Front Cross Frame Peice Rusted... Welding?

[BigMike18]

I went to go jack up the front of the car to do some simple brake pads, cross member is all sorts of rusted where the jack was going through it and cracking it all up. I stopped immediately examined and then started thinking of ideas to fix this.

Would it be a smart idea to weld a steel plate or long piece, after getting all the rust off of course, to reinforce the area and then coat it so no further rust sprouts?

Or if someone has any other ideas that would be great.

 

[AuSeeker]

I went to go jack up the front of the car to do some simple brake pads, cross member is all sorts of rusted where the jack was going through it and cracking it all up. I stopped immediately examined and then started thinking of ideas to fix this.

Would it be a smart idea to weld a steel plate or long piece, after getting all the rust off of course, to reinforce the area and then coat it so no further rust sprouts?

Or if someone has any other ideas that would be great.

Exactly which cross member are you referring too?

A photo would be better so we know which it is...but is it the one under the radiator or further back under the engine?

 

[radlynx]

Exactly which cross member are you referring too?



A photo would be better so we know which it is...but is it the one under the radiator or further back under the engine?

He might be referring to under the engine. That's the only place where we can use a jack to lift both front tires.

If that is the case, a new frame is the way to go. Maybe patching it is ok too if there's some place to weld into.

 

[AuSeeker]

He might be referring to under the engine. That's the only place where we can use a jack to lift both front tires.

If that is the case, a new frame is the way to go. Maybe patching it is ok too if there's some place to weld into.

I was hoping for his sake he was jacking on the one under the radiator, if it's the one under the engine that's not good and there isn't much hope for repairing it unless the rest of that cross member is still solid and it's only the bottom plate on it that rusted that bad, if it's just the bottom plate I would cut it off and weld new HD plating on there!

 

[montijo505]

Another one bites the dust......


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[Jdevtac]

If the crossmember that is supposed to be protected by a skid plate is toast then I can only imagine what the rest of the frame must be like.

 

[BigMike18]

If the crossmember that is supposed to be protected by a skid plate is toast then I can only imagine what the rest of the frame must be like.

The rest of the frame isnt awful, an angle grinder wire wheel, some good prevention film or POR-15 would do the trick, its just that front area where in the manual it jacks up (I dont have my car with me at the moment to take a picture) When I get it I will send some pictures though

 

[BigMike18]

I found this picture somewhere else on T4R forums, it is not mine but mine is not nearly this bad. I've marked the area where im talking about. That radiator metal cross member is not bad at all on my car its just that singular piece ive marked that has all the rust on it and to that point I feel welding would nescessary because the rest of the frame is fine and has some light surface rust I can get off but.

 

[BigMike18]

I was hoping for his sake he was jacking on the one under the radiator, if it's the one under the engine that's not good and there isn't much hope for repairing it unless the rest of that cross member is still solid and it's only the bottom plate on it that rusted that bad, if it's just the bottom plate I would cut it off and weld new HD plating on there!

Heres the picture

 

[AuSeeker]

Heres the picture

I see no photo.

 

[tommyv]

Another one bites the dust.....engine is absolutely perfect. serviced religiously but I clearly didn't focus enough on the undercarriage. purchased in 2017 with 140k miles for $9k. Now has 256k miles. Bummer, was planning on keeping this forever but need to move on - Just too long of a commute to drive a 22 yr old car that is disintegrating.

 

[rdruss]

Looks repairable to me. May need some welding, but I wouldn't condemn the whole 'runner unless the rest of frame is rotting through severely. Having a second/backup vehicle is always a good idea if you can swing it.

 

[MikeinNH67]

Is that the only area rusting? You'd think there would be other places too. I think that particular piece can be purchased and replaced by someone who can weld. My front piece is still intact but other areas have been repaired the last 5 years so makes me wonder where else you have holes.

 

[tommyv]

All good points. The frame looks ok generally but to your point, not sure if there are some deteriorated spots that I can't see. I'm due for an oil change so will ask my mechanic really give it a look over for degradation elsewhere.

One of the reasons I am considering selling or keeping as a back up vehicle is there are other big ticket items coming: Multiple HVAC servo motors are about to die and I only get heat when the car is moving, valve cover gasket leak and my steering is extremely loose so probably needs some front end work. not catastrophic individually, but definitely thousands of dollars of work including the crossmember welding.

Love this truck but might be time for a newer one. maybe a 2017 or so.

 

[T4R2014]

Old vehicles needs repairs. Surprise surprise. That crossmember looks repairable in the hands of the right welder/fabricator. Loose front end is probably control arm bushings and tie rods. Worst case steering rack? I'd get the frame blasted and coated over buying a 5th gen. The 4th gen is just a little nicer overall tbh.

 

[AuSeeker]

That cross member under the radiator is not that critical as far as the overall frame goes, it can be repaired or replaced with a new piece from Toyota or even a piece of channel iron.

The most critical thing about it is the transmission fluid lines that are attached to it but they can be secured to something else.

 

[MikeinNH67]

For the loose steering, check out the u-joint in the steering shaft. Pretty common for them to rust up and then get loose as the bearings deteriorate. Cheap repair if you can do it yourself. There's a bunch of threads and YT videos on this. Link below to what it looks like.

https://www.amazon.com/Accsoe-45203...t&qid=1770042226&sprefix=,aps,311&sr=8-3&th=1