Frame rust taking my 2000 off the road - what's next?

[MichaelAngelo]

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place guys, so looking for all your input.

A few months ago, while I was getting an oil change, the tech brought to light the frame rust of my 2000 t4r (attached pictures).

Not sure if it's something that's worth fixing, but it's inevitable I'll eventually need to replace the vehicle. Maybe now, maybe in a few years... but if I keep driving with this rusted frame would I be putting myself and others in danger? I'm not sure how much rust these frames are designed to withstand.

Wondering if there's anyone out there who also had to deal with the infamous frame rust issue and how they went about moving forward after seeing it in their own vehicle.

 

[Beaumont67]

Hi neighbor:
I'm 401 West of Toronto, a few hours (south of London) / so I will tell you, your rig was never wax-oil spray undercoated...to bad.
- now structural is too far gone, in the province of Ontario, Canada
- implemented 2016 safety check standards, don't pass welded up frames / repaired frames not legal here, any more
- might be a death trap, in the eyes of the ON. Law now / time to get it off the roads

Never have to deal with those rust through issues, with $110 annual rust proofing...but T4R neglected too many years, in a winter rust belt.

Options
a) get a Southern rust-free frame & replace it...if body is otherwise solid / have my doubts
b) part it out, and go South for another Gen3

 

[MN4runnerman]

It's done man. I wouldn't even fix this or try too. Part it out and get a new one that's rust free. If sucks I know but there's no way to make this to pass inspection. If you wanted to make this off-road only then we can talk.

 

[16Gamer]

You might place a call to Toyota and ask if there is any frame rust recall for this model and year. I had a 99 Tacoma that was part of the frame rust recall and I was offered 1.5X blue book value as a buy back from Toyota. Granted, this was nearly 10 years ago, but it may be worth looking into. At that time, the Service Mgr. wouldn't even put my truck on the rack because he said it would have snapped in half. It looked about the same as yours. He also told me it was too dangerous to drive and if it was in a crash, it would have folded up like an accordion. Good luck either way.

 

[MN4runnerman]

You might place a call to Toyota and ask if there is any frame rust recall for this model and year. I had a 99 Tacoma that was part of the frame rust recall and I was offered 1.5X blue book value as a buy back from Toyota. Granted, this was nearly 10 years ago, but it may be worth looking into. At that time, the Service Mgr. wouldn't even put my truck on the rack because he said it would have snapped in half. It looked about the same as yours. He also told me it was too dangerous to drive and if it was in a crash, it would have folded up like an accordion. Good luck either way.

No such recall for 4runners.

 

[wadle5]

No such recall for 4runners.

I never did get that. I mean the 4th gens are the exact same frames they are doing on the tacoma recalls. blows my mind! :flame:

 

[toybox]

Way too far gone. Unfortunately it is time for a new truck. Obviously if you are buying a used truck take a real good look at the frame and make sure you get a completely clean truck underneath.

 

[bigtooona]

Holy geez dude. Mine failed inspection for about an inch-sized hole in the frame in one spot, which wasn't a big deal to patch. This... Wow.

 

[Ghostrider]

I never did get that. I mean the 4th gens are the exact same frames they are doing on the tacoma recalls. blows my mind! :flame:

IIRC Tacoma frames were supposedly rust proofed by a different company than 4Runner frames. That company failed so the Tacomas got the recall. Doesn;t change my opinion that Toyota has no clue how to rust protect anything. Luckily I live in the South so I get a hall pass but the amount of rust on some vehicles reinforces my opinion

 

[Hitman]

I never did get that. I mean the 4th gens are the exact same frames they are doing on the tacoma recalls. blows my mind! :flame:

It's not the same frame. The 4Runner has a fully boxed frame. From what I remember, the Tacoma does not.

 

[Senodis]

Hi neighbor:
I'm 401 West of Toronto, a few hours (south of London) / so I will tell you, your rig was never wax-oil spray undercoated...to bad.
- now structural is too far gone, in the province of Ontario, Canada
- implemented 2016 safety check standards, don't pass welded up frames / repaired frames not legal here, any more
- might be a death trap, in the eyes of the ON. Law now / time to get it off the roads

Never have to deal with those rust through issues, with $110 annual rust proofing...but T4R neglected too many years, in a winter rust belt.

Options
a) get a Southern rust-free frame & replace it...if body is otherwise solid / have my doubts
b) part it out, and go South for another Gen3

Any recommendations for rust proofing/undercoating products or services?

 

[(none)]

I never did get that. I mean the 4th gens are the exact same frames they are doing on the tacoma recalls. blows my mind! :flame:

Not the same frame at all. Taco frames are made in the USA by Dana. 4Runner frames are made in Japan. Rust is not nearly as prevalent in 4runners as it is in tacos.

 

[Beaumont67]

Any recommendations for rust proofing/undercoating products or services?

Here in the Northern Salt-Belt / post #62: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/176728-treating-your-rust-5.html
Sheet Metal Rusting from the inside-out prevention is equal to Frame/Floor Pan rust treatment.
POR15 only solves half the problem, if treated early enough:
- once the auto-body panels gets perforated with rust cancer...expensive refinishing needed
- and the undercarriage is often the next to go
- after a decade, rust scale sets in and requires a ton of effort to remove

IMO - Fluid Film offers the best overall protection, if applied correctly.
- Fluid Film is a very decent wax-oil cavity spray, unlike Krown &/or Rust Check (aka water soluble product, that washes off quickly)
- not a fan of POR15 here...stuff has no shelf life, after can is opened
- if metal is clean, SPI Epoxy primer is my choice Southern Polyuerthanes, Inc.

............Wondering if there's anyone out there who also had to deal with the infamous frame rust issue and how they went about moving forward after seeing it in their own vehicle.

OP's from Toronto - I'm 2 hours away & can put you in a 2005 Jimmy 4x4 & oil spray undercoated 10 years straight / so floor & frame mint...$4K

 

[Senodis]

Here in the Northern Salt-Belt / post #62: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/176728-treating-your-rust-5.html
Sheet Metal Rusting from the inside-out prevention is equal to Frame/Floor Pan rust treatment.
POR15 only solves half the problem, if treated early enough:
- once the auto-body panels gets perforated with rust cancer...expensive refinishing needed
- and the undercarriage is often the next to go
- after a decade, rust scale sets in and requires a ton of effort to remove

IMO - Fluid Film offers the best overall protection, if applied correctly.
- Fluid Film is a very decent wax-oil cavity spray, unlike Krown &/or Rust Check (aka water soluble product, that washes off quickly)
- not a fan of POR15 here...stuff has no shelf life, after can is opened
- if metal is clean, SPI Epoxy primer is my choice Southern Polyuerthanes, Inc.



OP's from Toronto - I'm 2 hours away & can put you in a 2005 Jimmy 4x4 & oil spray undercoated 10 years straight / so floor & frame mint...$4K

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I buy the 3M undercoating cans and spray it under my car, but i see that is a bandaid mostly and there is a lot more to proper rust prevention. :thanks:

 

[poleclimber63]

wow.

That is startling! I would hazard a guess if, that is mid-frame, its not safe to drive. I read a post by one of our most knowledgeable members, someone that has been contributing for a long time and is extremely helpful. He has a thread on frame swaps. If your body is in reasonably good shape-- have read. If its not, head South and pick up another 4R, but take the advice, as far as possible, with respect to treating the frame on your replacement.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/223884-frame-rot-end.html

Hats off to TheDurk!!!

 

[Beaumont67]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I buy the 3M undercoating cans and spray it under my car, but i see that is a bandaid mostly and there is a lot more to proper rust prevention. :thanks:

^^ Thks

The 3M cans are probably like stone/gravel guard & coating dries to the touch.
I might help protect a new vehicle undercarriage some / but an older one with some rust, I question the coating effectiveness. Once coating dry out & cracks form, rust will grow more rapidly.


Best rustproofed car I had was a new one that was Ziebart completely first & oil spray undercoated, in following years.

Worst used rust-bucket car I bought was one that was Ziebart coated and never oiled...the coating dried out & cracked bad.
A decade later - gobs of metal, fell off...the hidden underside rust was just severe.

 

[poleclimber63]

TheDurk's pictures dropped... link to pics on Google: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1...?key=N1ZpNTdvQWVLRVZzZzZjMkpnWVliVFVRS0JqQnVB

 

[Mark_BC]

Wow, that frame is toast. For rust treatment, try sandblasting. Fairly cheap to buy one. Absent that, clean off loose flakes, soak with Ospho rust converter then coat with paint of choice: Rust Trap (several coats required), Eastwood frame coating, Rust Encapsulator. It isn't impossible to deal with rust just a lot of work to do it properly if the rust is extensive.