Middle rocker panel RUSTED through

[RubiSc0tt]

Anyone know anything about the kick panel/ rocker panel in the middle of the front door of the JLU’s? How do they attach? Can it be pulled and replaced easily?

Reason:
I found a piece of paint flaking off while doing my inspection/ clean up today after a weekend trail ride. Put a little pressure on the surface- Boom. Rotted through like the fucking titanic, complete with jagged edges. I can fit my entire pointer to pinky in there to the knuckles and grab it. I can’t get a picture of it because my slider is in the way.

I sprayed behind/ around it while cleaning off the mud and no water came out. I can’t figure out for the life of me how enough water/ salt got in there to rot the entire thing out. I checked the others and It’s only the middle passenger side rocker panel that’s this bad so far, but I imagine others will follow as this is a daily driven upstate NY Jeep.

So frustrating for a 6 year old Jeep with 51k mi. At least it isn’t the frame, yet. I checked and the frame is still pretty clean inside and out.

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[Jebiruph]

Anyone know anything about the kick panel/ rocker panel in the middle of the front door of the JLU’s? How do they attach? Can it be pulled and replaced easily?

Reason:
I found a piece of paint flaking off while doing my inspection/ clean up today after a weekend trail ride. Put a little pressure on the surface- Boom. Rotted through like the fucking titanic, complete with jagged edges. I can fit my entire pointer to pinky in there to the knuckles and grab it. I can’t get a picture of it because my slider is in the way.

I sprayed behind/ around it while cleaning off the mud and no water came out. I can’t figure out for the life of me how enough water/ salt got in there to rot the entire thing out. I checked the others and It’s only the middle passenger side rocker panel that’s this bad so far, but I imagine others will follow as this is a daily driven upstate NY Jeep.

So frustrating for a 6 year old Jeep with 51k mi. At least it isn’t the frame, yet. I checked and the frame is still pretty clean inside and out.

Any pics?
Here's my possibly related thread from a couple years ago. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/underbody-rust.117162/post-2438114

 

[RubiSc0tt]

Any pics?
Here's my possibly related thread from a couple years ago. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/underbody-rust.117162/post-2438114

Thanks, I'll check it out.

I can't get a good pic of the rust hole because the rail of my slider is in the way, but I'll try to get a picture of the panel in question a little later.

There are channels on either side of it so I assume the water leaked down those and into that area, or maybe it's open behind the plastic fender liner and that's how it got in? But then the rest of the rocker should be in or around the same condition. I don't know. This is going to bother me.

Then again, maybe this is the push I needed to trade it in on a used 392....

 

[wibornz]

While mine have not rusted through, The paint is flaking off. I am going to sand it down and clean it then tape it off and use roll on bedliner to paint over the area then reinstall my rock rails. My Jeep has taken a beating.

 

[RubiSc0tt]

While mine have not rusted through, The paint is flaking off. I am going to sand it down and clean it then tape it off and use roll on bedliner to paint over the area then reinstall my rock rails. My Jeep has taken a beating.

this one is SMOKED. And it shocked me to see because I didn't see any obvious areas where water would get in. and when I sprayed the holes underneath with a pressure washer, no water came out.

This thread may also be related: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/rocker-panel-holes.17185/

 

[RubiSc0tt]

The area mentioned in this thread is what I'm referring to, however it looks like theirs did not rust through yet.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/cracks-in-rocker-panel-seams.69778/

No evidence of corrosion on mine until I peeled the paint and then pressed on the rocker panel though.

 

[Jebiruph]

If you want to learn about the structure of JL/JT rocker panels, watch goonzquad rebuild a gladiator. They peel back all the layers.

 

[RubiSc0tt]

Looks like I've found a new video! I watched their rebuild of a Lamborghini Huracan when my son was obsessed with those, and I really liked their stuff. did not think they would end up doing an off road build though as they seem more racecar/ supercar focused. Thank you for sharing this!!

 

[8thman]

This is my 1st post so hopefully I did it correctly.



Not looking for advice, just sharing what a see is going to be a big problem for us JL owners that live in the Rust Belt area.



2018 Jeep Wrangler JL body, 85k miles, Michigan Driven, never off road, washed weekly all winter.



Both front door Sill plates were found to have huge rust areas while doing spring cleanup.



Our last JK was over 12 years old and had no rust at all (other than gas tank shield...).



Amazed that this happen – I called Chrysler customer line, and they told me because I purchased a Chrysler Factory company vehicle, they would not even make a customer care case for me.



Looking at JL’s in local parking lots – I’ve seen a few with same rust pops in same location.



When I called a local dealer body shop – I was told this repair it a huge repair as the metal from this sill plate extended up into the A post, more than $6,000 repair to do it right. Local body shop advised me there are no “clip” panels available yet, we would have to buy complete rocker assembly and then cut out enough to make repair buy cut and splice new part in. less than replace complete rocker but no price quoted. I did not ask either body shop for a complete written estimate at this time as both would require tear down to make a good estimate and by this time, I knew we were not going to sink this kind of money into this problematic vehicle (many, many other repairs have been done already).



I did notice that the area that rusted out did not have drains. The areas that did not rust have drains – design flaw?



My fix – I cut the rusted area out and treated the area with CorrosionX Heavy Duty Anti Rust, then Covered the holes with Rough Country Rocker Sill Plates.

 

[RubiSc0tt]

This is my 1st post so hopefully I did it correctly.



Not looking for advice, just sharing what a see is going to be a big problem for us JL owners that live in the Rust Belt area.



2018 Jeep Wrangler JL body, 85k miles, Michigan Driven, never off road, washed weekly all winter.



Both front door Sill plates were found to have huge rust areas while doing spring cleanup.



Our last JK was over 12 years old and had no rust at all (other than gas tank shield...).



Amazed that this happen – I called Chrysler customer line, and they told me because I purchased a Chrysler Factory company vehicle, they would not even make a customer care case for me.



Looking at JL’s in local parking lots – I’ve seen a few with same rust pops in same location.



When I called a local dealer body shop – I was told this repair it a huge repair as the metal from this sill plate extended up into the A post, more than $6,000 repair to do it right. Local body shop advised me there are no “clip” panels available yet, we would have to buy complete rocker assembly and then cut out enough to make repair buy cut and splice new part in. less than replace complete rocker but no price quoted. I did not ask either body shop for a complete written estimate at this time as both would require tear down to make a good estimate and by this time, I knew we were not going to sink this kind of money into this problematic vehicle (many, many other repairs have been done already).



I did notice that the area that rusted out did not have drains. The areas that did not rust have drains – design flaw?



My fix – I cut the rusted area out and treated the area with CorrosionX Heavy Duty Anti Rust, then Covered the holes with Rough Country Rocker Sill Plates.

This is probably the best solution I've seen so far. Got a link to those Rocker sill panels?

 

[8thman]

https://www.roughcountry.com/product/trail-cladding-tc13024

Read the directions! You don't peel the tape 1st! Easy when done acording to the directions.

The fit and look great. Good price on Amazon

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