1st Gen. Maintenance and Frame Rust Questions

Fellas,

I've got a 2002 Tacoma double cab with 93,000 that's due for a good deal of work. Needs new leaves, shocks, coil-overs, and according to Toyota, upper control arms. Timing belt and water pump replacement are needed as well as serpentine. On top of this, I want to have the whole brake system inspected.

Though I wouldn't mind putting the time and money for these things, it's the frame that leaves me hesitating to carry on with the truck. The frame is showing worse and worse signs of rust, and I'm not about to put a few thousand into a truck that's going to take a dump in the near future.

I'm aware that Toyota has offered frame replacements or rust prevention for this issue in the past, but I have yet to get a reply on the issue from nearby dealerships. I had the frame and suspension inspected twice since I acquired the truck, though the state of it is obviously worsening.

Aside from venting, any suggestions on maintenance or course of action with Toyota is what I'm really looking for.

Thanks!

 

She's a little scabby for sure but looks like all is intact. Before you go too far with it, take a hammer and hit the frame around the forward leaf spring mounts, frame rust perforation usually begins there and can be happening from the inside out.