I live in Seaside Park, NJ which is on one of the barrier islands that was hit by hurricane Sandy. I weathered the storm on the island and stayed until we were forcibly evacuated. The storm caused all of the roads to be either flooded with salt water or covered in sand; and me being the good Toyota 4x4 owner I am I just had to go out in all that cr*p to help the people who had stayed and check on the status of the homes of those who had left. I was on sand nearly the whole time and spent some time fording salt water up to and possibly exceeding 3' (it really didn't like fording past that 3'). The only modifications I have made that are relevant are that I installed 31" tires and I have a differential breather bellows in the rear. Is there anything I should do or look out for? I have already washed the crud off of and out of the frame and body.

Sorry I didn't get any pics on the island.

(I wrote this post not for pity, but for advice. If I see anything other than "sorry buddy" I will find you and I will punch you)

 

I would pressure wash the poopoo out of the bottom, at first opportunity, and then weekly for a while. Sand is evil, salt water worse. Figure out a way to spray a penetrant or light oil on nooks and crannies when dry. You guys got rocked, be safe.
Edit : is that a rust free truck? In Jersey?

 

I would just take a peek in the Diffs and look for Contamination. Get a sample out with a Q tip or something. Other than that wash the crap out of it.

 

I spend 50% of my time in the OBX. You probably have a lot on your plate right now but clean the bottom of your 4Runner as soon as you can and spray the bottom with something like Fluid Film. You should make it a habit to always clean it after running through sand and standing water. That's probably not practical right now though.

During a recent hurricane a SUV went through standing water and got the battery wet. They parked the SUV under the house (house on stilts) and the battery shorted, truck caught on fire, house burned down. If you go through really deep water keep this in mind. I think it was a Suburban. Anyway I would say don't get the battery wet!

 

From past experience, it's probably going to make some of your bearings sing. Also make sure to clean around the caliper pistons. I've seized them from similar water dunking and it was a serious PITA to deal with, so that's something to look at and clean well. might want to change your diff oils and grease your u-joints and cv's just to be on the safe side too.

 

Sorry buddy












Hose off with fresh water you can spare. Also, grease your driveshafts/u-joints really well
Take care and be safe!

 

Sorry buddy

I will be waiting!!

Like was said calipers ,hubs if the salt water got in there.

doesnot hurt to check all the fluids.

when you have time you might want to pull your drums and clean the adjusters.

make sure your e-brake works

3' feet is pretty deep in saltwater.

I don`t know what is worse that or trees crushing my trucks roof.

 

after you wash it get a air hose from a compressor to blast the crevices to dry them out and to get any crap lodged in there. good idea to clean the top of the tank too. Don't want that rusting out. make sure there's no holes in your rocker panels either for water to settle and make bigger holes!

 

i agree with the above advice, wash it down with liquid WD 40.

good luck with the recovery to you and everyone affected by the storm...

 

trust me buddy,i live in the salt belt...clean and lube,repeat!

 

seems like your doing okay considering, got flooded out last year myself in irene. anyhow.....wash that rig constantly for awhile if you can..then when you know its good and clean get some bar and chain oil and spray the underside of your vehicle with it. i mean EVERYTHING (except things like electrical connections of course) up here in vermont we have places you can go to get this done, but i dont think the enviro nazis would like it down there.
after all is oiled up go on a dusty dirt road and your all set, the dust will coat the oil and thicken it further so it sticks well. then dont wash the underside and voila! no more rust.

 

Spray WD-40 to the whole underneath and engine bay of the truck, that's what i do after wheeling trips, it should work with salt too.

 

Check the rear drum breaks for rust. On springs and were the shoes rest on the backing plat. Lightly freese backing plat contact area. And the confirm ur wheel cyliders are not leaking break fluid. Sand shoes with sand paper and drums on shoe contact area. Breakclean entire area of dirst dust and debree "before you greese" and adjust shoes.to snugly fit in drum while still turning smoothly. Greese adjusting star while in there.