Check for rust around the radiator support member

[bglfgd]

Took off the skid plate today while getting ready to do an oil change and noticed some rust on the radiator support member. Looked closer and once I peeled the flimsy foam piece they put on there for what I'm guessing are sound proofing purposes (prevent skid plate from making contact?), I found quite a bit of rust! I ripped that foam piece off, it was wet and apparently has been trapping water and whatever else got in there. Wire brushing and Rust-Oleum is on the agenda for tomorrow. My 4runner is a 2016, and aside from this rust-free, some minor surface stuff here and there notwithstanding. It's far from neglected as every time it sees road salt I get a hose to the undercarriage first chance I get.

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[JeuTheIdit]

If you can, take off your rear bumper and check the frame. There is another foam piece (I believe for the bumper to sit on). I had a ton of rust under it myself after 7+ years, most that is on the truck.

 

[bglfgd]

If you can, take off your rear bumper and check the frame. There is another foam piece (I believe for the bumper to sit on). I had a ton of rust under it myself after 7+ years, most that is on the truck.

Thanks for the heads up, adding this to the list.

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[NotaTRD]

When I changed out the front skid plate, I ripped off that foam piece for this exact reason. Whatever purpose it served/serves, is outweighed by the potential of trapping moisture and promoting rust.

 

[arehman11]

Same issue for me, I ripped it all out and wire brushed and painted. I’ll be pulling both bumpers and cleaning and inspecting and coating all parts that aren’t easy to clean with cosmoline. No other rust on my 17.

 

[bglfgd]

Adding on to this, after seeing another post about rust under the rear gate's weather stripping, I pulled it today and that's what I found.

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[CavPro]

Adding on to this, after seeing another post about rust under the rear gate's weather stripping, I pulled it today and that's what I found.

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The back window rolling down is something I could do without, especially if I lived where the gov spread corrosives on all the roads in winter.

 

[numbay]

It will rust no matter what

This pic was taken with <1K miles on my 2020 ORP. I painted it black with enamel when installing the skid plate.

 

[repo]

This pic was taken with <1K miles on my 2020 ORP. I painted it black with enamel when installing the skid plate.

I dunno what to tell you man, this looks like textbook 4runner AIDS. Frame will probably be rotted out within 6 months. Sorry bro.

 

[repo]

This pic was taken with <1K miles on my 2020 ORP. I painted it black with enamel when installing the skid plate.

That's normal surface rust those parts where bare steel the day our friends in Japan set forth your 4runner in to this mortal coil. The bolts are galvanized and the other stuff is aluminum. It's normal. Decay is a part of life, embrace it. I have a good example sitting here on my bench... the new one will rust as soon as I put it on the truck. Just think of it as wabi-sabi, not rust.

 

[Charlievee]

This pic was taken with <1K miles on my 2020 ORP. I painted it black with enamel when installing the skid plate.

That's surface rust. Guessing they mill the parts after finishing? Ugly but doesn't require the attention of rust in a split seam or on the frame.

 

[numbay]

That's normal surface rust those parts where bare steel the day our friends in Japan set forth your 4runner in to this mortal coil. The bolts are galvanized and the other stuff is aluminum. It's normal. Decay is a part of life, embrace it. I have a good example sitting here on my bench... the new one will rust as soon as I put it on the truck. Just think of it as wabi-sabi, not rust.

You are so right--its part of life. I am not complaining, but just sharing my observation.

 

[Nick Nostril]

Yesterday afternoon I spray the insides of my frame, front to back, with CRC HD Corrosion Inhibitor. The stuff is apparently kind of like liquid cosmoline that dries to a tacky finish and is hard to get off without solvents. The 4R is a month old and hasn't seen any salt. Looks like I'll be doing the outside of the frame as well.

/ garage smells like a crateful of Mosin-Nagants now :laugh:

 

[larrylegend]

I replied to a thread a while back about common spots where rust will form. In the interest of helping others, I'll recap the areas where I have noticed rust form on my 2015.

1. At the rear hatch plastic hand holds to shut the tailgate. I have a small amount of rust forming, likely from the plastic hand holds rubbing off the paint.
2. At my drivers side headlight. Light wasn't fit perfectly and rubbed off the paint, therefore, its rusty.
3. At the rear spoiler, again, poor fitment lead to plastic parts rubbing the paint off the metal parts.

I remember seeing others point out the rust forming under the weather stripping at the tailgate and also under the plastic molding at the door sills.