2007 Tundra frame replacement

When I was looking for a used Tundra it amazed me how many down south were from up north. I think that used car salesmen realize that a lot of people down there aren't wise enough to check for rust and pay more than we will for one up here. It wouldn't surprise me if used Tundras are making their way into California as well.

 

Same thing happened to me - took it to a nearby dealer 5 months ago, didn't spray it but said come back in a few months. Brought it back today to the dealer where I bought it AND it needs a new frame! I'm glad they didn't spray it or I'd be S.O.L. today.

 

Welcome to Tundras.com
Keep us posted on the replacement
Taking my truck for another inspection in May

 

Dropped off my truck for the frame replacement today. The service tech said it should be done by Friday. I am getting new shocks/struts, tie rod ends, water pump and serp belt, getting the spark plugs replaced and the tires rotated as well. Service tech said it's only the 2nd frame they've done on the "new style" Tundras. They did a bunch on the previous 2000-2004 model recall.

 

Hello! I’m new to the forum. Been trying to find more info on 2nd gen frame rust. For those who have had their 2nd gen frame replaced, where was the area(s) that perforated and caused it to fail?

 

I was going to ask the same, my dealer said there was "No significant perforation." So I want to double check their work. I have a couple months left on my extension 7/19, so I might take it to another dealer in a couple months after the majority of snow and salt season has passed.

 

I was told that most of the problems come from the box supports (braces) on the rear of the trucks. They are a bit thinner steel than the rest of the frame, and are in direct line for salt/dirt road spray. The brine solution that they put on roads up in my neck of the woods in northern Wisconsin is hell on trucks that have large portions of the frame exposed. Best you can do is limit the time that crap sits on your frame by getting your truck washed frequently at a carwash that offers an underbody flush. The capability to keep the truck indoors when not in use helps a lot too.

 

@craigerman is correct. I’ve seen (2) bad frames. (Shown)


Mine was rotten at the front brace, passenger side. The other had compromised spare tire brace. I believe it’s a 10mm “perforation” minimum.

 

Chards77, have you heard anything yet on your frame replacement? Any info from the dealer?

 

@craigerman, unfortunately no.

But I was concerned it would be ready too quickly and they indicated it would definitely be after hunting season (my primary use) which ends this Sunday. They were expecting late Feb/early March.... it would be nice to get thru winter and have the road salt be gone first.

It’s a 10mm perforation, the technician called “non-structural and safe to tow at capacity with”...but covered under warranty.

I’m curious what are typical lead times people have experienced? How long was your frame on order?

 

Getting my frame sprayed next week,passed my inspection,I screwed myself always painted por 15 on my frame because of salt and driving to upstate NY snowmobiling.

 

This is not true ..... Had my 08 inspected and passed late 2017. Told me they would spray it but I wanted to wait because the salt was on the frame. Took it in after winter in early 2018 and got it sprayed. In the fall I did my front wheel bearings and noticed a hole in the back braces. Asked my friend that is a master tech at Toyota (different dealer than one that sprayed it) and sent him picture. He was like wtf I would have failed that. First he said well it's been sprayed so your screwed but they told me to call Toyota customer care so I did. Customer care told me she found something and before I could get off the phone with her my buddy started calling me on the other line. Switched over to him and he said you can hang up the service director found it. Basically I think it's like a warranty on the spray for another year or something. Took it to them few days later and he took pics and sent to Toyota. Next day they failed it. Told it could be several months as Toyota put them on a hold (had a bunch to do first) so hoping I get a call sooner than later but still waiting .

Here's the real kicker that sucks ...... I have a rough country 6in lift. If they do the frame swap they won't put the kit back on (have to notch frame) ugh so I'll have to get the lift reinstalled after lol. Sucks going from lifted with 35's but it's worth it for a free frame. Just have to bring my stock wheels luciky I kept them and control arms and shocks.

 

Wow that's crazy,well I hope they find something,wish they would replace my bed it's shot has more holes in it keep finding more,even had my bed off last year and welded it still finding shit,glad you got a new frame sucks you have to install your lift again.

 

Got my truck back this morning after the frame replacement. Everything seems to work just fine so far .... and it looks like a brand new truck underneath. The sales tech showed me the invoice they sent to Toyota ... $14,673. That is crazy!!!

The only issue was that the back-up camera didn't work. I pulled it right back into their shop, and the tech climbed under it to find that the new wiring harness was never attached to the camera. I suppose on a 70-hour job it is easy to overlook something like that. 30 seconds and it was good to go.

Fortunately they reinstalled my lift, so no worries there. That is why it took extra time, though, as they needed to wait for different U-bolts to arrive via mail. US Mail was shut down for two days here last week due to the cold temps and windchill.

 

That's awesome,wish I could get my bed replaced

 

I have a 2007 limited 4x4 with 94k on it that I bought used 6 months ago. It was originally purchased in NY and lived there for several years before being sold in CA. Frame and leaf springs are rusty but the body is solid. figured it was because of being on the east coast. Should I have this inspected or is it a waste of time?

 

Yes, without a doubt. The inspection is totally free, and only takes an hour or so. Definitely have it done if the frame is rusty. You should be able to call the dealership and give them your VIN to see if your truck qualifies for the recall. It is possibly that the previous owner already had it inspected though.

 

Will do thank you.

 

What size lift do you have ?

 

3-inch

 

Thats awesome!
@craigerman How much did they invoice you for the extra engine work? And how much of it was labor. I noticed a significant discount sourcing the parts online.

Sounds like I'm good on a 3inch lift, but they torch of the bolts so have replacements?

 

I should have sourced more online. I bought new shocks and struts, tie rod ends, water pump and serp belt from them, and bought plugs myself which they charged me to install. They also rotated tires and inspected brakes. $383.62 in labor and $946.15 for parts.

And yes, they charged me for new bolt and nut flanges for the shocks. Around $25. They didn't charge for the different size U Bolts because of my lift, though, which I thought was pretty cool.

 

Has anyone gotten a rusty bed replaced as part of this recall? Seems that they couldn't pull off something just as rusty as the bed cross members and put it back onto a new frame?

 

I was told they would replace the mounting bolts if they were bad, but that's it. Beds weren't covered in the recall.

 

Glad I have a Toyota buddy that saved me factory shocks and also stock ubolts I'll need them till my lift gets reinstalled

 

My Tacoma has a new frame. I just changed my bed w some Tacoma buds. Here's some shots of the original bed Toyota reinstalled on the new frame.





Had to clean up the mounting points as the bed had started them rusting already. Also found the cross member above the spare already starting.
Was so easy to remove the bed (6 bolts), unplug the tail lamps - it's practically an annual chore to clean/touch up the frame.

 

damn..where do you live ? do they use that salt on the roads ?

 

They do use salt here - CT. I typically don't use the truck when it snows, trying to keep the salt spray to the Prius which is all plastic belly pans underneath, but that stuff gets in the air & just clings on everything & is so freakishly aggressive. Kinda scares me to think what it's doing to the bridge superstructures....

 

Called the dealer yesterday to schedule my inspection, they told me that it's mostly Taco's that they've seen needing frames in this area and haven't done a tundra yet, only sprayed them. I dropped the spare tire to look at my frame some more in the suspect areas, there's some surface rust on the welds but no perforation or even major flaking that I could start to dig at. Spray for me. Bed looks way better than that taco bed ^^^ !!!!

 

I was told the frame replacement expired at the end of 2018. They did perform 2 recalls.