Has anyone had a frame replacement in California?

Has anyone had a Frame replacement in California, or knows someone in Ca. who has had one? Anywhere in California. Thank you so much. : )

 

I had mine done at Cabe Toyota in Long Beach this summer. Only one they have done. Brought here from Midwest.

 

They did a good job, some drama on what was covered as they hadn’t bothered to read the settlement agreement.

 

Thank you!!! I'm just north. If you don't mind, did you have to spend any money out of pocket? I'm not familiar what the agreement says at the moment. This is super helpful to me, you have no idea.

 

I didn't have to spend $$ on the frame replacement itself. I did spend $$ on labor & parts that where unrelated to the frame - such as new coolant hoses. The labor hours for bits like that where low as access was easy. They installed my supplied aftermarket parts (UCAs, rear bumper, exhaust, extended brake lines) free since they had to moved to the new frame anyway.

 

UCA = upper control arm. If you are not going to lift your truck I'd just keep the factory UCAs. If they are worn, buy higher quality aftermarket (I went with JBA) or low mileage used ones from Craigslist (there are lots of takeoff's out here from people lifting their trucks). If cost is a concern and you don't push the truck hard, then just buy Dorman (it's a brand) aftermarket parts (low cost).

Does yours have the factory hitch? If it does then the hitch supports the bumper and you will have to either buy a factory hitch (Craigslist again) or replace both the hitch and bumper with aftermarket bumper with an integrated hitch. I started down the Craigslist path, but then decided to go with an aftermarket bumper for recovery points and the additional clearance from the hitch not hanging down below it.

Good luck.

 

I get it now. Thank you. Everything on the truck is factory, and yes there's a hitch. Which aftermarket hitch & bumper did you buy? Did you have any issues when they gave you a rental car? THANK YOU!!!

I just checked my mechanics notes, and he told me I will need uca's in the near future.

 

How well has your truck been maintained?
Seems the dealers depending on the dealer like to go after brakes parking brake cables etc.
They may try to get normal billing hours for doing unrelated work.
Not sure how rusty stuff if where you are but here in vt shit rusts.
Figure out what you need or what you want. See how far your budget or what your willing to spend goes.
Do your homework like you are so you know as much about it as they do. Ask to meet the tech doing the job. Explain your worries and concerns about the swap.
Bring it in clean and free of personal stuff inside.
They will inspect your truck first thing when it goes in for the swap itself and give you a list of what they found wrong.

I pretty much had everything I knew I needed in the cab waiting for them.
I missed the sway bar bushings but had a new rack and pinnon gear rack and intermediate shaft (lower) with hoses done. Along with rear shocks and energy body bushings.
Besides what I purchased I got the power steering lines thru the dealer they split the cost with me.
I paid cost for the sway bar bushings and both plate lights.
Labor was a total of 130$.

The easier and quicker you can make it for them the more they make. New parts go on quicker than old ones.
Not having to remove all my crap inside to access cab mounts helped save time besides who wants someone going thru what you carry.

 

Omg, THANK YOU!! I hear you on everything. I sort of regretted all of this, and with the underside covered in rust, it's been a headache and stressful.

I am going to make a notebook of all of the help you guys are giving me, and show my independent mechanic very soon. I am so grateful you you wrote me.

 

Seems your on the right path!
Have your mechanic show you hands on! Show the dealer your not innocent and care about your ride. A new frame came with lca’s (lower control arm) ball joints fuel lines and brake lines. Just the hard lines not the rubber sections that connects to the wheels. Mine is a manual so no tranny lines.
My dealer was good with no charge for putting new parts back on for free instead of reinstalling rusted stuff.
My 08 here in Vt with 170k and it’s now close to new!
This frame is a life saver for my taco!

And sorry!
You are more than welcome!
Your doing well!

 

@Jeffch You didn't have to pay for the lca's? (please know I'm not trying to get everything for free, I'm just educating myself)

I honestly would rather take my car to your dealership, and leave it there. So many people/mechanics on the west coast are not accustomed to seeing rust.

 

It seems your dealerships are not sure what they are to do?
Lcas,lower ball joint,brake,fuel hard lines and frame along with a lot of new bolts.
My dealer does 10 frames a month!
Assuming others in our climate do the the same that’s huge!
Tomorrow my truck goes back to the dealer I got a vibe after the swap.
Left axle needle bearing. I knew because of Tacoma World.
My dealer is gonna split the cost with me. I knew they had a tsb (Toyota service bulletin) although expired for me.
All info from here.

Check this out!
https://youtu.be/zuo9uC42RVw

 

Keep doing what your doing!
Seems the time for the frames have been extended. Pretty sure it can be inspected often within reason I’m sure.
Don’t give in we are here to help each other for the most part.

 

Yes!

 

http://www.toyota.com/recall

Try this also

 

Yipeee!

 

Have your mechanic look by the catalytic converter, motor mounts, and the rear cross members above the spare.
Pretty sure I read they are covered until 1/2019 but someone had said 1/2020?

I think the best case would be for you or your mechanic to find something to show them.
Poke and pick tap areas with the ball pien but don’t bash it, if it looks like it’s done to make a hole they can try to get out of doing it.
I didn’t have mine found by Toyota I knew it was there and just stopped in without an appt.
I should have waited but had to know.

 

I will start my notebook w/all your info & what others have said this week. So, so good!!

Just a question; If have surface rust, and no holes are ever found, rust is a cancer & will ruin everything, right?

 

Yea rust will win in the end.
If it’s just surface rust and has no holes it could be slowed down using a rust reformer.
A lot of work but worth it if you plan on keeping it.

Not lame at all.
This site is loaded with info.

 

Any chance you can post some pics of what your trucks underside looks like?