Rate my frame.

Not to thread jack but what are you guys using for touch up on the frame for places like rear strut saddle - to- frame welds?

 

Just to give you some pictures for reference. Mine looked just like yours. Here what it looks like now:

 

I like Rustoleum rust converting primer covered with standard rust oleum flat black paint. Brushed on in the tighter spaces, or sprayed along the rails. Using a die grinder with a scotch brite pad on it helps remove rust without removing any base metal so I do that first if the affected area allows it.

Oh and a good heavy coat of fluid film a few days later once the paint has cured.

 

Doesn't look too bad but seeing that you have an 04, you should take it to Toyota pronto and have them inspect it...if they can perforate it in one of the worse spots you may qualify for a new frame, which is only possible through the end of this year.

 

I'd say you have a frame there that will last along time if you take the advice of some previous posters.

But,..., if your not comfortable owning it and want to sell it cheap, let me know

 

Mine is expired by a few months. It’s from the date it was built right?

 

neverrrr

 

8/10 for surface rust

 

from the date it sold off the lot I think

I checked my 04 Toyota dealership still said it’s good through October of this year, but the truck was made in April or May of 04 (I’ll have to double check)

 

Don't bother I took mine off when I replaced the wheel bearings. All they do is pack with mud and trap tiny rocks between them and the rotor

 

How can I find out when my truck was built/sold?

 

there's a build date on the drivers door jamb. You can look up the vin to see where it was built

 

Disregard. Just checked it. First use was February 2004.

 

just wondering why you never did the recall when its free. You might want to still check if you're eligible since 04 + 15 is still 2019.

nvm someone checked it already.

 

Thought about doing the recall since it’s still eligible but it just doesn’t need to be replaced (been a California truck since day 1).. it seems like it was assembled right in the factory I’d hate to have everything disassembled and reassembled in some corporate shop for the “peace of mind” of a new frame

Although it would be cool to have a spare

 

I have heard that Toyota doesn’t replace every frame. Just the ones that are bad based on their own evaluations. According to the responses in this thread, mine isn’t that bad.

 

This ^ thank you

Spring to do list. Also gonna hit the hitch. Its starting to show a bit of it

 

Your frame was exposed to winter salt and this crap is a notorious killer of truck frames and cars.

what you should worry about is not the rust outside of the frame but the rust inside. These frames rot from the inside out. They can look not that bad when in fact they are paper-thin. That's why you have to bang the frame with a hammer.

The worst area for rust is where the leaf springs attach to the frame, right behind the cab. Then the inner frame rails by the gas tank and the catalytic converter can also be bad areas

 

If it was me personally, I run a hose from the rear of the truck into each frame rail and flush out the frame for a good 15 minutes each side just to remove and crud or fine debris that is stuck in the frame.

Then let it dry really really good, come back with a wire wheel and get the surface rust as best as possible, follow up with a good degreasing and then let dry and spray paint, and let cure for like a week or 2, then top it off with fluid film or something along those lines. You can get a cheap boroscope or something and inspect the inside, or just plain get up close and look inside as best you can. If there is surface rust on the inside I’d hit it with some Eastwood internal frame spray, then let that cure for a few days and follow up with fluid film or you favorite rust protectant just like the exterior of the frame.

Everything else has already been mentioned in the comments. Check near cats for hiding rust on the inside of the frames. They go from the inside out as far as rust spread.

 

I agree with you. The inside is what I’m worried about because like you said, I can’t see it.