PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

I kid; It wasn't that scary...

At first I thought I'd blown a tire, but then when the truck started wobbling I realized what was going on; Looking in the side view mirror confirmed it!

 

Scariest car l ever drove on a regular basis was a pizza delivery car Chevette, that thing was dangerous AF! One day l was coming down a hill and the light changed red so l pressed a little harder on the brake pedal and a few seconds later l was facing the opposite direction.

 

@ColoradoTJ

The picture quoted here makes it look worse than it actually is; My mechanic took this picture while my truck was on his lift getting inspected, and the angle makes it look bad. My truck passed inspection with no issues.

 

I had a 2019 or 20 Frontier for most of the 3 months I didn't have my Tacoma. Definitely wider turns, though this was a DCSB so I'm not sure it's a fair comparison honestly. I did like the truck though I have no need for the extra 2 doors, plus the V6 is more than I have practical use of.

Re your frame, check the passenger side rail outside and bottom where the exhaust hanger is..that's where mine went (pics in my album). IDK how the inside near the converters looked..I've heard that's a popular spot for them.

I did ask the rep when he called me if there were any other areas on the old frame..I sure wasn't crawling under it after what I saw. He said he had no idea, once they find one hole that meets the criteria they stop. I did particularly point out my 2 areas when I dropped it off, hoping to save them from putting it in the air if possible.

 

Did you truck fail Massachusetts inspection and that's how they found it?

 

No sir. It passed the first Toyota inspection in 2018, probably March/April. My state sticker is due in October and it has passed fine each year.

April this year (I want to say 25th, def end of month) I was getting the mail while working from home and noticed the exhaust hanger falling in this pic as I walked by it



I went back to work, and at lunchtime got on the ground to look further. The spot on the bottom of the rail where the hanger connects has a hole enough for a 10mm socket to fit. The wider hole you see in the picture was about that size..not easily seen standing up so I didn't spot it until closer inspection. I pushed on that area with 2 fingers and it collapsed to the hole you can see in that pic.

 

Here's the pic of the bottom where the hanger attached..

 

Before purchasing the truck in 2012 I was aware that past Tacoma trucks had this, my wife's 1996 was bought back in 2008. I got a letter in 2017 from Toyota when they started extending the period of 12 years from first date of use, so I got the first inspection at that point. Mine wasn't due for the final until Sept/Oct this year and I was planning to get a good look under it in the next few weeks anyway when I spotted the exhaust hanger and subsequently the rot.

 

Mine looks new compared to that!

 

Sure does but have you been all through the underneath of yours? Maybe you have, I forget

 

Not all through, but it passed state inspection and the Toyota dealer's inspection in the same day...

 

I'd have to assume (I know, never do that) that Toyota at least would have put it on the lift? Not familiar with your state's vehicle inspection though

 

It went on a lift at my mechanic's and at the Toyota dealer...

 

I figured Toyota would have to have at least to give it a thumbs up. Not sure if mine did or not since the damage required was clearly visible from the ground.

 

The bill on the paperwork I signed when my frame and other rusted components got replaced came out to $14,878 . I had a 2009 OR Access Cab. That was in 2017 .

 

I saw one paper I signed totalling about $17K last month, didn't get a copy of that or anything that had a dollar figure. I'm sure that included a rental in my case..I presume they put you in a rental as well JJ, if so how long?

 

I think since mine’s 2WD RC, it’ll be on the cheaper end…

 

Best thing to do is sand what you can off and maybe spray some Rust-Oleum on it to keep it from spreading. I have the same thing on my RC as well. Toyota gave it a pass when I got it inspected before my 12 years were up. If it's near the AC drain you could always get some heater hose and reroute the hose to drain under the frame to keep that water from constantly getting on the frame.

 

What’s really strange is that the rust is on the driver side; The A/C drain is on the right and that side is CLEAN!