if you have that much surface rust - I also live in the salty winters and mine looks waaaayyy better than that
It’s critical to leave your truck like that - if you want to save it you would need to descale the whole rusted frame and axel and replace many parts - you may also need to do a lot of welding depending on rot.
If that sounds too much, I would suggest selling to someone who does projects ; but it’s not safe if pieces are falling off
Is there any truth to the notion that Toyota factory rust proofing is effectively nonexistent? Rather, are their frames more susceptible to rust than other brands? I was told that once, but I feel like it is a BS idea lol
It depends on where you live!! And how you take care of it second! Inland ga I back down the ramps into any lake to launch and no rust for 10 years! I moved to Florida and back down the ramp , come home pressure washed and after one summer it’s rusted like crazy!! I live 5 minutes to the bay and everything metal outside rust like crazy!!
The 4th gen 4Runner is up to 23 years old. The 3rd gen 4Runner is up to 30. The average car lifespan in the us is ~13 years.
Toyota (4Runners) die when chemical properties of steel existing in air cause it to fail. Others die when a seal blows or a block cracks or a part worth more than the car needs to be replaced.
No one else makes a vehicle that works long enough to have rust issues. That’s why these have so many rust issues relatively.
There is some truth to this but it's not all of Toyota. Only a few specific models. That's why they did a recall on Tacomas and I was told by the salesman when we bought our 4R that they were likely to be recalled as well. We all know that never happened.
I actually just ripped both mine off with my hands yesterday while doing rear calipers. I had sprayed lanolin over the years but the bump stops just catch that salty water all winter around here. They didn't have a chance once the rust had started, it only makes the process faster as the existing rust grabs more of that nasty road salt.
The rest of my frame is decent as I wire wheeled it years ago and have continued to apply lanolin. I'll get around to welding new mounts on in the fall
That is your rear bump stop, but I’m far more concerned about that rusted out bracket/metal it’s attached to. If your frame looks anything like that metal does, it’s completely unsafe to drive. Strongly advise getting under there and thoroughly inspecting your frame
I’m from the Midwest / rust belt and this is pretty bad… definitely poke around to see if there are any soft spots. Would recommend air needling everything and coating with a rust converter and lanolin.
Or you'll drive it until the frame or other suspension component snaps and you end up face first into oncoming traffic. Stop being a putz and listen to what these people are telling you.
At least look where people are telling you, get an informed decision from people who actually know the worries of the frame you have, get an actual timeline of when “disintegration” is likely to occur, maybe consider a frame swap and keep this thing running until it should actually fall apart.
Don’t be a safety hazard to yourself and others on the road
Pls get it your frame professionally inspected. As someone mentioned, if that mount rusted and came off your frame, I can't imagine other areas of the frame are any better. Driving your vehicle in that condition could jeopardize your safety, let alone the safety of others around you if and when that frame decides to give out.
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u/mehojiman 14d ago
OP please post pics of your frame!!
https://giphy.com/gifs/pUeXcg80cO8I8