Solved frame knocking...how to make Toyota pay for it??

See if you can get them to change the leafs for you. You supply the new parts, they supply the labor. This way they dont show any refund given. Its a win/win.

 

You've already spent more blood pressure and time than it would take to make this easy fix. Suck it up. Live and learn. Turn some wrenches.

 

I agree. Sure it sucks, but i cant see how they are responsible. If i were buying a used tacoma, id have my mechanic look at it, not a dealership. Dealerships do have SOME good techs, but in general, most blow.

 

If the OP couldnt see a broken leaf spring, doubt he can change em!

 

right, can you tell me what that said? I’m sure he’ll have no problem getting a 100% refund for the incompetent inspection.

 

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Thanks to everyone else for setting my expectations for what is possible and reminding me of the inherent risks of buying a used vehicle (which I already knew, but it's the thought that counts).

 

Yup. This. Let's also remember folks that there is a spectrum of knowledge and experience here.

Here to learn and always do thanks to the generosity of the community. Hope to give back more as I learn more. Thanks! I paid about $160 for the inspection. Can't remember exactly.

 

I'll shorten this. Gentelmens bet, they will fix it.

https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/SafetyPlanner/MyFiles/SubSections.aspx?ch=22&sec=64&sub=142

Don't print, cite, dealerships legal requirement for safety and being road worthy. Does not apply to "as is" sales or exempt status. Since you're post 2010, I would blindly guess neither of those 2 would be clauses.

Most of that isn't true, most dealers probably have better things to do than argue with you and just toss some springs in instead.

FWIW, TPMS does 100% qualify, only reason I brought this up, because I found TPMS legally counts as a saftey device, and it's very not legal for a dealer to knowingly sell a vehicle with a faulty safety device.

Edit: any rebuttable, you can just basically claim ignorance or negligence if they are incompetent enough to not notice a broken spring. I worked at a tires plus once. I noticed broken springs... It's not super hard to tell.

 

I missed a litttle and read wrong, put an edit up to clarify better. Yes my bad, I didn't read this through as well as I thought I did.

 

Look at it this way.. the dealer botched the inspection but they didn't break the leaf spring, it broke on it's own

I'd expect at least half the inspection fee back, doubt they'll spring for some springs

 

Post a picture of this leaf spring.

 

You all missed the main thing.
Rear springs have a known splintering problem by Toyota and are replaced free as they can puncture the plastic gas tank.
Run the VIN and see if yours qualifies. Safety Recall NHTSA 14V-604 I got only covered 2005-2011 but that may have been expanded as a known problem. Funny the dealer does these all the time so... I had 3 pack when bought then at 6 months due to sagging dealer put in 4 pack free. A few years latter they too sagged and towing was impossible so gave up on Toyota springs as many have as 10 years later OME ones are still going strong.
As others said save the headaches and get some aftermarket rear springs as most of the vibration/sagging issues Tacomas have are traced to weak rear springs wrapping up and changing the driveshaft angle - shudder/shake away.
Good Luck.