Lift gate window mechanism rust

[8000m]

I pulled the interior lift gate trim off and found that the plastic sheet/dust cover was partially detached. Looking inside the gate I found a bunch of rust on the window mechanism. There was no rust on the lift gate itself and no accumulation of dust or debris. The drain holes are clear.

What are your suggestions for cleaning this up?

This is a WI/MN truck with 70k on it but this amount of rust surprised me. There was no evidence that the interior trim had been removed previously so the dust cover may have detached from the start.

 

[8000m]

Guess I should have titled this "Do these tires make my liftgate look fat?"

 

[Jhalko]

Doesn't seem like something you can really "clean up" without taking it all apart and doing a ton of work, which may not prolong its life anyway. Other alternative is to just let it go and when it dies be happy with the life you've gotten out of it.

In a more extreme thought, trade it in and get a new 4Runner. :wave:

 

[MossJenks]

The tailgate window mechanism has been the Achilles Heel of every 4Runner I've owned.

 

[17KT4R]

Yearly visits to my rust prevention applicator in the Toronto Area is something I do with all vehicles we've ever owned. Rust in places like that is very common nowadays with the brine spray mist that is constant the entire winter. It settles everywhere in and on a vehicle, places where you would never think corrosion should start.

Sand that off as best as you can to get to most of it, then get on the rubber glove into a tube of bearing / joint grease and go at it, smother it all completely. Check it every other year. Alternatively - use a quality rust prevention product from a spray can (your local applicators probably sell them) and smother the heck out of it all with that.

 

[calcrc]

I pulled the interior lift gate trim off and found that the plastic sheet/dust cover was partially detached. Looking inside the gate I found a bunch of rust on the window mechanism. There was no rust on the lift gate itself and no accumulation of dust or debris. The drain holes are clear.

What are your suggestions for cleaning this up?

This is a WI/MN truck with 70k on it but this amount of rust surprised me. There was no evidence that the interior trim had been removed previously so the dust cover may have detached from the start.

I have the same problem, I noticed when I changed the lock mechanism of the back door,,,,,, kinda pissed on how water got inside there meh

 

[8000m]

Thanks all, I plan on doing a combination of your suggestions (except buying a new truck!). I'll make sure the metal parts of the mechanism are greased where needed and not worry too much about the support brackets other than applying a rust converter.