1999 Tacoma 4x4 Rear Shock WTF???

This is the passenger side shock on a 1999 2.7L 4x4 Tacoma where it is mounted on the top. Has anyone ever seen this?? I dont think this is how its supposed to be done or maybe I am just ignorant. How would a person go about repairing this? The frame on the inside is rusted through on the lip. Again this may be how its supposed to be but sure doesnt look right to me.

 

Looks like original equipment to me.

 

Do you have a picture of the rust on the inside of the frame? this looks completely fine to me

 

Its rusted through underneath the weld the top where its welded to is solid but the up channel lip inside is paper

 

Don't really see an issue. That said, you could remove your shock tomorrow and drive around safely for years. The shock is for comfort. Now, if your leaf spring perches are rusted out then you might have a problem. lol

 

Do you have a picture, I see some light surface rust from this side but nothing concerning.

 

Safe T Cap makes a DIY repair part for this.

 

This is what I normally see. The front leaf mount area goes to shit first.

 

Yeah leaf springs are what I am looking for right now....I am gonna put new shocks on as well was just worried about the rust underneath the weld. The leaf springs are doing ok rust wise except for the front rear mount on the drivers side but that is why I am replacing all because the welder fabricator is cutting that section of frame out and replacing it so while he has the bed off gas tank dropped etc I am gonna take care of it all. May just have him see if he can reinforce underneath that weld for me while he is at it?

 

that is original shock mount yes

 

This is the best picture I can get right underneath the weld at the moment

 

And from other side which is not good at all

 

Wow even that last picture worried me it has gotten WAY worse then I recall

 

Oof! Sounds like you've got someone lined up to help that frame out. Have you done the hammer tappy on the whole frame?

 

At least it’s not bolted to the bottom of the bed like mine are…

 

Yeah frame seems ok except for drivers side rear leaf spring front mount an now obviously the shock mount on passengers side. So repair price just went up quite a bit probably I knew it was rough in there but it might as well be welded to my bed the way it looks ‍♂️

 

Hopefully he can cut that piece out for the shock mount an whats bad around it an fabricate an weld another piece to put in there. I was wanting to change my rear shocks an springs while he was at it. I dont tow or carry anything in it anymore except for very very small things an I retired my truck long ago from off roading so just looking for a SAFE comfortable ride now and mainly use 4wd for the little bit of snow an ice around here. Hoping to find a very budget friendly set of rear leaf springs an rear shocks before he starts. Dont have a lift on it an jus want the most comfortable highway ride I can get but as we all know the older Taco's are considered rougher than a M1A1 Tank doing 40 mph over creek banks.

 

That is a very common spot for failure I have fixed a few over the years. Most times the Shock Mount just tears out of the frame.

Banging and clanging to you remove the shock or repair things.

I have new mounts on the shelf.

That is a easy fix cut out the worst of the rust put in a new piece

 

That is good news to hear and appreciate that so hopefully with his skills at welding fabricating etc the labor cost will be minimal and that is music to my ears an wallet. As always with these things I have a budget I dont wanna exceed and the more unexpected things that pop up like this are gonna take away possibly from some upgrades like shocks an leaf springs I sorely need but without a solid frame you cant move forward on anything. Thanks again for the information!

 

I just repaired mine with a Safe T Cap shock mount. It was much easier with the bed off. I worked on some rust under the bed also. Camera died and ate the post weld pictures. I wouldn't want to try the repair with the bed on the truck, but not hard to clean and weld on the shock mount. (Camera date is wrong also, this was May 2022.)