Rusty rear bed mounting bolts…….refurbish or replace

Have a #21 Tacoma Sport, that recently started developing rust on the 6 mounting bolts…..bed side (top of the bolt)…….looks worse than it is…….

do I spend time trying to take rust off (sanding, Naval Jelly) or spend $ and just replace with OEM Toyota bolts (#64189-0C011).

wish the OEM bolts came in black……

 

It’s up to you. I’d leave them on there and take a wire wheel that fits in a drill and clean them up. Then paint them by hand. Those bolts are notoriously hard to get out.

Actually, I would not do anything to them.
I’d let them rust. But that’s me.

 

A bed mat will hide them.

Any paint work will scratch off when you use the bed for anything serious.

 

Wire wheel, paint, bed mat(should have anyways). Or bed cover. If you don’t protect rust will happen

 

I saw rust spots on the door of my car. Used a "rust inhibitor" that did stop the rusting process (some kind of chemical converter). You could stop the rusting process, then seal against the elements with a clear coating.

 

Have a Toyota mat AND a cover………

actually think the mat contributed to creating the rust….water got in bed, and held by mat with cold temps……..

on my 2nd gen (2010 DC Sport), I removed them, rust inhibited them and painted Black…….lots of work.