Rust on GX550 Suspension Parts Already? (2 Viewers)

[cryorunner]

Is it normal for there to already be so much rust on the lower ball joint attachment brackets of my GX550? Sorry, don’t know what the correct name of the part is, but you get the idea of where it is, and I’m sure someone will correct my inaccuracies.

Not as worried about the bracket itself so much, or what I’m assuming are the surfaces that will get banged up limiting the steering travel, but all the rust already on the ball joint threads seemed weird for a two-month-old vehicle with 1000 miles that’s only seen Southern California summer. Just wanted to make sure there’s not something galvanic going on there. But honestly have never had anything this new, so don’t know what’s normal.

 

[ZRTactical]

Yes just raw steel. Wild!

 

[tacoshawn]

No big deal, don’t worry about it. if you are worried about it and want to spend $10 and 10 minutes on peace of mind then buy a can of ‘Fluid Film’ from Amazon and spray the surface rust. It’s lanolin oil, smells like sheep (for real), but is persistent and will halt surface rust if you hit it with another squirt every year.

The 25x series has many improvements (including cavity sealing) that make rust a negligible concern, especially in a non-salt state. If I still lived in a salt state I’d have the whole underside and cavities sprayed with Fluid Film (or one of the several good alternatives).

My Tacoma, on the other hand, had frame holes from rust @ 11 years old and Toyota got to spend $15K doing a full frame replacement as part of the class action lawsuit settlement. I only learned about Fluid film when it was too late for the original frame.

 

[185]

normal. happened on the 150s as well straight from port. Disappointing to see on a new ride, but until Toyota in its infinite wisdom decides forged aluminum is worth the costs like everyone else in the high end market, stamped steel is the way.

I would clean and apply undercoating of choice of there are many good ones if you do a search.

 

[cryorunner]

No big deal, don’t worry about it.

normal.

Thanks a lot for the feedback. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't some premature failure lurking, more so on the stud from the ball joint. I guess even if those threads are toast by the time it needs to be disassembled, it's getting replaced anyway.

 

[onemanarmy]

What was the cost savings there to not fully coat that part?

Tells you all you need to know where Toyota is headed.

The best days are behind us.
They know rust is and has been an issue on their SUVs and choose to do nothing about it......gotta make that extra 50 cent per unit.

 

[cruisergreen]

What was the cost savings there to not fully coat that part?

Tells you all you need to know where Toyota is headed.

The best days are behind us.
They know rust is and has been an issue on their SUVs and choose to do nothing about it......gotta make that extra 50 cent per unit.

I bet those pieces on the 100 and 200 were done the exact same way.
Those surfaces are fine unless (and probably even if) your truck lives in the ocean.

 

[185]

What was the cost savings there to not fully coat that part?

Tells you all you need to know where Toyota is headed.

The best days are behind us.
They know rust is and has been an issue on their SUVs and choose to do nothing about it......gotta make that extra 50 cent per unit.

150-200 had similar surface rust as Toyota really likes steel over forged alu like the germans and even Sk offerings.

Its a cost advantage primarily. Other mass market bof makers do the same, but it would have been nice to finally seen something that other lux makers have implemented and further differentiate itself from the toyota roots. On top of that some nice weight reduction.

 

[Rednexus]

$12 can of Fluid Film will take care of that. It seems that Toyota may never fully learn how to keep vehicles from rusting .