Was I duped (rust)?

No one has mentioned it yet, but you might want to replace those saggy-ass springs

 

I couldn't get past that bizarre looking overload spring, I'm wondering if are aftermarket leafs the PO replaced, chaeap aftermarket crap?

Beyond that @DTAG10, you need to be aware, the previous owner removed the bump stops (or they sheared off, I see their bracket in that pic) that should be held to the top of the spring by the U-bolts, and that's a recipe to rip the lower shock mount right off the axle! You cannot get the OEM bump stops anymore (discontinued), but you can get the slightly taller one for a Toyota Hilux which fits our trucks. The part number is 48306-35110. You need something up there, and I've recommend replacing the U-bolts while you're at it.

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Also

https://www.autoandtrucksprings.com/toyota-tacoma-toyota-tundra-upper-u-bolt-bump-stop-saddle-bt910/

 

Y’all are life savers. I’ll have $4-$5k in this pretty quick. Kinda hard to fathom being at $22k for a 20 year old truck. But 10x better than the stuff out there today.

 

It’s got 152k miles. Hopefully this will help it get to 300k without much else.

 

Someone here bought these and shortened them if I remember right.

 

I dunno, the ATS flavored bumps at ATS @noahrexion linked look damn good for the $$