Early 1st Gen (2000-2003) Tundra Frame Replacement FAQ

Seems like the ones that were sprayed didn't gain much in terms of time. That rubberized undercoating they sprayed starts to flake then traps water making things worse. Pretty sure they are all doing this now. You're more than likely out of luck for replacement now too.

 

Link to my thread on my frame replacement experience (7-2021) for anyone coming to this thread looking for info.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/my-frame-replacement-experience-in-2021.92353/

 

He's not alone. They essentially sprayed right over, and trapped the existing rust.

 

Heck yeah. My 02 is hanging in there but would go another 20 years if not for the frame, which is not awful for its age but getting there. Sprayed in 2011 or 2012 by the PO.

 

https://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota/tundra-2000-2006/
Frame repair kits and parts. Posting here for reference to anyone looking for repair options.

 

Good to keep them in mind for future incase I need them.

 

I have a 2002 that I recently purchased for what I consider a steal. It has 280k miles, but it is solid except for the fact that the driver-side body mount has rusted away from the rest of the solid frame. I am thinking about buying the autorust kit and just repairing it myself. $260 part will increase the value of the truck I bought by over $6k. Will probably make it a project and run it into the ground.

 

If your spare tire crossmember has rust on it in the corners where it mounts would be worth taking to your local dealer if you are located in the right state just to see if it qualifies (unless it was sprayed with the dealer CRC treatment)
Go to toyota.com/owners and put in your VIN to see prior dealer service history.

 

I have previously done this and found out the previous owner did in fact have it sprayed for the recall & LSC. The truck was bought about 20 years ago at the local Toyota dealership. At least they had most of the service records for the vehicle besides regular maintenance. Sadly, it looks like I will be handling this one myself. I Will update once it has been completed.

 

This would probably be better in the frame replacement sticky topic, and that's where you put it!

I think the guy wasn't being forthright with you. If he didn't have the work done, then why is the next item on the list of service items you posted a rental car, in the same month/year, the exact next line item?

I suspect that's exactly what they would've lined up for him to have his frame sprayed. But maybe I'm wrong. I've never needed to have mine sprayed. I just find that extremely suspect. They wouldn't have logged the rental car in there if he didn't take them up on it, no? You can even trace the VIN in the ticket to the exact car they loaned him.

 

Would be great to see pics of your frame as it is now.
As @shifty` said it does seems odd that there is a rental listed right after. I believe the recall only goes up to the 03 model year although I'm not sure of anyone trying on a 04 lately. Not sure of your location but might be worth checking the details at your local dealer to see what they have to say.

 

Hey everyone -- new here. Been a WILD month.

Long story short, got an insanely good deal on a 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA ACCESS CAB SR5 v6, automatic, 182k miles. Been going through all the maintenance, swung by large Toyota dealership nearby for ATF and asked them to run the VIN. I figured there was probably an airbag recall or something.

The service guy is confused -- there's a recall he's never even heard of. BXD and BZD.

Brought the Tundy in early the next day and they get it up on the lift. 6 hours later I'm heading home in an Uber because they are going to replace the frame on this sucker. I've had it registered a WEEK. I can't believe the previous owners didn't know. I didn't know! Toyota has me in a paid rental indefinitely. Could be a couple months to have a frame available.

No one at the dealership could believe it, but yeah, frame was not great hah. I guess my tolerance for rust is much higher than Toyota's.

I am pretty blown away. I want to document this process because it seems too good to be true.

 

You just gotta have the right rust in the right places. Yours must have been pretty bad if they gave you a rental before the replacement frame came in. I'd imagine theres a reason it's not super well known since it cost Toyota about $12k or so to do one.
If you need shocks this would be the best time to get them done as it's free labor. I'm sure you have but make sure and read through all the posts in this thread so you can know all the details.
Glad you're getting yours worked out.

 

Officially in a rental (2021 Tundra). New frame has been ordered for my 2003. Can't believe it hah.

Car has lived in Mass its whole life. The previous owners never went in for the spray treatment or anything.

The hilarious thing is that a private dealership who recently sold the truck the owners I got it from actually patched and welded the frame to fix it. All in the recall areas or course. If only they ran the Vin.

 

Also, they replaced the passenger airbag module per that recall.

 

You really got the good treatment. I got a Camry for 3 days only for the time it took to swap the frame. You're getting a newer truck and you'll have it a few months. Really coming out good on this one.

 

When they did the frame replacement? What did they also end up replacing? I'm assuming they don't put back rusty bolts, etc.

I heard a story today about a guy who got a frame replacement on an 04 Tacoma and he said the dealership replaced the rusty suspension for free too. I'm skeptical.

 

@Tundra2 can give good feedback on what was replaced, or at least their policy. IIRC, he handed off a bunch of OEM parts to them to replace "while you're in there", which honestly probably made their life easier anyway. I don't recall what he said about what they told him they would/wouldn't replace. I seriously doubt they're throwing rusty bolts back in. Doesn't make a bit of sense why you'd put a compromised fastener back in, just so it could spread to the new, clean metal or fail shortly after.

 

That makes sense. I have a bunch of engine parts, but nothing for suspension. I saw a Craigslist post nearby for control arms, tie rods and ball joint for a good price.

I doubt the dealer would put on non-OEM stuff though.

 

They use new fasteners anywhere they need to. The dealer @Tundra2 and I used said we could use any brand parts we wanted as long as we bought them. Lower control arms were replaced for free as part of the recall. I went ahead and had my timing belt done as well but theres no discount on that.
If you want to do shocks or exhaust that is free labor as well.
Here's my thread about mine
https://www.tundras.com/threads/my-frame-replacement-experience-in-2021.92353/

 

THANK YOU!!! Because of this forum my 2002 base long bed has a brand new frame and a bright future! Toyota replaced the frame, a bunch of suspension related parts and a ton of ancillary things all for under $700 my cost. Now that I know she’s solid for at least another 20 years (although I’ll be protecting her more this time) I’ve got a series of upgrades going. Just got my limited slip installed, have doors with power everything and leather seats to swap in (along with a jump seat from a Honda Odyssey), getting the GX460 front sequoia rear brakes t-100 booster MC update, rims /tires, blue raptor bedliner paint, dyed interior, abs anything else I can be inspired from in the forum. Plenty of my sincere gratitude and project posts to come!

 

Stoked for you, but some advice. Start a legitimate build thread so you can keep everything in one place and won't have to remember which thread you posted what in.

 

Did you buy the suspension parts through them with the subtracted labor costs because of the replacement? What specifically did you get suspension wise. I'm hoping to save up a bit and be able to get some replacements done when the time comes. Still waiting. I'm in a 2021 Tundra now but I miss my 03 lol

 

I’d have to dig up a receipt to see what all I got and what all they charged me for. It went down like this: he gave me a list off all the expected things they’d have to replace, with a total parts and labor bill of all of that work. It was over 3k. I signed off on it in a hurry, then went back saying some of it was listed as things Toyota would cover (fuel tank straps and a few others I found on a bulletin). He then told me that was a maximum expected cost I could be my responsibility and that he would push for Toyota to pay for everything he could. I know for sure I got the tank straps payed for. I know they installed upper and lower control arms and a bunch of new fuel and brake lines, lead spring shackles, sway bar linkage, body mounts, beds mounts, and I’m sure I’m leaving off some stuff. My total bill after tax was around $670. My shocks and struts were all pretty new already, I would not expect them to replace those, but they probably do pay for the hardware. If you want new shocks and struts ask upfront and see if they’ll let you sneak it in. It can be difficult with the extras as they are busy and they really just want to get their money from Toyota and push it out the door. Your rule of thumb is they will pay for the frame, mounts, sway linkage, shackles, and any other hardware that is too rusted to remove properly. I will try to find my receipt and update my thread later. Hope this helps

 

If you haven't already and/or if you can't find receipt, you could consider registering an account at Toyota Owners. When done, you can then see various things about your Tundra, including original Specs, semi detail of past work done @ a Toyota dealer.

Toyota Owners Registration

 

May want to edit out your personal details Jon

 

looks like I will need to find the original receipt to see what the “customer pay” items are. At least you can see the basics of what they did and as previously stated, my out the door cost was about $650

 

Interesting, if I'm reading this right they replaced upper and lower control arms and sway bar links for free under "warranty pay"?

 

Yeah, wow. That rules.

Did you talk to your service rep about the "extra" stuff? My guy seems pretty chill but he also hasn't done one of these before.

 

If you can get upper arms talked into the deal do it. Though this is the first I've heard of anyone getting upper arms. Lower arms are standard.