Rust spots!! R U KIDDING ME

[yota96]

Just curious if anyone else is having any issues with their brushed alum tube steps. Went through the touchless car wash the other day to remove the NH road scum to find rust pits starting on the tube steps, edges of front and rear bumbers, and even on the rim of fog light. Its not horrible now but in 6 months or so it sure is gonna look like crap. I know old school yotas have been famous for rusting out.....but are you kidding me! My whole family has owned yotas for years.......the response I got from two serivce managers was basically BS, preventive cleaning, blah blah. Also maybe break dust causing the issue or even rail dust if mine was shipped on a railroad. Does anyone know if there is a brake disc cover available yet? I think I'm gonna try that, I picked this beast up in early NOV, only have 3,200 miles on her, garaged nightly. WHAT THE ****!

[toyomoho]

Do a Google search as you don’t seem to be the only owner with this issue. Perhaps Toyota’s parts supplier is doing a poor plating job.

[mhadden]

Yota, I too have the pitting brushed boards, and I'm pretty pissed about it. They are looking like such crap, I'm going to take them off early (been waiting because the wife likes them to get into the truck, but even she commented on how shitty they were looking!).

I've already contact Toyota about the issue and they won't do crap. Go figure.

[wonger]

aluminum doesnt rust? it can get corroded

guess u can get the aluminum painted to match your paints color??

[ajmckeown]

The newer road chemicals they use to help control snow and ice are murder on aluminum and other metals and I won't even talk about electrical wiring and connections but anyway I have pitting and other issues with my tanks and other aluminum items on my truck (tractor trailer) during the winter. I genneraly don't worry about it too much but a lot of truckers (other owner/operators) will attack their aluminum/chrome items with a buffer and buffing compound by spring to try and make it look better.

You could try buffing but I'm not sure how well it would work because I've never tried it since my truck is more about money than show at the moment.

[mhadden]

Originally Posted by ajmckeown

You could try buffing but I'm not sure how well it would work because I've never tried it since my truck is more about money than show at the moment.

I plan to do this when the weather gets warmer/nicer. It's fricken 2° again this morning. I'm about sick of the cold and snow (and that's about the only time you'll hear that from me).

[yota96]

2 diff service managers told me basically to suck it up, and one said I could put the step boards in the ocean, HHAHAAAHAHA.

I did call Toyota and there is a rep who left me a message, gotta call him back mon morning. I've been looking around, this problem is getting worse for toyota. 500 bucks plus for these step boards and they look like a**. Plus the bumpers will look like I swapped them from my 96 4Runner. I'll let you know how the call goes monday
YOTA

[wonger]

Originally Posted by mhadden

I plan to do this when the weather gets warmer/nicer. It's fricken 2° again this morning. I'm about sick of the cold and snow (and that's about the only time you'll hear that from me).

wish it would snow around here lol.. i love to snowboard and i dont exactly have the best rides to get up the mountain to our snow resort so i have to bum rides with people i know when they go.. but i do plan i swapping my 17s to my stockers (15) and get some cables.. hope i make it up there . oh im lowered so those cables could mess some stuff up under the fender

[yota96]

just spoke with toyota rep, he is going to TRY and connect me with a regional rep to take a look at the truck when they are in my area next. They should be at each location once a month. We will see.
I'm not sure if I should leave it or go ahead and clean it up so it dosent look worse but that may defeat the purpose of the rep looking at the truck. This sucks!

Mhadden, who did you speak with at toyota, dealer or did you go through this circus crap already? Do you think anything will even come out of this?

[mhadden]

Originally Posted by yota96

Mhadden, who did you speak with at toyota, dealer or did you go through this circus crap already? Do you think anything will even come out of this?

I've talked with my selling dealership and got the circus, but the circus is there fulltime. I've contacted Toyota using e-mail and got the "contact your selling dealer". Vicious circle I tell you. I don't think it's too much to ask for new boards and new bumpers...the truck is only 6 months old and I keep it clean...

[yota96]

new boards and bumpers is actually what I'm looking for. I think I may try for the painted bumpers like on the limiteds, if I ever get that far. I don't have much faith in another set of chrome bumpers. Not too sure what to do about the brushed boards, I wanted these cuz they are beefy and not the cheap chrome crap that will look horrid in a few years.

The rep said he would be in touch by Fri, I'll let you know how I make out.

[mhadden]

Originally Posted by yota96

new boards and bumpers is actually what I'm looking for. I think I may try for the painted bumpers like on the limiteds, if I ever get that far. I don't have much faith in another set of chrome bumpers. Not too sure what to do about the brushed boards, I wanted these cuz they are beefy and not the cheap chrome crap that will look horrid in a few years.

The rep said he would be in touch by Fri, I'll let you know how I make out.

Thank you Tell him about me too!

[Vmax2007]

Originally Posted by yota96

new boards and bumpers is actually what I'm looking for. I think I may try for the painted bumpers like on the limiteds, if I ever get that far. I don't have much faith in another set of chrome bumpers. Not too sure what to do about the brushed boards, I wanted these cuz they are beefy and not the cheap chrome crap that will look horrid in a few years.

The rep said he would be in touch by Fri, I'll let you know how I make out.

Why not get the 304 Stainless Steel step bars? I have the 6" Oval steps and they are Chrome plated 304 series Stainless Steel. I paid $600 for them. They are GM branded, but I am sure Westin and others make similar ones for Tundras. $600 might seem like alot, but in 10 years, they will still look like brand new.

[peterc38]

I haven’t seen the brushed aluminum boards. I didn’t know they came them as I can’t find it on the option list or in the accessories for 07-08 Tundra.

I have the brushed stainless steel boards like this:

http://www.toyota.com/tundra/accessories_large.html?=stepboards

I am not sure if they are a 300 or 400 series stainless but I live in Maine where we don’t spare the salt on the roads and I see no evidence of any rust or corrosion to date.

[mhadden]

Those are the boards we are talking about.