Cheapest Rocker Panel Fix

[studda]

I have some pretty bad rust in my driver's side rocker panel of my '99 Silverado. It's so bad, I can put my finger through it. I looked at LMC and it looks like I can get a replacement panel for $100. I was just wondering if that's the cheapest I can get it or if anybody knows of a cheaper one.

[Wet..Paint]

I have done a couple of these already, I make my own patches. The metal will be thicker and last longer. Prefabbed patch panels are usually pretty thin. These rockers are easy just a nice gradual bend.

[69gmcc10]

check with rock auto, they might have some potions for you.

[Sam03]

junk yard?

[studda]

Wow, rockauto is super cheap. I didn't even think to look there. I can get a slip on one for $26 or a full one for $45. Luckily, my truck is white so paint will be super easy to match.

[Wet..Paint]

Well not quite, 8624 is a tough white to match, way too many variants and they are all usually way off. 8554 is bad too but it is workable.

I have been using Ford YZ white on the 8624 trucks lately and its a dead on match every time.

[99_Sierra]

What is a slip in rocker panel... I know I know noob question lol

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by 99_Sierra

What is a slip in rocker panel... I know I know noob question lol

you dont have to cut all the old rocker out.

[99_Sierra]

Sounds like that is the ghetto way... Is thT just me?? Would they last a while??

[99_Sierra]

Originally Posted by studda

Wow, rockauto is super cheap. I didn't even think to look there. I can get a slip on one for $26 or a full one for $45. Luckily, my truck is white so paint will be super easy to match.

Where did you find one for 45? I saw the slip ons for 35 and the factory ones for 107

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

you dont have to cut all the old rocker out.

Originally Posted by 99_Sierra

Sounds like that is the ghetto way... Is thT just me?? Would they last a while??

Yeah, using the "slip-on" rocker panels like the name implies is kind of a hack. Having the new metal directly on top of the old rusty areas just tends to trap moisture and make the new panels rust through again in a short time.

That's not to say that the "slip-on" rockers are junk though. They're actually pretty good parts if you take the time to cut out the old rust and install them like any other patch panel. In fact, the slip-on rockers are a good deal if the rust is limited to the lower section ... No sense in spending the extra $$ for the full rockers unless your old ones are rusty up into the lower door jamb area.

Originally Posted by Wet..Paint

I have done a couple of these already, I make my own patches. The metal will be thicker and last longer. Prefabbed patch panels are usually pretty thin. These rockers are easy just a nice gradual bend.

I've done rockers on a number of these 99-06 trucks as well. I made my own panels on a few of them but then decided to give a set of the pre-made slip-on rockers a try. I've got to say that I was surprised and truly impressed by the thickness of metal they used ... it was at least 16ga if not a little heavier. Way thicker than the OE rockers and too thick to trim with tin snips. I think they were about the same thickness as the OE metal that's used in the door hinge pillar & front part of the rocker.

[studda]

Originally Posted by 99_Sierra

Where did you find one for 45? I saw the slip ons for 35 and the factory ones for 107

rockauto.com

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

That's not to say that the "slip-on" rockers are junk though. They're actually pretty good parts if you take the time to cut out the old rust and install them like any other patch panel. In fact, the slip-on rockers are a good deal if the rust is limited to the lower section ... No sense in spending the extra $$ for the full rockers unless your old ones are rusty up into the lower door jamb area.

This is kinda what I was thinking about doing as I only have rust right below the door and nowhere else. If I cut the old out and weld in the slip on as a patch panel, it should work pretty good for cheap.

[99_Sierra]

I looked on rock auto and didn't see them at that price; however I was on the mobile site, so maybe I didn't see the whole selections.. Thanks

[studda]

Ok, I see what I was looking at. I was looking at the '99 and, for some reason, they have the ones for a year prior listed as well as the ones for the newer body style listed. You are correct though; for the '99 and newer, the slip on ones are $37 and the full ones are $107.