How would I repair this frame?
- Thread starter yotamaine
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NHRunner
New member
Yes, very repairable. Start searching for a good local mechanic. I have never seen a frame rust out in that area though. Definitely spend some time poking around the rest of the frame. The typically worst areas are the inside of the frame rails on either side of the rear lower control arm mounts.
yotamaine
New member
Thank you guys I appreciate the info, maybe not for everyone, but that's exactly what I needed to hear, I've inspected the frame taking a small hammer to it so I could see if there was any where's else that was that weak, only spot I could find that was even close to this bad was the passenger lower control arm mount as nh said but that is just a hole probably the size of a dime which is also gonna get repaired Asap. In terms of strength will it hold up well being repaired? I know there are plenty of things to take into consideration but let's say it's was done well.
yotamaine
New member
Haha that'd be nice but I don't got the mula for that right now and I think I'm pretty set right now for mods until tax season just focusing on maintenece issues which a more preventative than "need to replace", I'm also saving some money for another runner as this ones got 265000 miles and by 300,000 I will have a lower mileage 3rd gen for sure, the. I might do the sas for the learning experience and the fun that comes with it
MStudt
official vendor
I'm going to be the first to say that is NOT just a patch job. That is a structural portion of the frame. You better be damn sure you get everything out of there. I would not want to be driving on that with just a patch job. I have rust on mine, and have even done some frame repair. If I were going to do that I'd remove everything, cut off the LCA mounts, remove the frame, weld in new frame, and weld on new parts.
yotamaine
New member
Thats sounds like the best route when I call around tomorrow I'll mention that to see what some welding shops around here think wish me luck
RussToy
New member
Which ever way you do decide to go...either a patch job or complete replacement...once you have it repaired you need to take some time and love on your 4Runner. You need to put some quality time on preventive maintenance or you're going to lose the rust war!! Get under your rig and sand off all that rust. Once you sanded it down...paint it with some POR or other type of rust inhibitor. It sucks...I know!! Been there...done that!! But you have to do it. Unless you have more money than time...then I guess you could pay someone?? I just took about an hour or so each weekend and broke it down into sections. Sanded down an area and then painted it with POR15. Before I knew it...I was done. Now, in the fall, I'll take a day and check the undercarriage. Places that have been hit with rocks or whatever...I'll clean it up and re-paint it. Doesn't take long at all now.
Hey, one more tip...don't forget our frames are hollow...with numerous holes. Make sure you spray your paint/coating inside the frame also. Otherwise you'll just rust from the inside out.
I hope this helps you. Have FUN my friend
- Russel
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yotamaine
New member
Thanks a lot Russel and everyone else that chimed in thanks for all the positive feed back it's really appreciated I'll post an update once I get her into the shop to get repaired my mechanic said I can work on it with him which is awesome another learning experience, I've seen a nore negativeness on here lately maybe it's just the threads I've been reading but everyone's gotta remember we're at different levels no one knows everything we all learn and teach lets just continue with all helping and learning from all of us we all do have one thing in common, we love 3rd gens and that's just where it starts
