Finally Got Another T4R

[Buckaroo]

Had a 3rd gen T4R 2000 SR5 V6 4WD which I bought new but had to put it out to pasture due to frame rust in 2018 (250,000 miles) after welding on it a few times. Otherwise it was in great shape. Very sad.

I had planned to give it to my son but it just got too bad. We finally found a clean 2005 Limited T4R V6 with 150,000 miles. It was Ziebarted when new and was well maintained. Not to make the same mistake again, treated the frame with Woolwax before we put it back on the road. Happy again.

 

[Desmoface]

Is rusting still an issue on new 4runners?

Had a 3rd gen T4R 2000 SR5 V6 4WD which I bought new but had to put it out to pasture due to frame rust in 2018 (250,000 miles) after welding on it a few times. Otherwise it was in great shape. Very sad.

I had planned to give it to my son but it just got too bad. We finally found a clean 2005 Limited T4R V6 with 150,000 miles. It was Ziebarted when new and was well maintained. Not to make the same mistake again, treated the frame with Woolwax before we put it back on the road. Happy again.

 

[Buckaroo]

Is rusting still an issue on new 4runners?

I don't know the answer but would assume so in rust belt areas - the brine used on the roads is so aggressive. Is it really an issue, however, that a truck lasts so long mechanically that the frame rusts out? I never did anything special to address frame rust on my 3rd gen so I only got 18 years out of it. Loved it....

Are the 4th gens better? I am assuming they are similar so we are going to treat the frame of the 2005 T4R annually with Woolwax going forward. I have a 2017 Tundra that I have not done anything with to date - it is showing some normal surface rust. Next fall I'm going to treat it with Woolwax and keep that up annually as well.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Is rusting still an issue on new 4runners?

Congrats & welcome back, [MENTION=71326]Buckaroo[/MENTION]!

I don't know for sure but suspect rust is less of an issue on 5th Gens. This 2019 article about the frame settlement (which many believe should have included 4th Gen 4Runners) states: "The rust issues were from a batch of improperly, or lack therof, coated frames for rust proofing from Ohio based Dana Corp. Although Toyota won a multi-million dollar lawsuit against them, they end up in the red with so many frames needing to be replaced."

So assuming Toyota learned that failing to properly coat frames with rust-resistant material before building trucks on them is a bad and expensive mistake, one would think 5th Gen frames must be properly treated.

 

[Buckaroo]

Congrats & welcome back, [MENTION=71326]Buckaroo[/MENTION]!

I don't know for sure but suspect rust is less of an issue on 5th Gens. This 2019 article about the frame settlement (which many believe should have included 4th Gen 4Runners) states: "The rust issues were from a batch of improperly, or lack therof, coated frames for rust proofing from Ohio based Dana Corp. Although Toyota won a multi-million dollar lawsuit against them, they end up in the red with so many frames needing to be replaced."

So assuming Toyota learned that failing to properly coat frames with rust-resistant material before building trucks on them is a bad and expensive mistake, one would think 5th Gen frames must be properly treated.

Thank you. It is good to be back. I am aware of that recall which was just for the Tundra - I think the author of the article mistakely included 4Runners in the title. Dana Corp did not produce the 3rd gen T4R frames and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the 3rd gen T4R folks but to no avail. Am looking forward to getting 15 more years out of the new to us 4th gen so taking precautions - we'll see.

 

[montijo505]

Thank you. It is good to be back. I am aware of that recall which was just for the Tundra - I think the author of the article mistakely included 4Runners in the title. Dana Corp did not produce the 3rd gen T4R frames and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the 3rd gen T4R folks but to no avail. Am looking forward to getting 15 more years out of the new to us 4th gen so taking precautions - we'll see.

After seeing some 4th gems with rotted away radiator supports and holes in the frame, I'd play the cautious game. Good luck!

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[Buckaroo]

After seeing some 4th gems with rotted away radiator supports and holes in the frame, I'd play the cautious game. Good luck!

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In fact, that small cross-member underneath the radiator showed the worst rust on the truck. The front skid plate/splash guard had some holes so that could have been part of the issue. I brushed down the cross-member and treated it with rust converter, primed /painted it and soaked it down with Woolwax. Then I replaced the splash guard and soaked it down top and bottom with Woolwax. In general, the frame looked really good. Of course, I do know what bad looks like!

 

[montijo505]

In fact, that cross-member underneath the radiator showed the worst rust on the truck. The front skid plate/splash guard had some holes so that could have been part of the issue. I brushed down the cross-member and treated it with rust converter, primed /painted it and soaked it down with Woolwax. Then I replaced the splash guard and soaked it down top and bottom with Woolwax.

Apparently, if it gets bad enough, you can cut it out and replace with a 5th gen rad support, which has improved recovery points. Needs welded in but looks like a solid fix.

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