Pretty disappointed in how rusted my Toytec Ultimate Suspension is

[1996_Valencia_Owen]

Is it possible there's a bad ground somewhere causing electrolysis and accelerating rust or something?

Long shot I know but just wondered.

The possibilities so far seem like:
-bad metal used in the coilovers
-op did some water or beach water crossings and forgot to mention
-the water or something in the water they wash their car with is a rust accelerant
-some odd substance from the road sprayed into the wheel wells.

 

[rayofsi]

Meh- somewhere in the middle lol. I was well aware, as others have mentioned here, that Toytec might be concerned about having to replace suspension for every single person with some rust. Rightfully so. That’s why I made it clear if they reimbursed me I would keep the entire issue to myself. I did, however, also mention that I understand they aren’t liable as they don’t warranty corrosion, and there’s nothing I can do aside from making sure other 4Runner owners are aware of what Toytec considers “normal corrosion” in 9-10 months time. If they weren’t going to stand behind their product (which they didn’t) I want to make sure others know what is considered standard wear for Toytec suspension. I researched endlessly when purchasing suspension, had I of seen this thread or pictures I would have A. Not bought them, or B. Understood that the after market suspension on these take far more maintenance than oem suspension or brands like Bilstein or King. Or even extra maintenance altogether.



Yeah - I’m aware they don’t manufacture, however they stamp their name on them and sell them. They are ultimately responsible for the quality of their product.

On a recent project a subcontractor used a bunch of seamed pipe instead of seamless, as was specified. Do you think the plant owners were like “oh, it was your vendor that used shitty materials, don’t worry about it?” No... we had to cut all the pipe out on site and replace it. We are the ones selling it with our name on it, and we are ultimately responsible.

Whoever did manufacture these shocks, I hope Toytec is sending them these pictures (and maybe even this thread) and asking them wtf?

thats some ****ed up shit right there.
at this point, as a vendor, there is no way they would ever warranty you. From a legal stand point, this puts this fully liable if you decided to make a thread like this. Good luck, no matter how you look at it, that shit is extortion.

 

[chrismind]

thats some ****ed up shit right there.
at this point, as a vendor, there is no way they would ever warranty you. From a legal stand point, this puts this fully liable if you decided to make a thread like this. Good luck, no matter how you look at it, that shit is extortion.

Thank you. Well said.

 

[Jetboy]

thats some ****ed up shit right there.
at this point, as a vendor, there is no way they would ever warranty you. From a legal stand point, this puts this fully liable if you decided to make a thread like this. Good luck, no matter how you look at it, that shit is extortion.

Of course customers are going to show other people a product they aren't happy with. That's how it works. Calling a spade a spade is being honest. Why pretend? Sellers have no incentive to warranty a bad product other than reputation. That is the entire reason they do it. Calling out bad vendors is how product quality and customer service improvement happens.

If my shocks looked that bad after 1 year I'd be unhappy too - and you can bet your ass I'd tell people about it. I'm kinda pissed Fox used stainless machine screws in Aluminum parts. Now they're corroded together. Hire a damn engineer to review the assembly.

 

[1996_Valencia_Owen]

Yeah that ain't freaking extortion.

Extortion would be involving force or threats. And it's not a threat to remind a lazy, greedy vendor of your LEGAL RIGHT to go show folks the poor quality of their product on forums.

There's nothing illegal here.

 

[Z-MAN54]

I installed these Toytec top of the line ($1850) coilovers last summer. They were rusting out pretty bad by December, and even worse now. I do live where there is snow but I rinse the vehicle weekly, very thoroughly. It’s never seen mud beyond a gravel road or driveway.

Here’s a couple pictures. Seems to be way worse than what I would consider acceptable. I saved hard to buy my 2017 4Runner and it’s an otherwise nearly mint vehicle and I’ve put a lot into it.

The condition of this suspension is a bit embarrassing to me. Toytec stated this is normal and will not do anything about it. If I knew this was to be expected after 9 months I would’ve gone another route.

Thoughts?

That sucks! Especially after shelling out $1850.

 

[RCFJ]

Regardless of how the OP originally asked for Toytec to deal with the issue, the amount of rust on those shocks is unacceptable (look at the top hat bolts and hose fittings!) especially after looking at undercarriage pics. Maybe OP was a prick when he first contacted them I don't know but all I see is Toytec trying to pass blame, I see no defense of their product and again if these shocks were used up in the NE they would literally rust right off the truck in another year or two. Maybe Toytec should investigate to see if eibach(i think its eibach) forgot to galvanize a batch of coilovers.

 

[damthemainstream]

Out of curiosity, have you been through downtown Charleston since you've had those installed? There are certain streets that will flood with saltwater during high enough tides. It could be that you splashed through an innocent looking puddle and sprayed down the front suspension components. No beach visit required.

 

[rayofsi]

Yeah that ain't freaking extortion.

Extortion would be involving force or threats. And it's not a threat to remind a lazy, greedy vendor of your LEGAL RIGHT to go show folks the poor quality of their product on forums.

There's nothing illegal here.

That’s why I made it clear if they reimbursed me I would keep the entire issue to myself. I did, however, also mention that I understand they aren’t liable as they don’t warranty corrosion, and there’s nothing I can do aside from making sure other 4Runner owners are aware of what Toytec considers “normal corrosion” in 9-10 months time.

he threatened to go public if he didn't get a refund.. he only started this thread up after they refused reimburse him. He also would have kept quiet if he gets reimbursed.

Make what you want with his words. I am in no way saying that toytec is right. But the OP is definitely NOT right in the way he handled this.

 

[Sparman]

I don't have a dog in this fight nor do I own any ToyTec products. But I am curious--does ToyTech give the customer any documentation on proper maintenance? If not, maybe they should.

I have Bilstein 5100s (installed by your friends at RSG) and I'll admit that I had no idea that the shocks are something that needed a regular maintenance protocol. Nobody ever mentioned it and I don't remember seeing it in any documentation. I'm not a "car guy" so I'll need to be told what to do. :redface:

THIS! Unless ToyTec gives detailed maintenance instructions, how can they put the onus on the buyer? I'll admit, I don't live where roads are salted, and maybe there is an entirely different expectation when it comes to owning a car in these regions, but still - 9 months?

I have not seen any maintenance instructions on any of the parts that I have purchased that describe any steps to prevent this sort of outcome, especially to the extent suggested by ToyTec in their reply.

ToyTec markets and sells to a wide customer base, not just "hobbyists" with OCD (like most of us here) who are willing to scrub, paint, buy additional protection (shock wraps) made by other companies, etc. to get a meaningful life expectancy. To assert that these are mandatory preventative measures and are the owner's responsibility is BS - UNLESS all of this is clearly stated up front, and in the supporting documentation.

I for one am disappointed by ToyTec's response here, and do feel for the OP.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Basic vehicle maintenance would have kept them from rusting.

If you add aftermarket adjustable coilovers you are a vehicle enthusiast and should know better than to think aftermarket parts require zero maintenance or will be as trouble-free as OEM. Do more research and stop expecting people to take care of your truck.

 

[RCFJ]

Basic vehicle maintenance would have kept them from rusting.

If you add aftermarket adjustable coilovers you are a vehicle enthusiast and should know better than to think aftermarket parts require zero maintenance or will be as trouble-free as OEM. Do more research and stop expecting people to take care of your truck.

Dude no way. 9 months and they have that much rust? What is he supposed to do cuddle with them at night? If bilsteins look fine coilovers should look fine

 

[Trixx]

Basic vehicle maintenance would have kept them from rusting.

If you add aftermarket adjustable coilovers you are a vehicle enthusiast and should know better than to think aftermarket parts require zero maintenance or will be as trouble-free as OEM. Do more research and stop expecting people to take care of your truck.

There’s no reason why the rest of the underside of my truck looks fantastic and even the bilsteins, yet the Toytec look like shit. Why would the nuts on top of the shock towers need “maintenance”? Same with the reservoirs, which could easily be made of the same fantastic material my bilsteins are.


This whole thing isn’t even about money. I brought up the cost since they are a more expensive shock. It’s about a company not standing behind their product, and it rusting to trash within a sub 9 month period. Even if it does need maintenance, it shouldn’t look like it does in 9 months, ESPECIALLY the reservoirs.

Opinions are just that, and it makes zero difference to me. My only point in making this thread was to let people decide for themselves, and also I’m clearly not the only one who was unaware of the extensive corrosion protection maintenance that these shocks require. Hopefully someone else will take that into more consideration than I did.

If you want to blame me, that’s great too. Had I of seen this thread I personally would have made difference choices, that’s just me though.

 

[jrandom]

Im not sure why the nuts on top of the coilovers would be so rusted, and the washers for the UCA’s look to have similar rust as well.

That is some cheap ass hardware that's why Zinc coating is gone already or was nonexistent to begin with. Quality fasteners, something people don't think about to much... until it all starts to rust.

 

[Trixx]

I will add, due to the friction and wear in the threaded portion, it is understandable why that would rust. You have to be able to screw/unscrew and it will wear on the steel, and also capture a lot of road crap and such. The hardware and reservoirs are what my concern are.

I asked if the reservoirs could be replaced without a rebuild, as I would’ve been 100% content with replacing those and the top nuts and would have been a happy camper. Unfortunately they said that would take a full rebuild, and I can’t be without my 4Runner for a week or so right now to send them off. (Not to mention they didn’t state they would be on board with that anyways) but I tried.

 

[nb rob]

THIS! Unless ToyTec gives detailed maintenance instructions, how can they put the onus on the buyer? I'll admit, I don't live where roads are salted, and maybe there is an entirely different expectation when it comes to owning a car in these regions, but still - 9 months?

I have not seen any maintenance instructions on any of the parts that I have purchased that describe any steps to prevent this sort of outcome, especially to the extent suggested by ToyTec in their reply.

ToyTec markets and sells to a wide customer base, not just "hobbyists" with OCD (like most of us here) who are willing to scrub, paint, buy additional protection (shock wraps) made by other companies, etc. to get a meaningful life expectancy. To assert that these are mandatory preventative measures and are the owner's responsibility is BS - UNLESS all of this is clearly stated up front, and in the supporting documentation.

I for one am disappointed by ToyTec's response here, and do feel for the OP.

I don't clean and cover my shocks because I have OCD.

I do it because I know what they put on the roads in the wintertime here,
and I don't want my expensive shocks to rust.

 

[nb rob]

by the way, I searched for SCDOT winter road treatment for 2017/2018

"Department officials say 3, 857 tons of salt has been applied to South Carolina roadways as well as 410 tons of sand and 194,800 gallons of salt brine."

 

[RUNTHAT]

Basic vehicle maintenance would have kept them from rusting.

If you add aftermarket adjustable coilovers you are a vehicle enthusiast and should know better than to think aftermarket parts require zero maintenance or will be as trouble-free as OEM. Do more research and stop expecting people to take care of your truck.

I very seldom set and forget aftermarket parts. Especially when I'm going to do any type of "high performance" driving. Hell, I'll even do a quick walk around if I'm going to take a longer than normal drive. In many ways I agree with you. You gotta notice and address these things before they snowball into this shit storm.

 

[1996_Valencia_Owen]

Why not? His first responses went unheeded?

And Toytec is saying he's wrong, which is phony. Nothing wrong thus far in the situation.

You go find me a set of 9 month old Toytecs that look worse, from the vast vaults of Google. I'll wait.

 

[Inv4drZm]

There’s no reason why the rest of the underside of my truck looks fantastic and even the bilsteins, yet the Toytec look like shit. Why would the nuts on top of the shock towers need “maintenance”? Same with the reservoirs, which could easily be made of the same fantastic material my bilsteins are.

Fluid film or replace the hardware. Steel wool and paint the resis. Or just polish them and clear coat over top.

Also I should mention those coilovers will need a full rebuild every 50k-70k miles.