Rusted Frame Problems?

[dizzystundra]

Just curious if anyone has any insight on frame integrity of toyota tundras. I have about 93k miles on my tundra, live in New England, and was told that my frame is rusting so bad that i should consider trading it in or selling within the next year or so. It's a 2000. I have taken really good care of my truck, and figured the frame (behind the rear axle) would be the last thing to go. Anyone have any experiences or advice?

Thanks.

[cupidstoy]

photos? specifics? usually rust is either due to incomplete galvanic dipping during manufacture or some type of electrical short causing local galvanic oxidation. most modern vehicles utilitze technology that minimize rusting problems (correctly specified fastener materials for the type of metals, zinc coatings, etc) and rust isn't a major problem although it is slightly worse in areas where lots of salt (enhances conductivity and self-galvanization betwen dissimilar metals) is used on the roads.

[Cali D]

That would depend on how bad the rust is. Some surface rust is normal in a area like yours. Now if theres flaking I would worry. Take it to a frame shop, don't rely upon the opinion of one person. Maybe they can the remove the body, sand off the rust and spray it, if needed. Was it the dealership that told you about the rust?

[dizzystundra]

No it was actually Midas, and the mechanic wasn't trying to sell my anything. Flakes, yes, it is flakey. I'm not going to do anything for the body like drop $400+ I'm just wondering what the worst that could happen is vs. what is likely to happen in the future. Damn it was almost paid off too - one more year.

[Wildcat63]

You probably don't have anything to worry about but you may want to check with Toyota and see if the frame is covered under the rust trhough warranty. I had a Dodge Ram that Chrysler replaced one door and ground off the rust off another under the rust through warranty.

Frames are pretty tough and some rust is normal. Taking the word of someone at Midas wouldn't be the final answer. Up here in Minnesota alot of old trucks are running around with bed sides flapping or strapped together to keep them from falling off along with the holes in the floors and missing rocker panels and the frame is still there in one piece.

[ricqik]

My frames rusty, the flaky thing or what ever you're talking about is actually just the paint. I inspected mine and it's just surface rust. Scratch it wit a screw driver and it's all shiny right behind it. Mines a '00 with 122k.

[skipesk]

Yo Diz, what up
I recently had my 2000 Tundra into the Dealer for service, and they mentioned it to me how badly the frame was rusted, especially just inside the rear wheels on the frame. The paint flakes right off with a screw driver, there's allot of other spots, but this area seems to be the worst. The previous owner had driven up to a mountain house in upstate PA, and wasn't very proactive about washing/cleaning the vehicle. He just bought a new one every 4 years, and didn't seem to care. After driving my 1986 std bed p/u for 14 years, and 190k miles, and never saw a bit of rust on that vehicle, I'm concerned about my Tundra. I'm going to try to tackle it b4 the winter here in S NJ, and continue to monitor it. I'm only the second owner, and it only has 63K miles on it. It's an SR5, TRD, with a leer cap, it's one sweet machine I would hate to get rid of it.
I'm going to try some Amsoil undercoating products to see how that fairs, that I read about in another thread.

Skipk

[Tundraintejas]

I bought a brand new Jeep CJ7 back when I lived in New England in the 80's-- I had serious rust holes in the floorboards, windshield frame and rear quarters in only 3 winters. The frame didn't rust through, but it looked really bad. I even did the spray-on oil on the underbody every Fall and washed it in the Winter quite often. Salty NE roads are tough on any vehicle. Ultimately, I installed a fiberglass body and did a frame-off restoration using POR15 to paint the frame and running gear. Although I do miss four seasons and the NE mountains, I sure as heck don't miss the SALT! You might consider sanding off the rust and applying POR15--tough stuff.

[Intrepidyota]

FYI, a wire wheel on either a drill or a grinder works really well for rapidly removing rust. I just bought a tundra with a little rust on the frame inside the rear wheel well, I plan to wire wheel it, maybe hit it with some rust converter, then it will be primed and painted. During the winter, I try to wash my truck once every couple weeks to clean off the crap underneath, you would be surprised at the difference it will make in keeping the truck rust free.

[theyotaguy]

Originally Posted by cupidstoy

usually rust is either due to incomplete galvanic dipping during manufacture or some type of electrical short causing local galvanic oxidation. most modern vehicles utilitze technology that minimize rusting problems (correctly specified fastener materials for the type of metals, zinc coatings, etc) and rust isn't a major problem although it is slightly worse in areas where lots of salt (enhances conductivity and self-galvanization betwen dissimilar metals) is used on the roads.

SLIGHTLY!!! worse in areas where lots of salt is used????

Have you spent any time in the rust belt? Frames look horrible after only a few years,and the flaking of paint is just the beginning.Here's a couple of photos of a 2000 Tacoma that needed a cab mount to pass the state inspection,the old mount and the repair.Look at the rest of the frame in the repair photo-that is NORMAL up here.

[Intrepidyota]

Well, that is pretty bad. I would call that normal for people that refuse to wash their car on a semi-regular basis over the winters.

[geojim]

Originally Posted by theyotaguy

SLIGHTLY!!! worse in areas where lots of salt is used????

Have you spent any time in the rust belt? Frames look horrible after only a few years,and the flaking of paint is just the beginning.Here's a couple of photos of a 2000 Tacoma that needed a cab mount to pass the state inspection,the old mount and the repair.Look at the rest of the frame in the repair photo-that is NORMAL up here.

Yikes, that is bad. My 01 Tundy has some surface rust around the frame rivets, etc, but nothing close to this picture. Was that truck parked on the beach for most of it's life?
I am sorry, but I would not call that typical rust for a six year old vehicle, even up here in the northeast. And they do just love to use that nasty calcium chloride. My dad has a '98 Taco, and it has some surface rust on the frame, but still not close to the example shown in that pic.

Anyway, if you do live in the snowbelt, the most important preventive measure is to flush and rinse the undercarriage every couple of weeks, or monthly at a minimum. That will minimize the effects anyway.

[cupidstoy]

ditto on the flushing out under body regularly with a power washer - especially after big storms when the streets are slushy with salt water.

on the that repair - i hope it wasn't finished when you took those photos. the welds should be painted over with a good zinc anti rust primer and a couple of good top coat sealer coats.

[DevinSixtySeven]

the rust belt is notorious for destroying everything...roads, vehicles, signs next to the road, everything. it's a mess. the tech here in not-the-midwest took one look at the underside of my truck and said "did you spend some time in the midwest?" it's just a mess out there.

wire wheel and por-15, or naval jelly and rustoleum. just goop the stuff on, it'll penetrate every crack you put it over. be careful getting it on bolts you might want to remove later, it acts like permanent threadlock (not red label permanent, welded permanent).

since spending time in the rustwest, i've had to replace bolts throughout the truck...all four lower control arm bolts, both upper control arm bolts, exhaust system bolts, front skid plate bolts...and removed, cleaned, greased and reinstalled most of the exposed bolts on the truck. i've painted por-15 over most of the underside at one point or another, it's just sickening to watch tens of thousands of dollars wash away every year.

-sean

[geojim]

Here are a couple of pics from my underside (the Tundra that is )
The rust you see is the effects of 5+ years of Maine winters. The axle housing has some pretty ugly rust-flowering (rust under paint).

Sheetmetal is clean of corrosion though (ignore the mud blobs). Hopefully it stays that way.