Has anyone had a frame replacement in California?

@Jeffch Yes, I've been meaning to do that. Hopefully this weekend.

 

@Jeffch I still don't know how to upload pics here, but I did see a different independent mechanic today. He found a hole next to the catalytic converter!! I am incredibly happy, and hope the dealership is in my favor. I go this coming weekend. : ) : )

 

Nice!
I’d say if your mechanic found a hole they will honor the frame!
Some dealers won’t let it leave so be prepared to leave it.
Like removing anything not screwed down.
Sucks to say but one less thing to go wrong.

 

@Jeffch, Thanks. Just to clarify: I should buy upper control arm bushings, cab mount bushings, shocks, extended brake lines? What about body bushings? (Assuming this truck will fail inspection.)

 

So I did the energy bushing kit for cab/body and also got the energy radiator support bushings.
They should install for free. Also rear shocks install should be free.
I wish I’d had done Ucas or at least done bushings.
Not sure if you’d need extended brake lines unless your gonna lift the truck.
I’d also do the lower intermediate steering shaft they should be doing them with the frames anyway but.

Have you had your inspection done?

 

@Jeffch Sadly, I got sick as a dog last night, and had to cancel. Strangely enough, the girl on the phone seemed so irritated when I cancelled. She said there's no openings for tomorrow nor next week. I am wondering if I should take it to a local dealership instead of driving far. (my plan is to go where TW guy had his replaced w/o issues)

The times I've gone to my local dealerships, I have not been happy. This isn't snow country, and I'm stressed out. Sorry to vent. I'm copying your notes now. I won't be lifting the truck nor doing any off roading.

 

How long before your time is up?
I didn’t have an appt when mine failed.
I knew where the hole was and just stopped in to the dealers service dept and asked if their frame guy could take a look at something.
He asked if that was the worst took a quick look around underneath stuck a 10mm wrench that had a magnet glued to it by the hole with a work order snapped a pic and said if you want a loaner we will get you one. This all happened in the parking lot.
I kept my truck sitting for months on their lot does them no good.

 

It ends 1/31/19. It sounds as your dealerships are much more user friendly than than here. I have a hole now, and I have pics. I just don't know how to post a pic. I could try from my phone. I'm on a mac, that's new. Ugh. If it weren't for you and others here, I wouldn't have been able to explain this to independent mechanics.

 

I’d had complaints about my local dealer also but it worked out in the end.
I’ve gotten it back and found stuff not tightened, grommets not seated etc.
I about lost my chit thinking about what could go wrong but they did an awesome job.
You may have to have them do it seeing how your time is short.

 

Thanks. Am I allowed to go to more than one dealership? Maybe I can stop by tomorrow, but it's Sunday...hmmm.

 

Yea you can but I’m thinking the one who finds the hole gets the job. Not sure about having one dealer inspect and another do the work.

 

@Jeffch I'll keep you posted what happens!

 

For me I did what would be free to install or I thought I needed.
The free install stuff were.
Rear shocks
The cab/body mount bushings and radiator support bushings.
Lower intermediate steering shaft.

Stuff I thought I’d be charged for.
Power steering rack bushings included,and tie rods both inner and outer.
Power steering lines.
But seeing how they didn’t have to screw with the rusted lines on the old one it was like little to no cost.
The shocks would be easy to do after the frame swap.
The steering rack looks to be a pia but the bolts would be broken free already.
The cab mounts look to be the same.

The rack steering lines and lower intermediate steering shaft are oem equipment warranty for a yr on install and part. I purchased them from EB Toyota south way cheaper than my dealer could do.

The rest I got off Amazon.

 

@Jeffch Wow, thank you again. I'm going to just say it, but the mechanic who found my hole really didn't speak much English, & runs a pretty big shop. I don't know how much he understood, but I showed him the Toyota Docs. He used a giant magnifying glass, and lights. He and other guy were really banging the heck out of the frame, and that's when he got a hole. He told me "rust eats from the inside out." Whoa, that made me happy to hear. no one else said that. It looks to me as someone made it. I think that's why I'm so nervous. I sure hope the dealership doesn't thinks I did it. When I take the truck in, do I tell them my mechanic found a hole, and tell them where?

 

Yea I would tell them.
My mechanic found a hole.
So to post a pic I just go to the upload a file button that’s beside post reply.
It asks to choose a file and brings me to my photos in the device I’m using.
If they made the hole the dealer may try to deny it.
And with the frames being rarely done in your area sounds like they are nervous about doing them at all.
Funny here it’s alot less stressful dealer almost looks forward to it.

 

Well, I tried. I accidentally put up duplicates.

The under bed of the back end of the truck, is #1 and #4

 

Yea second and second to last pic in first post w/pics is a fail.
Doesn’t look malicious you should be fine. Again remember they may not let you leave with it.

 

Wow, thank you. Are those the rails, in the second to last pic?