Corrosion Protection Guidelines: Toyota/Lexus

A key factor in collision repair is making long-lasting repairs. When a vehicle is repaired, many areas of corrosion protection are disturbed. This creates corrosion hot spots that left untreated will lead to corrosion and potentially a repair failure. However, there are certain precautions that can be taken to safely and properly restore the corrosion protection throughout the repair process. OEMs often give specifications on restoring corrosion protection. These specifications generally include seam sealer, adhesives, foam fillers, and cavity waxes. Let’s take a look at what Toyota/Lexus says.

Toyota/Lexus does not specify the type of product to be used for restoring corrosion protection. However, there are typically two areas within the vehicle-specific body repair manual (BRM) to find information on corrosion protection.

The first is located under: General ➤ Introduction ➤ Work Notices and Precautions ➤ Anti-Rust Treatment After Installation of Body Structure Parts or Outer Panels. There are guidelines for when corrosion protection should be applied. For example, per the 2024 Toyota Highlander BRM: "For water-proofing and anti-rust measures, always apply the body sealer to the body panel seams and hems of the doors, hood, etc."

The other area is located in Vehicle Exterior ➤ Painting/Coating. This Painting/Coating area has information pertaining to the location of specific material:

  • Cavity wax: Body Panel Anti-Rust Agent Material
  • Seam sealer: Body Panel Sealing
  • Undercoat: Body Panel Undercoating
  • Foam: Foamed Sealing Material

Additional documentation is in CRIB #186 Corrosion Prevention for Collision Repair.

Within the repair procedures, Toyota usually includes hints and illustrations to aid you in the application process.

Always refer to Toyota/Lexus service information for the most up-to-date CRIB information.

Always follow OEM repair procedures for all repairs. Failure to follow corrosion protection guidelines can lead to the premature failure of a repair. Using the proper corrosion protection ensures a complete, safe, and quality repair.

For additional information and links to Toyota/Lexus vehicles, check out the following OEM pages:
Toyota
Lexus

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