TRD Pro & TX Baja OFFICIAL Thread...

Same here on the winter salt corrosion resistance. I need to do research on what brands use aluminum vs steel and what's best for the midwest.

My factory TRD Pro suspension is still performing well but is definitely not shiny and pretty anymore. I've tried to drive it in winter as little as possible and always wash the underbody regularly after driving in salt, but the oe trd pro shocks are not very rust resistant. Definitely will factor into deciding the next kit.

 

I'm convinced ELKA is the best salt climate solution. That's the route I'll be going.

https://us.elkasuspension.com/trucks/

 

Or just spray your suspension parts down with Mavcoat and run what you want…

Mavcoat Steel Shield Industrial Grade Corrosion Protection, 13 oz. (3 Cans)

https://www.amazon.com/Mavcoat-Steel-Shield-Industrial-Protection/dp/B00S57N0UC

 

Fluid film is key. King uses aluminum anodized tops and bottoms on the shocks and end caps on the resi’s the shock bodies are high grade stainless if I remember correctly

 

Fluid Film leaves a caramel colored layer of waxy film that is a little sticky. I have experience using this.
Mavcoat is supposedly a thin clear layer that drys cleanly and isn't sticky. I do not have experience using this product… yet.

 

@JacksonTacoma this video is awesome. Explains their shocks very well. I’ll be ordering from these guys.

https://youtu.be/-MsKf1lIYI0

 

It does look like crap. I use it though religiously every fall heading into the winter. 5 years in and my undercarriage looks new. You can always power wash the suspension in the spring.

 

Yeah, I just want to warn new users from freaking out when they start spraying Fluid Film all over everything and realize it isn't going to be thin and clear…

 

I picked up a fluid film kit with the spray gun last year but have yet to put it on. Now I have another daily driver (01 4runner) so hopefully the truck stays a garage queen for winter and I may actually use the fluid film kit on the 4runner

 

I’ve been using Mavcoat Steel Shield. It does leave behind a sticky feeling for a while unfortunately

 

Pulled from the archives

 

@Gunshot-6A has been running his Kings hard and we get plenty of salt out here, maybe he can chime in

 

Its really the only way to do it. Been using FF on my truck for the 3+ years Ive owned it and it has helped a ton. Most of the frame still looks new with very little paint flaking off (other than the areas that have been sandblasted by dirt roads)

And while my Kings dont look new, they look way better than they would otherwise.

 

Nice. So you do fluid film your Kings?? You guys use salt in Maine in the winter time too? The video up above I posted from Filthy Motorsports , they even talk about FF. These guys know their shit. Watch it, it’s a good informative video. Here is my frame. It’s a 14, I got it in 15 from Iowa. So 1 year/winter not used with ff before I got the truck.

 

No corrosion related issues here. I do keep them relatively clean in the winter and hit them with the hot wash if I take a long drive in inclimate weather/salt/etc.

However, Utah is no comparison to Chicago or Boston in terms of salt use. I'd hit it with fluid film and take it to the car wash every once in a while for best results.

 

That sure is a purdy undercarriage I've touched up quite a few areas on my frame so it still looks decent for not having any undercoating. The suspension components just look worse than the frame as far as surface rust.

I received the letter from Toyota for the frame inspection and parafin wax coating, but did that on my first gen and it was a very poorly executed solution. I'll do the inspection to satisfy the requirement but I'll be doing my own touch-ups and recoating.

How much did the exhaust ceramic coating cost you if you don't mind sharing? That looks amazing still. Did you do the coating from the headers all the way back to the muffler and tail pipe? Your's will definitely be a "barn-find" caliber gem for anyone that wants one of these trucks if you ever let it go.

 

Dude I Fluid Film every damn thing on my truck I can reach except brakes / exhaust / engine haha. Looks fairly similar to yours, minus the shiny pipes The biggest issue I found this year was up between the receiver hitch and stock rear bumper in that area thats hard to get to. Didnt hit that hard enough the first few years and I can see the consequences of that.

And ya, not only do we use regular salt / sand mix in Maine but we also get that damn calcium chloride brine shit on the highways. That stuff is truly terrible.

As far as the Kings go, I do have some surface oxidation on the bodies and especially on the fittings, but honestly thats due to me not touching it up enough as the FF wears off. Plus I dont really care that much about aesthetics

 

This shit right here. Everybody talks about the salt, but it's the fuckin' pretreat that kills you.

 

Thanks man. I’m well aware of what I feel I have. I am extremely pro active in care and maintenance. I too had my frame inspected last year. I also just did it to satisfy the manufacturer. So I do about 4-5 cans every fall (before the first snow). I do everything minus brake pads and exhaust. Everything I can hit and reach. The ceramic cost me ......I wanna say $25 a foot. My y-pipe was like $125 and it was like $150 for the rest. I’m gonna do my URD long tubes for sure prior to install.

 

Another thing I did (which I’ll do to my kings once purchased), when I got my 3rd gen Fox TRD Pro suspension, I hit it with about 6 Coates of clear spray paint in hopes that it will help. It should serve as a good barrier before the fluid film.