Brand new Tacoma is already rusting!

I bought a brand new Tacoma Prerunner a few weeks back. It now has about 750 miles on it. I looked at the underside and this is what I found- Rust.

The steering knuckle, control arm bolts, and tie-rod and sway bar mounts are all rusting. Already. There are surface rust points on the frame and in a couple of the holes in the frame. The dealer said this is normal. i don't believe them. Am I wrong? Is this to be expected? What should I do about this? Is the new Toyota owner expected to complete his truck's paint job?





BTW, I've only driven through one rain storm and have never driven it in salt water. Never taken it off pavement.

 

Look under a vehicle from any manufacturer ever and you're going to find the same thing.

 

X2

Also, any raw cast iron will rust. This isn't the frame. Don't sweat

 

If it bothers you and you drive in a salty environment you can get it undercoated... Ziebart did mine. Our trucks are known for getting rusty... it happens

 

I wouldn't be concerned about rust on any cast parts, but I would stay on top of any rust on the frame. Fluid film it if you're concerned.

 

x2

It's inevitable

 

Okay, so nothing to worry about. Thanks for the replies. Should I coat the rusty spots with something, or spray them with WD-40? Or just ignore it?

The frame has a few small spots where the welds are starting to rust, and some holes with rust inside them. Funny thing is, other other holes are fully coated with paint. I'll touch up those rusty spots on the frame. It'll make me feel better at least. Again, thanks for the advice.

 

Totally normal. Bare metal rusts.

Looks crazy w/o the front half shafts!

 

Spray those spots with fluid film and that rust will disappear.

 

Thanks! Will do. I'd never heard of that product. I'll get some tomorrow.

 

Most John Deere dealerships stock it. Search it on here... lots of threads about it. Welcome aboard!

 

X2. Those areas will probably be rusty on new trucks sitting on the dealer's lot, if they are stored outside.

So that's what our brake calipers look like on the back side?

 

Awesome new vocab word! I'd never heard of thixotropic! I've looked at stuff that it applies to but, never seen or heard it, cool!

Anyways, thanks for posting the links, I am considering shooting this into the front frame rails (boxed portion) of my Tacoma.

Have you been happy with it?

Thanks!!!

 

Nice that's so clean

 

OH NO!! Better get those replaced before something worse happens to them.... Like they get dirt on them !!!!!!!!!!!

 

Spray your undercarriage with wd40 every couple of months .

But if you live in a area like New England where roads are treated any car will look like that after a few weeks .

 

Welcome to TW, TacoNate! A moderator (Brunes) and I work together near you - on the Naval air station in Belle Chasse.

As others have said, all should be fine w/ your truck. As far as Fluid Film goes, we use it on our Coast Guard helos since they routinely operate in salt air environments and are often covered in salt spray. It's a thick product and would seem to attract all sorts of dirt and grime. For those who use it on your trucks, any problems with dirt/sand/dust stuck to your FF-coated frames?

 

Leave it alone. The "rust" actually forms a protective barrier. Why do you think the don't paint highway overpasses?

 

LOL... god I hope your not a mechanic.

tell that to this guy




OP - never leave parts to rust. Prevent rust whenever you can because once it starts it's much harder to control.