Newbie questions

[Madtiger]

Hey all,

I am considering getting TLC. I do off-road some, but mostly for sight seeing and family trips. I have a few quick questions.

1. TLC frame...is it rust protected better than lesser Toyotas? Frame rot...does that happen to TLC?

2. Breather tubes. I know that the rear axle does not have one. How about front axle? Transmission? Transfer case?

Thanks so much in advance.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Hey all,

I am considering getting TLC. I do off-road some, but mostly for sight seeing and family trips. I have a few quick questions.

1. TLC frame...is it rust protected better than lesser Toyotas? Frame rot...does that happen to TLC?

2. Breather tubes. I know that the rear axle does not have one. How about front axle? Transmission? Transfer case?

Thanks so much in advance.

1. I’ve worked around quite a lot of vehicles over the years. Personally, I feel like all frames rot if not taken care of. I’ve seen ever make have rotted out frames. I would say, every now and then, get under and take care of any possible rust with cleaning the area and painting. The same as I do on Jeeps and other Toyota’s that bang rocks and hit mud off road. I mean, body paint deteriorates after a few years without waxes, the paint on a frame is the same way. While it doesn’t have to deal with UV rays, it still needs to be maintained.

2. The rear axle does have an extended breather up to the frame, and that breather is a one way valve that won’t let water suck in when diff temps drop from dropping into cold water crossings. The rest of the drivetrain has breathers that sit around the engine bay mounted fuse box, so you’ll have a lot worse issues if you get water to that level.

 

[Madtiger]

1. I’ve worked around quite a lot of vehicles over the years. Personally, I feel like all frames rot if not taken care of. I’ve seen ever make have rotted out frames. I would say, every now and then, get under and take care of any possible rust with cleaning the area and painting. The same as I do on Jeeps and other Toyota’s that bang rocks and hit mud off road. I mean, body paint deteriorates after a few years without waxes, the paint on a frame is the same way. While it doesn’t have to deal with UV rays, it still needs to be maintained.

2. The rear axle does have an extended breather up to the frame, and that breather is a one way valve that won’t let water suck in when diff temps drop from dropping into cold water crossings. The rest of the drivetrain has breathers that sit around the engine bay mounted fuse box, so you’ll have a lot worse issues if you get water to that level.

The rear axle has a breather tube?? Damn, i missed it last time i look then! Is it a tube or just a cap?? I have a 4runner and the rear axle is just a cap that pops up when axle heats up.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

The rear axle has a breather tube?? Damn, i missed it last time i look then! Is it a tube or just a cap?? I have a 4runner and the rear axle is just a cap that pops up when axle heats up.

It’s a rubber tube that travels from the same area as your 4Runner (and every other Toyota since ‘79) up to the crossmember that holds the panhard rod.

If you’ve had a Toyota with a factory rear E-locker, it mounts the same way.

Jumping back to your first question. @linuxgod, @Reckless these guys live in Chicago, and their opinion on the 200s frame and rust will be pretty valuable.

 

[Reckless]

In regards to under carriage rust, you have to be careful. I have seen some pretty bad examples. Find a mint used one and spray it with fluid film is what I did. Personally, the value of the LC is in how much surface rust is on the under carriage to me. I went to go buy a 2011 lexus lx570 once and it was so rusty underneath that it looked over 20 years old. I think it depends on the owner and how often he washed his under carriage. So my opinion is that it is no different then the lower models.

 

[Madtiger]

It’s a rubber tube that travels from the same area as your 4Runner (and every other Toyota since ‘79) up to the crossmember that holds the panhard rod.

If you’ve had a Toyota with a factory rear E-locker, it mounts the same way.

Jumping back to your first question. @linuxgod, @Reckless these guys live in Chicago, and their opinion on the 200s frame and rust will be pretty valuable.

Ok...i am confuse now. My 4runner has a breather cap...like one pictured in this thread: Rear Diff Breather - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

There is no rubber tube from factory on the 4runner. So, the Land Cruiser is different???

 

[KLF]

If you have the factory rear e-locker in a 4Runner, there is a separate breather tube for just the actuator, it is actually the tube you see above that breather part in the first photo in that post.

Here is an actuator from one of those e-lockers, you can see the breather tube coming off the top. The factory wiring harness has an extension that you push into the rubber tube, then extend it up and clip to the frame.

 

[Madtiger]

If you have the factory rear e-locker in a 4Runner, there is a separate breather tube for just the actuator, it is actually the tube you see above that breather part in the first photo in that post.

Here is an actuator from one of those e-lockers, you can see the breather tube coming off the top. The factory wiring harness has an extension that you push into the rubber tube, then extend it up and clip to the frame.

View attachment 1692367

So, the 4runner has TWO breathers for the rear axle? One for the locker actuator and one for the axle?

The TLC 200 does not have rear locker...but it has the breather tube?

 

[bloc]

There is no rubber tube from factory on the 4runner. So, the Land Cruiser is different???

Yes, it is a toyota SUV, but it is very different from a 4runner. Another example would be the front lower balljoints being in compression vs tension.. effectively avoiding the problem of worn-out joints separating catastrophically like has happened on so many tacomas and 4runners.

Just assume almost everything on a 200 is built to be more capable offroad, for longer, than a similar-year 4runner.

 

[bloc]

So, the 4runner has TWO breathers for the rear axle? One for the locker actuator and one for the axle?

The TLC 200 does not have rear locker...but it has the breather tube?

US 200s don't have lockers, they have traction control. Diff/axle breather hose only.

 

[KLF]

So, the 4runner has TWO breathers for the rear axle? One for the locker actuator and one for the axle?

If the 4Runner has a rear e-locker, then yes it technically has 2 breathers coming off the axle.

The TLC 200 does not have rear locker...but it has the breather tube?

Yes.

 

[Madtiger]

Hey guys, thanks a lot for all the info!!! Much appreciated!