So My Taco FUBAR.

Hey all!

Happy to join this site but unfortunately it isn't under pleasant circumstances. I have a 1996 Tacoma 2.7 LX, diagnosed with a serious rust cancer on the rear half of the frame.

My girlfriend drives this truck 99% and happened to bring it by the shop today so I could change the oil for her. She had mentioned the cab seemed to be sagging at one corner, so I rolled under there to check it out and was very saddened to find a serious rust problem.

Looks like the left rear cab mount is completely gone and worst of it all the springleaf mount is completely gone as well, leaving the rear axle out of alignment.

I told her to leave it at the shop and I would go in tomorrow and try to weld it back to a safe manner. Really sad as I love the hell out of this truck but rust has been a cruel cancer to it.

Here are some photos:

This is with the cab supported at one corner with a jack.



The leaf spring:




What are my best options? I realize the recall is long gone with this truck and I have only owned it maybe 2 years? Would my insurance total it if I took it to a body shop for inspection? Anyone know where I could order another mount for the cab that I could weld onto the frame?

Love this truck but it is literally falling apart and isn't safe to drive.

 

Yeah, insurance will definitely total it. You could try to find a frame at a junkyard and cut off the mount. Or you could just fab up your own mount.

 

I feel for you. I just (today) noticed my rear passenger side leaf spring has holes just above the mount. The mount isn't effected yet, but will in a matter of time. I guess I will have to find a metal fabricator to fix the holes. Fortunately, everything else looks good so maybe I can buy some years if I get it fixed. This sucks. I really like my 02 and have never been interested in anything else. If this fails me, I will be looking at Fords.

 

Ouch... I'm glad I bought my '97 and it sat for 10 years. I hopefully will only have to live in a northern climate for another couple years before I can move somewhere that's warm; so hopefully I'll be able to save mine.

 

I just got off the phone with my area Toyota service manager. I took mine in for the bulletin inspection in November 2011 and it expired in Sept. 2011. I never got the notice I just took it in after a coworker told me about the bulletins. I never got the notice because Toyota had the original owner connected to the VIN still. I guess I should have taken proactive measures when I purchased the truck in 2006. Anyway, even though I missed the bulletin deadline by 2 months, he said bring it back and they will take photos to send to Mother Toyota and see what they say. In 2011 the truck checked out fine. So in just 2 years, the holes have reared their ugly heads.


He said he couldn't promise me anything but it was worth a try. I was coming across pretty doubtful they would do anything but he kept encouraging me to give it a try. I almost detected somewhat of a "I am not suppose to say this but I think you have a chance of having something done about it" . I am not really that optimistic though. Maybe if they see I am a 2 time Tacoma owner since 1992, they might show me some love. Again, not counting on it. He did say that even though the buy back is over, he has heard of some cases where they have still bought them back.


I guess next best scenario is to have a frame guy fix the one spot IF the rest of it is not rusted out. If so, I will have somebody put a rust proof coating on it to extend it's life a few more years. The service manager said he has one customer who had a really good job done of a fabricator building a frame over his rusted frame. I bet that cost a pretty penny.


Worse case scenario, it is deemed unsafe, unfixable, not getting bought back, and I have to sell it as when the disclaimer of the rust problem. That would suck beyond belief since the truck is in such good shape otherwise and I only put 3 - 4 thousand miles a year on it.

 

Here's mine.

 

that things boned

 

Going to head into the shop tonight and possibly try fixing it. I really love this truck but they do go for a premium up here in Alaska and I could probably get a solid penny for it reselling as salvage title, or just fixing it and selling it as well.

 

Start fabricating.

Save that shit. Dont let it go.

 

Decided to call the insurance company and let them know, I'll exercise a buy back option and fix it.