Is this normal?

Hey everyone just purchased my first tacoma. It's a 2012 with 118k miles on it. when I bought the truck I noticed that the previous owner had put wool wax on the frame of the truck. At first didn't think much of it actually thought it was a good idea. Although now Im worried that it's maybe because he's hiding something. I went around and scraped off some of that stuff with with a painters 5 in 1 tool. Underneath the coating it's mostly just straight black. like how a frame is when it's new. Is that possible on a 2012? I went around and tapped with a hammer couldn't find any weak spots. There is however some rust on the welds. Kind of wish the stuff wasn't on there now. I also noticed above the drive shaft and all around the underside of the truck this sort of soft, nearly gooey stuff. It's like a sealant of some type. Is that normal? You can see it above the drive shaft in that one picture. Otherwise does the underside of this truck look ok? Also there's tons of rust on those brake drums. This stuff usually just gets wire brushed off no? Thanks

 

Welcome to the group Joeman.....where are you from?

 

The above the drive shaft stuff aost looks like grease sling from the u-joint.... I suppose you could have gotten a new frame already.

 

Welcome to TW…

 

Im from British Colombia Canada

Im from BC Canada. West coast

 

Be thankful the last owner did that,instead of letting the frame rot too nothing.

 

ya it seems in good shape underneath it all

 

Check the entire frame yourself though.

 

The stuff directly in-line (radially) with the U-joint is grease that is naturally slung out of it while it is spinning at high speed.

The other lines of "smooshy black stuff" in that first photo look like original factory frame sealant.

 

Yes....anytime a frame in the great white north is properly maintained. Thanks to the previous owner, your first thread on here is not lamenting a "swiss-cheese" frame. Enjoy your new truck....and I hope it gives you many years of service.

 

Looks good to me, new carrier bearing and u joints
Normal for grease to spray after a long time
Just feel top the joints off from time to time
Previous owner took care of it for you

 

I also noticed when I bought my 2013 last year that I have that "smooshy black stuff" in the same area if I remember right. I did think it looked odd but my frames in good shape and now I'm getting it undercoated every fall.

 

Wool wax, is one of the best products you can put underneath your truck, especially where you are and I would have that done at least once a year

 

All looks normal to me. Hard to believe that truck lived its life in harsh conditions - doesn't look much worse than mine which spent its entire life in California.

If you don't know the history of the truck shoot me over the VIN and I'd be happy to run a carfax to see what records show up. Not sure how well it'd work if it's spent it's life in Canada but perhaps worth a try.

 

From your pics, it looks like you're 4x4. Your drive shaft will have 5 zerk fittings to grease the U-joints. 3 on the rear shaft at each U-joint and 2 on the front half-shaft at each of those 2 U-joints. Squirt a few pumps of some NGLI #2 grease in at least the 3 on your rear shaft at every oil change. If you frequently operate your 4x4, then hit those as well. Wool wax, like others have said, is a good thing to do to your vehicle and frame annually up in the rust belt, I wouldn't be concerned about your frame being rusted through if the previous owner took care of it. Rust on your drums is normal. For piece of mind, you can pull the tire and hit it with a wire wheel to clean off the rust. Hit it with some Rustoleum high heat primer and rattle can black to clean them up. Some rust reformer sprays need a surface coating of rust to actively bond the paint. All in all, your undercarriage looks good for how old the vehicle is.

-J

 

Welcome to TW.

All looks good.
Drive shaft u-joint grease sling out. = Normal
Rusty drum break = Normal, I would check to see how much life it has left.
Front end = looks okay
Frame = looks good.

Grease the FRONT (if 4x4)and REAR drive shaft every so often.

 

Hey thanks for the offer. I got the carfax when I first shopped for it. There was an accident amounting 7000.00 of repair at the time but I was told it was relatively minor. The owner before me had the truck looked at at the Toyota deal and that the frame was in great shape.

 

My truck has similar mileage. But mine had a ICBC quote of $10,000 and figured out that the ECM and all the ECU?? (The smaller one the size of a snickers bar) was stolen. But claimed $500. Shrug.

What annoys me is that most used car dealers in BC spray paint over any rust!
Very infuriating!

anyway, congrats on getting a truck that looks like her bones, are in good shape.

I would recommend you take a look at your ball joints, mine needed replacing.

 

What’s ECM and ECU?
I bought this truck privately. Was not cheap. Owner was a dependable guy. So I went with his word on a lot of things which turned into a bit of panic a few days later. I’m calming down now and starting to enjoy my truck.

 

ECM / ECU, is the trucks computer that handles a lot of things, about the relationship between the engine, transmission, and you! There is a lot of people here that is more knowledgeable than me about that topic.

Enjoy your truck!

Be forewarned tho, Tacoma world is notorious for its mod support and mod ideas on lots of different topics. Don't fall into the endless rabbit hole, and making you spend more money on stuff.