Pre-purchase advice on '02 4runner -- Help!

[alostsok]

Hello all. Hoping to become a new member of the 3rd gen 4runner club -- and hoping perhaps to do it too cheaply. I need some advice on a 4runner that I have been considering. It has only 110k on the odometer but has spent its like in NJ, so there is rust.

I have attached some photos.

I have also looked up the service history and have found a couple of notable entries that give me cause for concern (below). I realize that I will need to spend some money on the truck (but would like to keep it under $1k in the short term -- and I am not too mechanically inclined, so that includes mechanic labor time), but I am not sure if I'm buying a money pit.

What do you all think -- is this a relatively good buy (for appx. $5k), or should I pass on this one, from a rust/rot perspective? Unfortunately (or fortunately), I need to make a decision on this one quickly at this point. Thanks for all the help, and sorry for the ignorance.

6/28/14 - TECH FOUND NOISE IS COMING FROM FRONT BRAKE BACKING PLATES. $940.00 TO REPAIR ~|~CUSTOMER STATES HEARS A METALLIC SCRAPE WHEN MOVING FORWARD IN FRONT OF VEHICLE - PLEASE TAKE A QUICK LOOK, GOOD CUSTOMER ~|~ ~|~TECH FOUND NOISE IS COMING FROM FRONT BRAKE BACKING PLATES. $940.00 TO REPAIR. THERE IS A CHAN[c]E DUE TO VEHICLE BEING VERY RUSTY THAT OTHER REPAIRS MIGHT BE NEEDED. CUSTOMER IS AWARE.

The last big service, -- the 105,000 service, has the following full description:

105K 08/08/2012 105,000 MILE SERVICE. 105,000 MILE SERVICE. ~|~CUSTOMER STATES 105,000 MILE SERVICE ~|~ ~|~105,000 MILE SERVICE.
Parts
Name Part # QTY
FILTER S/A, OIL 90915YZZG1 1
5/20 OIL IN DRUM TOP 00279520DRUM 5
GASKET 9043012028 1
EFI SERVICE KITEFI 1
EFI CLEANER 00289EFI00 1
VALVE SUB-ASSY, VENT 1220462010 1
ELEMENT SUB-ASSY, AI 1780107020 1
RUBBER, WIPER BLADE 8521404012 2
WASHER/CO 0000000110 1
THROTTLE 002891TC00 1


CUSTOMER PAY
MUFFLE 08/08/2012 TECH REPLACED MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE TECH REPLACED MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE ~|~CUSTOMER STATES PRICE OUT WHAT IS NEEDED FOR EXHAUST ~|~ ~|~TECH REPLACED MUFFLER AND TAIL PIPE
Parts
Name Part # QTY
PIPE SUB-ASSY, EXHAU 1740362170 1
PIPE SUB-ASSY, EXHAU 1740562030 1
GASKET, EXHAUST PIPE 9091706072 1
GASKET, EXHAUST PIPE 9008043033 1


CUSTOMER PAY
BRAKES 08/08/2012 TECH REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS, SHIMS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS TECH REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS, SHIMS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS ~|~CUSTOMER STATES CAR SHIMMIES THRU STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING. - PULLS TO THE RIGHT ~|~ ~|~TECH REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS, SHIMS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS
Parts
Name Part # QTY
CALIPER,BRAKE,REMAN 477303511084 1
CALIPER,BRAKE,REMAN 477503511084 1
PAD KIT, DISC BRAKE 0446535240 1
DISC, FR 4351204020 2
SHIM KIT, ANTI SQUEA 0494504012 1
PIN, W/HOLE 9024006014 4


CUSTOMER PAY
ENDLIN 08/08/2012 TECH REPLACED FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS TECH REPLACED FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS ~|~CUSTOMER STATES CHECK HIGH PITCH SQUEAL/SCREECH WHEN FIRST MOVING ~|~ ~|~TECH REPLACED FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS
Parts
Name Part # QTY
LINK ASSY, FR STABIL 48820AD010 2
CUSHION, SHOCK ABSOR 9094801003 4
RETAINER, CUSHION 90948A2004 4
NUT, LOCK 9418401041 2
NUT 9017912141 2


CUSTOMER PAY
AC 08/08/2012 TECH RECHARGED A/C WITH FREON DYE (TO CHECK FOR LEAKS) TECH RECHARGED A/C WITH FREON DYE (TO CHECK FOR LEAKS) ~|~CUSTOMER STATES CHECK A/C SYSTEM, NOT COOLING TOO MUCH ~|~ ~|~TECH RECHARGED A/C WITH FREON DYE (TO CHECK FOR LEAKS)
Parts
Name Part # QTY
R134A WARRANTY 002630013401 1
******************** NPNACDYE 1


CUSTOMER PAY
REARDI 08/08/2012 TECH REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING (ROTTED/LEAKING) TECH REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING (ROTTED/LEAKING) ~|~CUSTOMER STATES CHECK MOISTURE ON REAR DIFF HOUSING/AXLE ~|~ ~|~TECH REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING (ROTTED/LEAKING)
Parts
Name Part # QTY
GASKET, DIFFERENTIAL 4218160020 1
SEAL, TYPE S OIL 9031050006 2
HOUSING ASSY, RR AXL 4211035711 1


CUSTOMER PAY
CHECK 08/08/2012 TIRES ARE OK AT THIS TIME TIRES ARE OK AT THIS TIME ~|~CUSTOMER STATES PRICE OUT NEW TIRES ~|~ ~|~TIRES ARE OK AT THIS TIME

CUSTOMER PAY
CHECK 08/08/2012 TECH COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE ALLIGNMENT AT THIS TIME TECH COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE ALLIGNMENT AT THIS TIME ~|~CUSTOMER STATES CHECK FOR NEEDED ALLIGNMENT ~|~ ~|~TECH COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE ALLIGNMENT AT THIS TIME

 

[Thorgan112]

from the pictures it looks mostly like surface rust, which if it is, you can wire brush most of it off, spray on some nice degreaser, a good metal prep, and then paint with a nice sealant and no more rust. This is not a quick process though. I just did it to mine and my underbody looks brand new. But it took my almost 4 full days to do it right! If your handy it might be worth the buy. But I am just talking from a rust perspective. I would try to steel it away at 4k if you could. use the rust to your advantage. but if you are not mechanically inclined i either suggest you start reading and learning or steer away. and you are most likely going to put more than 1000 into this puppy

 

[alostsok]

Thanks! You are not particularly concerned by recent need to replace the differential housing, brake backing plate, muffler, etc., apparently due to rust?

Do you think there is much more coming on this front in the near future?

I don't mind cleaning surface rust (whether myself or with help). I'm more concerned about a constant slew of drivetrain/mechanical issues due to rust.

 

[jgue467]

I'd keep looking. Being from Texas (not the coast) we don't like rust at all. I'd take it for 3k maybe but I'd rather have a clean rust free unit.

 

[Ghostrider]

I would avoid this one.. That first picture (not sure what it exactly is) does not look like surface and with that list of items - you are going to spend a lot of time and may find the rust is a killer. I would keep looking

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Take a hammer and "tap" on the bottom of the frame rail right in front of the mount to the lower control arm on the rear axle (next to the muffler) Look on the inner portion of the frame also. Bet you find more rust then you'll be willing to deal with. I found my "hidden" rust a couple months later. Just got a welder to fix it this weekend however. My dif housing also leaks. It's holding now with JB weld while I try to find an axle housing.