4th gen frame rust

[Elan750]

Don’t wanna revive an old thread, but if your worries about frame holes then this company just started producing 11 gauge steel frame reinforcement pieces that you weld in over your existing frame.

https://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota/toyota-4-runner/page/2/

This is funny, I contacted them about a month ago and told them theres a good market to make a frame kit for the 4th gen. I even offered mine as a template as im only 10 minutes away. Looks like they got busy fast!

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Don’t wanna revive an old thread, but if your worries about frame holes then this company just started producing 11 gauge steel frame reinforcement pieces that you weld in over your existing frame.

https://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota/toyota-4-runner/page/2/

Awesome, bookmarked!

On a similar topic, does anybody know of a company that makes patches or full replacements for the lower radiator support? (The part way at the bottom that has the tie downs on it.) Only spot that's rotted on mine...

 

[T4R2014]

I found this link that might help with questions about frame rust prevention


spraying truck/trailer chassis with diesel/oil prevents rust? - Yellow Bullet Forums

This right here is the universally best advice. This article even has comments that would get the political correctness people worked up. Doesn't matter where you go in the world, this is what they recommend. Plenty of West Indian mechanics will tell you to do this because their grandfathers did it to stop their cars from rusting away in that coastal environment. If you go to the East Indies, they will tell you the same thing.

 

[schuler317]

If you look at the picture with the oil filter visible you can see undercoating on the filter, which means it was done after its last oil change. Looks like the undercoating is meant to hide rust.

I definitely agree with you. Im getting my underside professionally undercoated at line-x in a month or two and my friend who works there showed me some pictures of a 4th gen they had done and the difference is night and day from this. I would be very suspicious

I passed on this vehicle, which was tough given that it only had 80,000 miles.

I settled on a car that came through the local Atlanta auction last month:
one-owner
dealer maintained
no collision
‘03 Limited

And yes, of course it’s silver.

Mine has some minor surface rusting (no holes) but didn’t have a previous undercoating. Very happy with what I ended up with. I’ll get some pics up as soon as leveling kit, 255/75/17s, and debadging are all done.

 

[AuSeeker]

Awesome, bookmarked!

On a similar topic, does anybody know of a company that makes patches or full replacements for the lower radiator support? (The part way at the bottom that has the tie downs on it.) Only spot that's rotted on mine...

Yes, Toyota, here's the radiator support at the following link, the cost is anywhere from $291 and up, the link below is the cheapest one I could find doing a quick search.

https://www.cheapestfactoryparts.co...MIzvnb5cjP3AIVQkwNCh2h6AopEAYYASABEgJiBfD_BwE

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Yes, Toyota, here's the radiator support at the following link, the cost is anywhere from $291 and up, the link below is the cheapest one I could find doing a quick search.

https://www.cheapestfactoryparts.co...MIzvnb5cjP3AIVQkwNCh2h6AopEAYYASABEgJiBfD_BwE

Ouch. Not cheap, but definitely the right way to get it fixed! Thanks for the link.

 

[Elan750]

Ouch. Not cheap, but definitely the right way to get it fixed! Thanks for the link.

Thats the cost of a welder, just sayin'

 

[LawmanIdaho208]

Didn't get out of the NE quick enough. How bad does it look?

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Didn't get out of the NE quick enough. How bad does it look?

Perhaps take this with a grain of salt, as I'm from Michigan...but that looks darn near new to me. I wouldn't even think about worrying.

 

[LawmanIdaho208]

Perhaps take this with a grain of salt, as I'm from Michigan...but that looks darn near new to me. I wouldn't even think about worrying.

I'll take all the peace of mind I can get!!

 

[AuSeeker]

Didn't get out of the NE quick enough. How bad does it look?

Just looks like all surface rust to me, but take a big screwdriver and hitting it with a hammer check any areas that may look really bad
to see how solid the metal truely is, if you don't find any areas that need the rust cut away and new metal welded in clean the frame with a
wire brush and wheel and or a "flap" sanding wheel to remove the worst of the surface rust and then spray a rust converter on the entire
frame!

 

[LawmanIdaho208]

Just looks like all surface rust to me, but take a big screwdriver and hitting it with a hammer check any areas that may look really bad
to see how solid the metal truely is, if you don't find any areas that need the rust cut away and new metal welded in clean the frame with a
wire brush and wheel and or a "flap" sanding wheel to remove the worst of the surface rust and then spray a rust converter on the entire
frame!

Thanks! Now just need the time and tools to work on it. The welding skills are not on board, but I'm sure I can find someone to help if it comes to that.

 

[Gatafly]

Thats the cost of a welder, just sayin'

I was thinking about taking mine to a welding shop and having them cut out and weld in a new piece of steel. Probably at half the cost of buying that crossmember.

 

[mjotrainbrain]

I was thinking about taking mine to a welding shop and having them cut out and weld in a new piece of steel. Probably at half the cost of buying that crossmember.

That's probably what I'm gonna do, and have custom shackle mounts made for the front while I'm there. I find it funny that these don't come with solid recovery points in the first place, but that's another thread!

 

[AuSeeker]

Ouch. Not cheap, but definitely the right way to get it fixed! Thanks for the link.

I was thinking about taking mine to a welding shop and having them cut out and weld in a new piece of steel. Probably at half the cost of buying that crossmember.

That's probably what I'm gonna do, and have custom shackle mounts made for the front while I'm there. I find it funny that these don't come with solid recovery points in the first place, but that's another thread!

Ya'll might want to check around at some savage yards, you may get lucky and find a frame that has the crossmember/radiator support intact and just cut it out before you go to a welder.

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Ya'll might want to check around at some savage yards, you may get lucky and find a frame that has the crossmember/radiator support intact and just cut it out before you go to a welder.

I thought about that too, but I'd have to get my hands on a wireless angle grinder, and then still have to get the new part welded in. I guess it's worth getting a quote on both jobs though, if that way's going to be cheaper then I'm all for it!

 

[unfrozen_caveman]

How to remedy this rust?

I just bought this 2003 V8. Thought it was surface rust on the cross-member under the radiator. Turns out its totally rotten. Rest of frame is good. What should I do about this?

 

[mjotrainbrain]

I just bought this 2003 V8. Thought it was surface rust on the cross-member under the radiator. Turns out its totally rotten. Rest of frame is good. What should I do about this?

I'd say find a local welder and see what they'd charge to fix it up. As long as you're going to be looking at getting some work done, make sure nothing else needs welding. I highly recommend whacking the whole bottom of the frame with a hammer to make sure there's no soft spots. My whole frame is solid other than the same spot you have (although to a lesser degree) and a spot midway down the frame on the passenger side about 2"x4" that I discovered with the hammer.

 

[gookies]

I just bought this 2003 V8. Thought it was surface rust on the cross-member under the radiator. Turns out its totally rotten. Rest of frame is good. What should I do about this?

Seems like you can buy that piece. Someone in the thread below bought it and had it welded in at a shop.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/139668-replacing-front-cross-member-under-radiator.html

 

[unfrozen_caveman]

I'd say find a local welder and see what they'd charge to fix it up. As long as you're going to be looking at getting some work done, make sure nothing else needs welding. I highly recommend whacking the whole bottom of the frame with a hammer to make sure there's no soft spots. My whole frame is solid other than the same spot you have (although to a lesser degree) and a spot midway down the frame on the passenger side about 2"x4" that I discovered with the hammer.

Thanks both of you - made my day after discovering this. I don't have to get rid of this nice V8. - Also can you direct me to a front skid plate for an 03? Can't seem to find one via google.