frame replacement / rocker panels 2011

hi folks ,
new here , great site !
i have a 2011 tacoma 4wd access cab tacoma that toyota will be replacing the frame on soon . they told me i had to fix /replace the rocker panels as the have rusted out . they want me to do that repair before they do the frame . the collision shop wants to do that after the frame . reason being that the labor to remove a bed that has been on the truck so long and has 12 years of ziebart on it would be more expensive . the collision shop is calling for replacing the rocker panel , the rocker reinforcement and the inner rocker . toyota declined to pay for the rockers under " goodwill " . additionally , the bumper was so rusted at the frame attachment that it pulled off while hooking to and empty trailer at home . disaster narrowly averted ! toyota is balking at paying for the bumper .
that's my story . i'm looking for any insight or guidance on how i should proceed with this whole deal . i am planning on getting the pulleys , idlers , water pump and timing bely changed while they have the truck .
any thoughts would likely be more than i know .
thanks , jimbo

 

^I am surprised Toyota didn't reject the frame replacement because you coated it with Ziebart.

What is "rocker" in this case? The doorsill portion of the cab? The collision shop will cut out the doorsill and weld in a new piece?

Note that Toyota's frame replacement campaign typically doesn't cover collateral damage i.e. parts that break on removal because they were too rusted. Be prepared to pay $1000-2000 out of pocket for extra parts at dealer retail prices, especially since Ziebart cakes over fasteners and electrical connectors, making them hard to work on.

 

I did not pay a dime for my frame replacement last year, but my truck wasn’t rusted badly. I didn’t even know it was, maybe the dealer just wanted the work and since mine was still valid they approved it. Either way a new frame and all that comes with it for free worked for me. They even gave me a new 22 to drive for a week.

 

I'm assuming that the reason the dealership wants the rockers repaired before they replace the frame is that they need to lift the cab by the pinch welds (at the bottom of the rockers) in order to roll the old frame out and the new one in. I've seen many frames replaced where I work and trust me, the last thing anybody wants is a rotted cab falling off the lift after the rockers and pinch welds fail. I'd call it a fair request by the dealership.

 

thanks for the great answers folks .

the dealership gave me a " free " annual ziebart as long as i owned the truck .

that makes sense to me . do you know if the rocker repair usually involves inner , outer and the rocker reinforcement ?

 

What gets repaired depends on what is rusted out. Since one cannot weld to rust, one needs to replace everything that is corroded and weld new metal to solid / unrusted existing metal.

 

This ought to be a hint as to how useless (and even counterproductive) Ziebart rustproofing really is. I wouldn't recommend that stuff to my worst enemy. Sorry you had to find out the hard way.