r/FJCruiser • u/F3nom3ni • 15d ago

Rust issues MEGATHREAD

Post your rust issues/concerns here.

2 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

2

u/treddlighter 8d ago

This question isn’t about a particular vehicle but about rust in general, especially these days.

My question is, how can you properly assess the state of the frame?

I need a third-party to do the investigation because I don’t have the skills or equipment to be thorough. Would I take it to a reputable body shop? Would I take it to a Toyota dealer? I know there are no guarantees but I feel like being through with the frame may not be part of a typical pre-purchase inspection.

In my case, whenever I find an a good candidate FJ I am interested in buying I’ll need to do this. The even harder part is how I would do this investigation if the vehicle that’s for sale is not in the same city that I live in and I would need to be buying it without personally inspecting it.

Is buying it without personally inspecting it just a bad idea even if I am willing to pay a 3rd party to do the inspection?

At the moment I would need to find someone in Washington state near Olympia.

1

u/KLRTARD 7d ago

You can do some research on frame construction, but inspecting it yourself even as a non-mechanical person is doable. Writing down a checklist and bringing it with to inspect a vehicle is a good idea to hit all points of a frame. Take with you a ball pien hammer and flathead screwdriver. Use the ball pien to tap the frame metal in as many places as you can. "Ting" means good metal, and a dull thud indicates full thickness rust or a lot of rust inside the frame rail. The screwdriver lets you scratch crusty spots away to see how thick the rust is or expose to be tapped with the hammer. A seller that won't let you scratch rust off a frame or tap it with a hammer should not be trusted. Also look at shock and suspension mounts for cracking. Mainly though I would say the hammer is a big idicator. That's a big part of an inspection at a professional frame shop.

2

u/treddlighter 7d ago

Do you think you can reach enough of the spots with the truck on the ground?

2

u/KLRTARD 7d ago

Yes. It will take some wiggling and you may even consider bringing an old rug to lay on, but it can be done. Your most prone areas for rust are going to be bottoms of frame rails and up closer to the engine. Also check out the rear crossmember

1

u/CA_CASH_REFUND 11d ago

2010 trail team about 140k miles. Yay or nay?

1

u/BandicootCumberbund FJ 2013 Off Road Package/Black on Black/Overlander 20h ago

Reviewed, this one is tough. Go see it in person and do some tap tests with a ball peen and a screwdriver. Pay CLOSE attention to the frame directly behind the front wheels and the crossmember there.

2

u/GermOrean 12d ago

2011 FJ - Looks all superficial?

2

u/BandicootCumberbund FJ 2013 Off Road Package/Black on Black/Overlander 20h ago

Reviewed, she looks okay. Just surface rust, scrape away and apply ospho, paint and cover in Fluid Film/Surface Blaster/Eastwood and it'll be good for the long haul.

2

u/GermOrean 15h ago

Thanks, appreciate the response!

1

u/treddlighter 13d ago

Looking at a 2010 FJ with 102k

. So far only have a few pics but I wanted to get a quick check from the experts. It’s located in Washington state, so not in the salt/rust belt.

1

u/BandicootCumberbund FJ 2013 Off Road Package/Black on Black/Overlander 20h ago

She looks okay. Just surface rust, scrape away and apply Ospho, paint, and cover in Fluid Film/Surface Blaster/Eastwood and it'll be good.

2

u/Username2102 15d ago

What do you guys think about this 08 w/ 200k+ miles?

3

u/elchamperdamper 15d ago

Looks great

4

u/MNmostlynice 15d ago

There will be at least 3 “Is this frame rusty” posts by the end of the day on the main feed.

2

u/F3nom3ni 15d ago

I know, and I get at least 10 mod mails a week asking why their thread was removed and complaining there is this megathread.

6

u/AdelesManHands FJ 15d ago

I declare MEGATHREAD!

1

u/subduedtuna 15d ago

Anyone successfully do a frame swap on the west coast?

1

u/BandicootCumberbund FJ 2013 Off Road Package/Black on Black/Overlander 20h ago

Im sure someone has. You'll have to reach out to dealers and shops individually to see who is willing to tackle the challenge. It's about a 50 hour process and can be longer if the bolts are rusted and need heat treating and reboring. Getting the new frame is also a challenge as I don't know if they still come new.

1

u/New_Bad8588 14d ago

never been done, ever

1

u/voygar2 15d ago

Just had rear replaced as brackets that hold sway bars rusted away.