07-07-2022, 08:42 PM
|
#1
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 129
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 129
|
complete loss? Mad frame rust and mad me
So I thought it's a lousy brake line job. Brake failure, please advise!
But it's the "rear differential stabilizer bar rusted off ripping out the brake line" said the mechanic. He also said that he doesn't know how to fix it. Or even if he knows he would not recommend it because other rusty parts may fail too. Ironically that I just had the leaky transmission line replaced there last week and He assured me that the new lines should last the rest of the vehicle's life...
Now I don't know what the stabilizer bar does but can I by any chance drive without it? Something's coming up and it would suck without the 4runner. Can we survive 2 weeks and perhaps 200 miles without it stabilizing for us? What if I drive like a grandma? Ok NVM I think that's a bad idea...damn
After that I plan to park it and join one of them classic lawsuit about the rusty frames. Are there multiple ones going on? Any suggestion which one to join?
Thanks! Still mad...
Well then again I guess I am Lucky because it happened when we were so close to home and nobody got hurt. It could have been so much worse...
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-07-2022, 09:03 PM
|
#2
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Fayetteville AR
Posts: 776
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Fayetteville AR
Posts: 776
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by karyins
So I thought it's a lousy brake line job. Brake failure, please advise!
But it's the "rear differential stabilizer bar rusted off ripping out the brake line" said the mechanic. He also said that he doesn't know how to fix it. Or even if he knows he would not recommend it because other rusty parts may fail too. Ironically that I just had the leaky transmission line replaced there last week and He assured me that the new lines should last the rest of the vehicle's life...
Now I don't know what the stabilizer bar does but can I by any chance drive without it? Something's coming up and it would suck without the 4runner. Can we survive 2 weeks and perhaps 200 miles without it stabilizing for us? What if I drive like a grandma? Ok NVM I think that's a bad idea...damn
After that I plan to park it and join one of them classic lawsuit about the rusty frames. Are there multiple ones going on? Any suggestion which one to join?
Thanks! Still mad...
Well then again I guess I am Lucky because it happened when we were so close to home and nobody got hurt. It could have been so much worse...
|
It prevents body roll. You can drive without just be careful cornering. Looks like your coil seats are about to blow out too sh1tty. You won't win a law suit the judge will just say it's want maintained properly. I agree it's BS. There are way more durable coatings Toyota should be using.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-07-2022, 09:11 PM
|
#3
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Boulder
Posts: 80
Real Name: Matt
|
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Boulder
Posts: 80
Real Name: Matt
|
yikes....all the things are looking pretty sketch under there.
__________________
2007 SR5 V6 4x4 / Front Suspension: OME 884/90021 + SPC UCA's / Rear Suspension: OME 895/60004 / Tires: 285/70r17 BFG K02's (C Load) / TRD Pro Wheels / Apex Overland Front Recovery Points / Desert Armor Ninja RTT / Outgear Solutions Low-Pro Crossbars
2017 TRD ORP / Watch this space....
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-07-2022, 10:01 PM
|
#4
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Central NY
Posts: 795
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Central NY
Posts: 795
|
Time to let her go. My 03 succumbed to rust about 5 years ago. Id worry about catastrophic damage in a crash or something else going very wrong. Just not worth your or anyone else's safety.
If youve got a mechanic you trust, you can ask him about the overall safety of the frame and if just that area thats bad or the whole thing.
Lots of off roaders remove the stabilizer bar for more flex. It just does cause a little more body roll with cornering.
If the rest of the vehicle will pass inspection, Id just remove the stabilizer bar and start saving for your next vehicle
You can add it to a class action suit if it makes you feel better, but after 15-20 years, its not going anywhere and probably isnt worth your time or energy
__________________
2008 SR5 4WD Black. Bilstein 5100, 5th gen coils/ rear springs. 255 80 17 AT for everyday use. Victory Sliders. Victory Front bumper with winch/ lightbar. headunit upgrade. Back up camera install. Expert at replacement rear hatches
All you need to go off road is to be willing to get some scrapes and dents along the way
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-07-2022, 10:15 PM
|
#5
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2017
Location: MA
Posts: 791
|
|
Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: MA
Posts: 791
|
rust never sleeps.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 03:22 AM
|
#6
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Bend Oregon
Posts: 56
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Bend Oregon
Posts: 56
|
FYI, If it was the “sway bar” you could get away without it. It would affect the runners cornering ability on the road. What you photo’d is the rear axle track bar mount. It keeps the axle centered under the truck. Without it the axle will wonder under the truck and you in affect would have no proper 4 wheel alignment. To vehicle could dart all over the road. Serious issue. And serious rust under there. Sorry to see it.
__________________
86 4Runner, 91 4Runner, 97 4Runner Limited, 2003 4Runner V8 4x4 Limited (current ride - Original Owner)
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 05:01 AM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,599
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,599
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by GBagwell
FYI, If it was the “sway bar” you could get away without it. It would affect the runners cornering ability on the road. What you photo’d is the rear axle track bar mount. It keeps the axle centered under the truck. Without it the axle will wonder under the truck and you in affect would have no proper 4 wheel alignment. To vehicle could dart all over the road. Serious issue. And serious rust under there. Sorry to see it.
|
I had a 3rd Gen (2001) that experienced what you describe when the rear stabilizer mount rusted through on the passenger side. Maybe not exactly the same problem as this one, but she was going all over the place on her last ride to the dealership to be traded. Of course, the dealership was aware of the problem and sent it to the junkyard.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 05:01 AM
|
#8
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: South East UK
Posts: 485
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: South East UK
Posts: 485
|
I think that poor old thing is used up...might be time to look into a new one from a warmer state. Mine is an 07, so not too much newer than yours, and the underside was near enough perfect. It's the ****ing salt that does the damage.
Once you get it, do something to rust protect the underside and cavities.
__________________
2008 2.7 2WD 4 speed (Tacoma-Runner?)
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 09:02 AM
|
#9
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Colorado
Posts: 416
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Colorado
Posts: 416
|
Based on this and your brake failure saga, I'd say this unit is totaled. I'd be surprised if it doesn't collapse during the tow to the junkyard.
Last edited by Seymore Butts; 07-08-2022 at 09:05 AM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 09:03 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 1,547
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 1,547
|
yea man... sorry to see.. but that's a hard nope on driving it.. it's finished.
Your panhard bar is no longer attached, or at least close to it. And as mentioned above, this is literally the only thing keeping you rear axle from shifting laterally.
As awesome as it would be to win a lawsuit, don't bother wasting any time or energy. There are certain cases where you could have a very strong claim against premature rust/failure... this is not one of them. This is a NY car that looks like hasn't been maintained against rust very well.. (no offense at all) I mean just look at the links and rear end themselves.. those don't rust any faster than any other rig I've seen and are in poor shape at best in the pictures... this unfortunately is just what life looks like in the salt belt without any sort of preventative maintenance.. definitely time to let her go.
__________________
2003 Limited V8 4runner - 37's, Tacoma Front End swap, ARB locked front and rear , LC200 rack swap
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 10:05 AM
|
#11
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 129
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 129
|
Thanks guys for the info. You are right about the broken part being the rear axle track bar mount. So I won't drive it.
As for the maintenance. I mean, I'm your average guy who doesn't know much about cars, just drive them, oil change and safety inspection when due. Go through car wash each time after snow on roads clears in winter, occasionally in other seasons. I do this to my Prius V too, which is a few years younger but has about 1/1000 of the rust comparing to the 4runner.
How was I supposed to maintain the 4runner? Baby it? Put a diaper on it? Give it a hand job every weekend?
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 10:32 AM
|
#12
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: bradford,ma
Age: 54
Posts: 805
Real Name: brian
|
|
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: bradford,ma
Age: 54
Posts: 805
Real Name: brian
|
Depending how bad the rust is elsewhere, and if you really like your 4runner, you could opt for a better cond rear axle, track bar and control arms. Before they go in treat them so rust would be neutralized, put some POR15 on them and reinstall.
You would have your 4runner back if all else is OK. It's better than a car payment and you know your vehicle.
__________________
'08 4Runner Limited V8 Shadow Mica: Sport hood, bilstein 6112's, 5160's, b12 coils, Gibson cat back, 4runner XSP rims, Michelin X LT AS 275/55-20
'06 4Runner Limited V8 Salsa Red: bilstein 6112, 5160, Wheeler T12's, 4Runner XP wheels, Michelin AT2 275/55/20, Magnaflow Exhaust,, Powerstop brakes, sport hood
RIP.....'08 4Runner Limited V6: white, bilstein 6112s, 5160s, b12 , powerstop brakes, nav, TRD cat back, 4Runner XP rims, Michelin Defender LTX 275/55-20, sport hood
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 10:54 AM
|
#13
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 129
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 129
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by inscarguy
Depending how bad the rust is elsewhere, and if you really like your 4runner, you could opt for a better cond rear axle, track bar and control arms. Before they go in treat them so rust would be neutralized, put some POR15 on them and reinstall.
You would have your 4runner back if all else is OK. It's better than a car payment and you know your vehicle.
|
I didn't post all the pictures but the rust is very bad everywhere >.<
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 11:05 AM
|
#14
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: South East UK
Posts: 485
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: South East UK
Posts: 485
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by karyins
Thanks guys for the info. You are right about the broken part being the rear axle track bar mount. So I won't drive it.
As for the maintenance. I mean, I'm your average guy who doesn't know much about cars, just drive them, oil change and safety inspection when due. Go through car wash each time after snow on roads clears in winter, occasionally in other seasons. I do this to my Prius V too, which is a few years younger but has about 1/1000 of the rust comparing to the 4runner.
How was I supposed to maintain the 4runner? Baby it? Put a diaper on it? Give it a hand job every weekend?
|
Unfortunately that's just the way it is. Over here, it wasn't until VW and later Peugeot arrived with their galvanised chassis that it was possible to buy a normal car and not have it rusted out in less than 10 years. Ford were notorious for it.
It's not a difficult job to put some sort of treatment on, but it is messy, awkward, and unpleasant. I ended up doing mine in the cold of November last year when an undersealing company cancelled on me. I just went with what I think you guys would call something like Fluid Film.
I prefer it as it can't get chipped and let corrosion continue underneath.
For the box sections of the chassis and frame that are more protected from impacts I used Bilt Hamber Dynax S50, no idea if it's available over there but it's good stuff.
__________________
2008 2.7 2WD 4 speed (Tacoma-Runner?)
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
07-08-2022, 11:06 AM
|
#15
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: MA
Posts: 325
|
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: MA
Posts: 325
|
yes, that's the track bar not the stabilizer bar. you can't drive that anymore. you can however get the rear differential replaced and you should be back to normal but before you do, is it worth it? I'm sure there frame there is disintegrating too.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is On
|
|
|
|