04-17-2019, 12:46 AM
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#1
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Member
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: California
Posts: 55
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: California
Posts: 55
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Need advice! Another rusted frame...
Hey everyone! I'm trying to get some advice on what to do about my truck with the dreaded frame rust problem...
To make a long story short....sold my '97 2wd 4cyl manual 4Runner before the big move from FL to CA last May (I now regret that decision)...
I broke the cardinal rule of "sleeping on it" and found an '01 Limited 4wd with 98k miles and bought it same day. I severely underestimated how much rust was on this truck. I could list a bunch of excuses like "I'm from Florida, we don't usually have to worry about rust" and "I didn't have a truck and needed a new one to move 3k miles in the next week" but in the end it's 100% my fault and now I'm just trying to figure out what to do next.
I've had the truck now for a year and it's been amazing. I've put over 10k miles on it and it hasn't given me any problems. It runs great, drives great, it's way more comfy than my '97...and it's 4x4. It even survived my solo, week long, 3k mile drive from Florida to California while towing a trailer.
My question is....should I sell the truck as is (and just take a loss $$), fully disclosing the rust issue OR drive until it dies/falls apart? It currently has only 110k miles. The interior is almost perfect and from the outside it looks almost brand new (except for mild clear coat issues on the roof/hood). Any advice is appreciated
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04-17-2019, 02:02 AM
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#2
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 111
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 111
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I’ll take it off your hands for $3,000 tomorrow... let me know 👍
There’s nothing there to worry about FYI.. all surface rust.. just wire wheel it off and paint it. All before you sell it and lose a bunch of money due to lack of knowledge. You should do a search for ACTUAL frame rust.
Seriously
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04-17-2019, 02:16 AM
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#3
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: California
Posts: 55
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: California
Posts: 55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonbandit
I’ll take it off your hands for $3,000 tomorrow... let me know 👍
There’s nothing there to worry about FYI.. all surface rust.. just wire wheel it off and paint it. All before you sell it and lose a bunch of money due to lack of knowledge. You should do a search for ACTUAL frame rust.
Seriously
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Thanks! When I initially bought it, I did see the rust but didn't think much of it...but a Toyota mechanic I took the truck to (for an oil change) told me that he wouldn't do anything but the oil change because it had "too much rust" to work on, so then I started second guessing. The pics I posted are the worst of it.
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1997 Toyota 4Runner 2.7L 4cyl, 5-speed Manual. 182k miles
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04-17-2019, 02:29 AM
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#4
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 111
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Join Date: Oct 2016
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2 possible reasons for what that mechanic said.
1. He wants to buy it off of you to flip it and make a huge profit. Or has a “friend who’d like to buy it “. In this case he is a scamming POS and I’d find another mechanic ASAP. Given how many mechanics in Cali are garbage, I’d even be suspicious of letting this guy change my oil. Better yet, you should become more informed and do your own maintenance. 110k 4wd in Cali will get you about 10k.
2. He is ignorant of rust because he has only ever been in Cali. This seems unlikely But you never know.
Good luck. Congrats also.
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04-17-2019, 07:27 AM
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#5
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Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Berwick, Maine USA
Posts: 374
Real Name: Mike
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Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Berwick, Maine USA
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Real Name: Mike
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In California that is a rusted out POS, in Maine that is light surface rust. Clean it up and paint it or coat it with Fluid Film or some other oily, rust inhibiting substance. I'll post a pic of a real rusted frame when I get to work in a little bit.
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98 SR5 4X4 5spd, desert dune metallic, Toytech Eibach 3" lift, 1" body lift, RAD Rubber Designs splash guards, 4XInnovations bumpers, Doug Thorely Headers, Magna-flow converter, JBA muffler & tail pipe, RCI skid plate, SPC UCA's & rear LCA's, front sway bar links on rear, gen II rear links on front, Tundra brakes, '02 headlights, tail lights & sidemarkers, BFG 255/85R16 Mud Terrain T/A's 241,000 miles.
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04-17-2019, 08:20 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Bend, WI
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Real Name: Mike
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Bend, WI
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Your rust (on face value) is nothing that a Saturday and a wire wheel couldn't clean up. Coat the frame with some POR15 and use a good rust inhibitor moving forward. Your truck will be fine, it just needs some love..
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1997 SR5 4x4 Auto, 99' tall coils up front, OME 906's, Truetrac LSD, Airaid MIT
1999 SR5 4x4 Auto for parts
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04-17-2019, 10:15 AM
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#7
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Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Belleville, ON
Posts: 28
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Um, I know you southern guys are all spoiled over the rust but this is nothing... Wire wheel it, sandblast if you want to do a pro job, check for any suspect areas with the pointy end of a slag hammer, undercoat, and re-inspect every couple months. Nothing to worry about if you can stay on top of it and there already isn't serious rot forming. You're in a good spot and all it needs is some of your time and NOT alot of money to deal with. Only thing that looks off based on the pictures is the driveshaft.
Check out my frame rot repair thread if you want to have a real heart attack:
Frame rot repair - tell me I'm going to h***
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04-17-2019, 12:59 PM
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#8
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 479
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Wisconsin
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Around here we call that "patina".
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2000 SR5 five speed. Everything works, even the antenna. No special mods; It's my canoe, kayak and dog hauler/winter beater.
I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.
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04-17-2019, 01:25 PM
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#9
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Elite Member
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Citrus Heights, California
Age: 36
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Real Name: Jerod
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonbandit
2. He is ignorant of rust because he has only ever been in Cali. This seems unlikely But you never know.
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Actually, this is it. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the most rust the mechanic has ever seen. For CA standards, that's an absolute rust bucket. But relative to what northern states see, yeah it's nothing at all.
As long as you can't poke holes in the frames or near the control arms it's solid. Now if you ever try and swap out suspension parts, prepare for a real fight!
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04-17-2019, 01:44 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: MARIETTA
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Hey guys, brand new to the site. I was gonna post about what to look for in rust and or buying a new 3gen 4runner but I don't have enough points(?) to do that or something.
I already checked out the vehicle and all the electronics work (all windows, sunroof, ect...), as well as the 4wd. Guy uses it as his daily driver at the moment and said it has a bit of a wobble above 60mph (I figure thats a balancing).
Looking to do the deal tomorrow so this is all a bit time sensitive. Looking for advice on things to be aware of in gen3's, advice for the future and anything that screams don't buy me.
Thanks!!!
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04-17-2019, 02:45 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Bend, WI
Posts: 2,339
Real Name: Mike
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GhostBear
Hey guys, brand new to the site. I was gonna post about what to look for in rust and or buying a new 3gen 4runner but I don't have enough points(?) to do that or something.
I already checked out the vehicle and all the electronics work (all windows, sunroof, ect...), as well as the 4wd. Guy uses it as his daily driver at the moment and said it has a bit of a wobble above 60mph (I figure thats a balancing).
Looking to do the deal tomorrow so this is all a bit time sensitive. Looking for advice on things to be aware of in gen3's, advice for the future and anything that screams don't buy me.
Thanks!!!
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Read this 3rd Gen 4Runner Buyer's Guide - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum
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1997 SR5 4x4 Auto, 99' tall coils up front, OME 906's, Truetrac LSD, Airaid MIT
1999 SR5 4x4 Auto for parts
2011 Camry SE V6
2011 Highlander Limited
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04-17-2019, 03:27 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Yukon
Posts: 1,317
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Location: Yukon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GhostBear
Hey guys, brand new to the site. I was gonna post about what to look for in rust and or buying a new 3gen 4runner but I don't have enough points(?) to do that or something.
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Your biggest regret will be if you buy a rust bucket. Crawl under it and check around the rear lower control arm brackets.
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-1996 4Runner. 3RZ 5-Spd. 4x4 Base model. OME2906/Toyota OEM rears with 2004 Tacoma Dual Rate Fronts on Bilstien 4600s.
-1993 Corolla Wagon 7AFE
-2001 Echo D.D.
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04-17-2019, 03:31 PM
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#13
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Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: DC
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As useful as the buyers guide is, it's light on rust info.
Be sure to check *inside* the frame. These frames often rust from the inside out. There are lots of holes in the beams - poke your finger in there and see if you can feel rust. Surface rust isn't so bad, but if it's flaking off in chunks that could be a deal breaker. It often is the worst near the lower control arm, so be sure to check there.
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04-17-2019, 04:06 PM
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#14
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Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Age: 40
Posts: 358
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Age: 40
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The reason why he said he wouldn't work on it probably just more because all of the nuts and bolts will be rusted and seized up, which turns a 1 hour job into a 4 hour job - meaning he'll lose money on it.
Can't say he's wrong there, but that's just something to deal with. Structurally it looks fine, like others said - Fluid Film is easy prevention for future rust. You'll probably be best off investing in an 18v impact wrench, torch, and PBlaster and doing easier work yourself, where most of your time will be spent removing/breaking off rusted fasteners.
Or just be okay paying a little extra to mechanics to deal with it.
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1997 Limited 4x4 3.4l 199k E-locker Blue Wire Mod | 255/85 r16 Maxxis Bighorn MT - LX450 9 wrap + Tokico black rear | Front: 2.5" King Coilover set @ 2" lift | True North Fab Front Bumper + Warn m8000 + Baja Designs Squadron Sport | Custom Sliders | NguyenWorks Rear Bumper + Tire Swingout
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04-17-2019, 04:14 PM
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#15
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Elite Member
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Pasadena, CA
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NAPA carries Fluid Film, even here in SoCal (well, in spray cans, not huge tubs). Hit all the rust and stop worrying. Re-apply every year or two. Without real winters (cold/wet) and salt, that thing won't get any worse.
Sucks, 'cause you could have gotten a southern truck - but enjoy what you have!
-Charlie
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