Looking at a '98 tacoma for sale (rust??)

Hi guys,

new to the tacoma forum, but I've been looking for a few months for a first gen.

I found a '98 with super low miles (55k) and a damn good price (11k).

But it looks like there is rust underneath and that just scares me.

Is this enough to worry about? I live in NC and they don't salt roads here so I'm guessing it wouldn't deteriorate further?

Thank y'all for any advice!!

 

Those pictures make it tough to tell. There definitely appears to be some sort of coating on it, could be rust. I'd look in person or ask for better photos. Being in North Carolina is a good sign. Check the carfax too.

 

Awesome thank y'all I will.

I ended up "buying it now" on ebay. I still get to inspect it in person so will forsure put a hammer to the frame.

Really appreciate y'alls comments.

 

Mine was similar....cant tell it now.....I slowly abated everything...
and coated with a chassis epoxy.....multiple times over the years....

Every year I use couple cans of fluid film from wally world .....inside the frames.
bought a multi pack of those 4-way spray long hose sprayer straw tips that go on the FF cans off amozon...

Everytime I work on any corner under neath.....I keep a can of VHT chassis paint handy so I can refreshen that area...
I use a little cardboard sheild......but dont care about little over spray on bushings or whatever.....

After every storm in winter ....I keep a garden hose on speed dial at work...
once its cleaned and freshly painted, its easy to see whats been destroying the frame after the storms.....

 

Not too hopefully wear thin on y'all generosity in advice... but I got more photos...

It does seem like the actual frame is solid. But that maybe that axle looks bad?

Appreciate any thoughts ...

 

your 3rd member definitely needs some TLC. I use Rust Stop from Ace Hardware and then paint everything black.

 

Just surface rust remove as much as possible then prime and paint.

Here just sitting outside the damp climate surface rusted a almost perfect truck .

Even new steel in the rack will rust if not coated in my shop never exposed to winter chemicals.

Even so your frame should see attention to help it last for ever.

 

Great, appreciate it! I will forsure spend some time on it...thanks guys

 

Worth checking the breather valve on the rear axle to make sure the cap still jiggles. I doubt yours has rusted solid based on the pics, but if the breather valve stops working it can push gear oil past the axle seals. Congrats on the purchase!

 

I know I have my own system on new to me vehicles.

I start at the ground and work up never have i spent less then a Thousand in parts bringing something up to my standards

Tires, Brakes, steering and Suspension then the rest of the drive train!

 

With that surface rust on the truck, even though it's only been driven 55k miles... will I have to soon replace, shocks and different brake parts, etc?

 

I even got some silver rust converter rattle cans....and lightly dust my two year old walker muff....
especially on the end caps.....

If you want a rust free......dont get a walker.......

My rear diff looks like its got 10 coats of paint on it.....
,,,,,,thats one thing you really want to over clean and coat......

those can get incredibly expensive......