Front and Rear Suspension Rust Hell

[Drakethefirst]

I went to get the alignment done on my 4runner after I got the new wheels and tires and they told me that my front struts were really worn and they did the best they could and just barely got me in alignment. I didn't think it was that big of a deal until recently when I passed over some speed bumps and bottomed out in the front. So I got some KYB front and rear struts and springs to replace my originals, then come to find out that I hate rust. The lower control arms were seized in place so I couldn't remove the struts, and when removing the end links, they broke or where already ripped. Long story short this is my process of replacing everything because of rust.

 

[Parks Junkie]

I'm relatively new to Toyos and 4Runners, but 6 months in, it sure seems like there's an awful lot of rust going on. Frames rusting, I mean frames never rust, it's always the body, the thin sheetmetal. Welds. Welds never rust, except here.

I'm fortunate, I've got but a little surface rust, but I've never heard of a different make having rust replacement frame parts available.

On the other hand, coming from the BMW world, Toyota plastics are dynamite, they hold up great! They really did do a good job on them. But given a choice, I'd rather have fragile interior parts than a rusted out frame. YMMV.

 

[gomiami]

I don't know. You can somewhat protect the frame if you stay vigilant and treat it as a maintenance item just like fluids and filters. The interior plastics, there's not much you can do to the dash, door panels or center console if they are so cheaply made they'll crack or melt.

My GX460 has zero frame rust coming up on three years of ownership and that's not by accident.