1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Rear Shock Mount Rusted Off

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Blake Brick, Jun 30, 2025.

  1. Jun 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
    #1
    Blake Brick

    Blake Brick [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2025
    Member:
    #473576
    Messages:
    3
    Vehicle:
    2001 TRD Off Road
    I recently got an 2001 Tacoma with 102,000 miles. The frame was rusted, but I figured I could sand blast it and move forward.

    I took it to a shop and they said that the rear shock mount rusted off and the truck isn’t safe for the road. I need a new frame and suspension rework that will cost more than what’s in my pocket. I’m debating on parting ways with the truck but I’m devastated to see this go. I’ve been reading into this issue, and my only option is to find a welder to tick U-Channels to the frame to shore it up.

    Has anyone fixed this issue or have seen this before. I’ll take all criticism and honest reports. Give it to me straight y’all

    IMG_2479.jpg
    IMG_2478.jpg
    IMG_2450.jpg
    IMG_2497.jpg
     
  2. Jun 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
    #2
    smyles1632

    smyles1632 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2024
    Member:
    #445914
    Messages:
    98
    Vehicle:
    2003 Tacoma
    On the passenger side it is welded to the frame (on top) and reinforcement plate (side), which, in you case, looks like is gone as well. On the driver side it's welded inside the frame. In both cases you have the frame in good shape in those areas. If you go the fabrication route, they might as well fabricate the mounts, you basically need a piece of tube with a tread inside.
     
  3. Jun 30, 2025 at 5:50 PM
    #3
    rocknbil

    rocknbil Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2023
    Member:
    #414860
    Messages:
    1,096
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bill
    Vehicle:
    2003 Taco Ext Cab DLX TRD 4WD MT 3.4L
    Welcome to TW, a search here for "frame rust" or "rusted frame" will turn up lots of options of how to deal with it, all of them will be expensive. There are kits (Safe-T-Cap) that can be welded in but the frame inside is going to continue rusting. If it were me at 102K I'd set this aside until I have the cash start searching for a donor and replace the frame, find a different DD until I could get it properly fixed.
     
  4. Jul 1, 2025 at 8:06 AM
    #4
    Red_03Taco

    Red_03Taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2021
    Member:
    #381170
    Messages:
    1,726
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jerad
    Vehicle:
    2003 Tacoma Xtra Cab 4WD
    Where does this thing get parked? Bottom of the Atlantic?
     
    rish57 likes this.
  5. Jul 1, 2025 at 8:27 AM
    #5
    Williston

    Williston Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2021
    Member:
    #374833
    Messages:
    2,585
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2014 Tacoma 040 SR5 4x4 DC SB V6 AT5 Tow Pkg Entune+ Mostly stock with a few OEM mods.
    Stock (99.999%) OEM Bed Floor Mat, Front Bed Rail Cargo Net and hooks, Auto-Dim mirror w/Compass and outside Temperature display, TRD Pro Grille, Uni-Filter air pump modification, WeatherTech floor liners f/r. (winter) OEM All-Weather floor mats (summer).
    IMO, it appears that nothing short of a complete frame replacement is going to keep this from driving you into bankruptcy over time. There are a lot of peripherals that will need to be replaced too. Not intending to pile on here, but that is one of the worst ones I have ever seen on here and/or in person. Even without seeing the entire frame in person, the basic frame damage looks to be so severe that there doesn't appear to be enough good base to handle the considerable welding that will be necessary.

    Amazing the contrast where the frame and attachments can be so far gone, while the body and sheet metal on the truck can look so pristine. I'll bet the interior is clean/nice as well?
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2025
    RelentlessFab likes this.
  6. Jul 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM
    #6
    Blake Brick

    Blake Brick [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2025
    Member:
    #473576
    Messages:
    3
    Vehicle:
    2001 TRD Off Road
    The previous owner never got the frame replaced during the recall. I believe he thought it didn’t apply to him. Crazy. But yes the cab, bed, interior, and everything other than the frame and suspension, is pristine.
     
  7. Jul 1, 2025 at 10:07 AM
    #7
    Blake Brick

    Blake Brick [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2025
    Member:
    #473576
    Messages:
    3
    Vehicle:
    2001 TRD Off Road
    The previous owner never got the frame replaced during the recall. So if you ever wondered what your Tacoma would look like if you never got the frame replaced. There you go. A rusty skeleton
     
  8. Jul 1, 2025 at 10:09 AM
    #8
    Red_03Taco

    Red_03Taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2021
    Member:
    #381170
    Messages:
    1,726
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jerad
    Vehicle:
    2003 Tacoma Xtra Cab 4WD
    *If I lived in the rust belt that is. Sorry you have to deal with that.

    I couldn't imagine having to deal with that. My '03 doesn't have a spec of rust on its original frame, thanks to AZ climate
     
    Blakeus Maximus and asuchemist like this.
  9. Jul 1, 2025 at 11:30 AM
    #9
    glwood6

    glwood6 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Member:
    #8125
    Messages:
    2,477
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gary
    Albuquerque, NM
    Vehicle:
    03 XCab Prerunner
    Bilstein 4600 shocks.
    Judging from the few photos supplied, it seems that frame was going to need quite a bit more than "sandblasting and moving forward".
     
  10. Jul 1, 2025 at 12:27 PM
    #10
    Blakeus Maximus

    Blakeus Maximus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2019
    Member:
    #299319
    Messages:
    184
    Gender:
    Male
    Southwest
    Vehicle:
    2000 TACOMA TRD 4X4
    Me too, no rust here, original frame
     
  11. Jul 1, 2025 at 12:35 PM
    #11
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2014
    Member:
    #140097
    Messages:
    24,655
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Billy
    Largo Florida
    Vehicle:
    '13 5 lug AC w/convenience package
    A few OE parts from fancy trucks
    Lesson for others viewing this thread.

    Part of any prepurchase inspection needs to include a detailed frame check. Hammer, probe, borescope boxed areas
     
  12. Jul 1, 2025 at 12:48 PM
    #12
    4xdog

    4xdog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2018
    Member:
    #253074
    Messages:
    1,182
    Gender:
    Male
    Santa Fe, NM
    Vehicle:
    03 DC TRD OR, 15 DC TRD OR, 08 RX350, 62 TR3B
    I'd say that frame is beyond even heroic efforts to repair it, @Blake Brick. It's gone.

    Donor frames aren't that easy to find, but that's your best bet. Alternatively, it's a part-out project, which is a pity given the rest of your truck's condition.

    (And BTW, it wasn't a frame "recall", even though it's commonly referred to that way. Recalls have specific regulatory requirements and usually don't expire. The Tacoma frame programs have been customer satisfaction/warranty enhancements offered by Toyota.)
     
    ControlCar likes this.
  13. Jul 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
    #13
    ControlCar

    ControlCar My Moto: Help & Learn…period.

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2023
    Member:
    #429578
    Messages:
    3,373
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steven
    Sugar Land TX
    Vehicle:
    1996 Taco 2.4L 2wd Automatic
    Clock Volt meter/LSPV Delete/Hyundai 16’s/FP gauge/after 9months of wrenching ZERO oil leaks
    ^^^^never really heard of an 'expired' factory program but i see what your saying
    re-calls no expiration/factory programs have expiration date

    i will say.....never know until you ask Toyota
    worst they can say is no
     

Products Discussed in

To Top