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Frame Rust Prevention

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by BartMaster1234, Dec 22, 2016.

  1. Dec 22, 2016 at 3:23 PM
    #1
    BartMaster1234

    BartMaster1234 [OP] American Auto Horns

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    Tyler
    San Francisco, California
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    I have a '98 PreRunner Extended Cab. It's live its whole life in the San Francisco Bay Area, probably less than 50 miles from where it was built at NUMMI in Fremont. It barely rains let alone snow.

    Now I see all these photos of these horribly rusted out frames from the salt belt states and it's a little terrifying to see it like that. My frame isn't perfect, it has a little surface rust but it's seems normal. Nothing like the rust that I see that eats through the frame from the mid-western states.

    Is there anything I can do to protect the frame from failing? I don't want to have to replace the frame one day. Since I don't live in the salt states I don't qualify for a frame replacement. My frame is fine other than the light surface rust, but I don't want it to rust out in the future.

    I saw a post over on Reddit with a '98 someone bought at auction, the whole frame is basically swiss cheese. It was kind of a shocking wake up call for me, lol.

    Here's that frame (not mine thankfully):

    LBeWtkbr.jpg XpVB21Cr.jpg jwB9siMr.jpg EZ1TP4br.jpg XpVB21C.jpg
     
  2. Dec 22, 2016 at 3:32 PM
    #2
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
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    There's a reason Cali isn't included in the recalls. It's just not a problem (that I've seen) here, even on the coast. Yes, there is salt in the air in SF, but it's orders of magnitude less than the salt being thrown on your car from the road salts.

    If you're worried about it, though, it get under there, clean it up, and rap a hammer along the frame. If there's significant rust, you should hear a big difference in the tone.

    If not, rattle can some black primer on the frame and you're good to go.
     
  3. Dec 22, 2016 at 3:33 PM
    #3
    T4RFTMFW

    T4RFTMFW Well-Known Member

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    Wire brush it and paint it.

    Primer is porous and will allow water to get between the primer and metal.
     
    chaosrob likes this.
  4. Dec 22, 2016 at 7:15 PM
    #4
    JKO1998

    JKO1998 Well-Known Member

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    Wat.
     
  5. Dec 22, 2016 at 7:23 PM
    #5
    FirstGen Jer

    FirstGen Jer Well-Known Member

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    Sand/wire wheel the surface rust off. Spray some rust reformer over it and paint. Then cover your frame with a product called fluid film inside n out. Done.
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2016
    Markcal likes this.
  6. Dec 23, 2016 at 5:10 AM
    #6
    ROCKIN RICHIE

    ROCKIN RICHIE Well-Known Member

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    If the frame looks like that there is NOTHING that can be done. The metal is delaminating from the inside out. The lovely paint they applied just makes rust fall off in bigger clumps... trust me I dealt with all of it. Fluid Film is a good product but needs constant application for surfaces that see any road spray from rain or snow.
     
  7. Dec 23, 2016 at 7:08 AM
    #7
    FirstGen Jer

    FirstGen Jer Well-Known Member

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    Not sure why he posted those pics but he did state those are not pics of his frame. So hopefully his does not look that bad.
     
  8. Dec 23, 2016 at 7:13 AM
    #8
    FirstGen Jer

    FirstGen Jer Well-Known Member

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    Ya, me either. That's the stuff nightmares are made of :laughing:
     
  9. Dec 23, 2016 at 7:45 AM
    #9
    Mod

    Mod Well-Known Member

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    I would sand disk the heavy stuff off, then use Permatex Rust Treatment,, scuff it lightly afterwards and then rattle can,,done. This is only if you have good metal to work on without rust thru.
    https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-81773-Rust-Treatment-oz/dp/B000HBNX38

    Have used the Permatex stuff,,and it works as advertised. I have a rotten mower deck that I treated inside and out years ago as a test,,and the stuff is still protecting in the wet Pac Northwest. Basically the mower deck is held together by the Permatex. Rust shellac I call it.
     
  10. Dec 23, 2016 at 8:09 AM
    #10
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    OP lives in the bay area dude = No snow, also, the snow is NOT what is damaging, it's the salt. Cali doesn't salt the roads, so op is fine.
     
    FirstGen Jer likes this.
  11. Dec 23, 2016 at 9:03 AM
    #11
    Markcal

    Markcal Well-Known Member

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    I use Fluid Film after hearing about from this website and wished it was applied from day one, but at this point it's to prolong longevity.
     
  12. Dec 23, 2016 at 9:06 AM
    #12
    TacoGlenn

    TacoGlenn Nobody Makes a Monkey Outta Me!

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  13. Dec 23, 2016 at 11:39 AM
    #13
    Xbeaus

    Xbeaus Well-Known Member

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    I live where there is mag water, salt, sand put on the road. I drive mine year round. I use 2 coats of chassis saver (prep has to be right) and it stays rust free. Fairly inexpensive stuff.
     
  14. Dec 23, 2016 at 12:07 PM
    #14
    Actionjackson

    Actionjackson Well-Known Member

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    Howdy,
    All I can do is tell you what I did. Bought a 2004 TRD in South Carolina and drove it home to MA. It had the recall notice in the glove box but it did not cover SC. Besides it had very minimal rust. I spent a great deal of time on the frame before I registered it in MA. Here's what I did: Wirebrushed every weld and sprayed on eastwood rust converter primer. Painted the inside of the frame with many cans of Eastwood green phosphate internal frame coating. Wiped down the entire frame with Isopropyl alcohol and rags. Painted the outside with Rust bullet. After that dried completely, sprayed the entire underbody (really sprayed the crap out of it, removed tail lights, door sill plates, under hood/front fender areas, inside tail gate....) with fluid film. Took it down a dusty dirt road. Been flushing the underbody each spring and in the fall re spray with Fluid film. Been good so far. On a side note, I am so impressed with the performance of fluid film, I am thinking about doing it as a part time job to make some extra money.
     
  15. Jan 20, 2019 at 5:50 PM
    #15
    TacomaSox

    TacomaSox Member

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    Sorry, know this is an old thread but recently purchased a '03 DCSB and the frame looks to be in decent shape but as I'm doing a fair amount of winter driving want to make sure I take care of the frame. Might be a newbie question, but in order to do all of the above did you need to fully remove the body from the frame, just lift it up a bit, or are you able to do it all by just lifting up the truck onto stands? Trying to get an idea of how much work is involved and what additional tools I'll need.
     
  16. Jan 20, 2019 at 6:03 PM
    #16
    onakat

    onakat Well-Known Member

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    it would make it easier but it's not necessary to remove the body from the frame. Use this 360° wand to do the hard to reach areas, especially the inside of the frame:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dinitrol-E...h=item3af0affa58:g:~aAAAOSwYIxYByuJ:rk:2:pf:0
     
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    #16
    cruiserguy likes this.
  17. Jan 20, 2019 at 11:43 PM
    #17
    SkunkMan17

    SkunkMan17 Jerry-rigging everything

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    Montana included in the frame recall? My frame is pretty damn bad. :tumbleweed:
     
  18. Jan 21, 2019 at 12:10 AM
    #18
    k5driver

    k5driver I hate bums

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    From what I understand the frame is covered nationwide. The Rust-preventive coating that Toyota will apply for free is only available if you truck was registered in a salt-belt state.

    SkunkMan17, as far as yours, I think it is too old. Find another frame and I'll help you swap it! (if you are not too far from helena)
     
  19. Jan 21, 2019 at 12:46 AM
    #19
    SkunkMan17

    SkunkMan17 Jerry-rigging everything

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    Tasteful modifications :)
    I’m out in Bozeman, and I think my truck was originally registered in Idaho or Utah, lot of original maitnence paperwork from Boise
     
  20. Jan 21, 2019 at 1:08 AM
    #20
    igiles86

    igiles86 Active Member

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    I took my 2010 Tacoma in to the dealership last week to have them check out my frame as part of that "extended warranty" they are doing. I figured they would just end up spraying it with corrosion inhibitor, as it appeared to be fairly rust free, but I was wrong. They found a dime sized hole near the catalytic converter. They said Toyota is going to replace the frame, LCA's, brake lines and a whole bunch of other parts, and I can still drive it in the meantime. I am currently awaiting a call from Toyota to tell me that my new frame has been shipped. :bananadance:
     
    cruiserguy likes this.

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