Paint flaking near bumper

The paint at the edge of the passenger bed side right at the bumper is starting to flake/chip/rust.



I just noticed it a few days ago, so i dont know how long its been there. I'm assuming that the best remedy is to sand, and repaint. But it looks like the rust has probably travelled up and under the paint (look toward the top of the crack). Is this a home gamer fix, or should it be left to the body shop? Or should i just forget about it (the truck is a 2008 and has spent its entire life on the salty roads of Pennsylvania. (note, i did have to replace the bumper reinforcement bar due to complete rust through)

 

From that one picture, it doesn't honestly look that terrible. If its going to be a show truck or you're legitimately worried about the final product, let a body shop handle it. They should be able to tell how far the rust has spread and if metal needs to be cut out and replaced.

If it's not a show truck, then I'd do it myself. Sand in small areas so you know how far the rust has spread, once you hit good clean metal stop. You might consider using naval jelly or similar rust fixes; then sand, prime, and paint. Hopefully the rust hasn't spread much further than where that picture shows, because not many would ever notice 1/4"-1/2" of new paint along the panel like that.

 

Uhh... thats been rusting a long time. My guess a couple years.


You are looking at a body shop job to sand and repaint but that level of rust likely means youll be at risk for rerusting through.

 

If it was a show truck that never would have happened.

 

Yeah, its not a show truck. I've owned it for a year. Prior to that some old guy used it as a daily driver, and put a lot of miles on it. (currently sitting at 160k). I may swing by the body shop to get an estimate.

 

I just relooked at the photo. Its the bedside thats rusted not the bumper side.

Let us know what the quote is. Typically they have to repaint the entire panel thats effected. It might be a pricey fix.

I have a small rusting chip on my bedside I’d like to have fixed but I think the panel repaint is going to be $1,000+

If you get a good deal it might motivate me to do a pro fix rather than wet sand myself