Rusted rockers

Hi all,

So I have rust on both rockers on my 08 Tacoma and can't pass inspection. Was hoping someone makes these or knows the best way to fix this problem.


Thanks in advance

 

What state? That's insane...both you rusted through rocker panels and the fact that that is failing your inspection!

Can you take another picture? Looks like the pinch joint is rusted through, not a body shop expert but will probably need to be cut out and welded back together at this point.

 

I'm in West Virginia... brutal winters sometimes. Here are two more pictures, one of each side.

 

And that caused it to fail inspection? I live in central NY and I see trucks driving around with no fenders or rocker panels and they pass inspection...

I'm no expert but I feel like you may be getting taken for a ride. What I mean by that is that they are telling you that you need unnecessary work done to your truck for it to pass inspection so they can make some money off you.

My suggestion is find another person to get it inspected...someone who won't rip you off.

Again I could be wrong but rocker panels are cosmetic not structural.

I would take a look at this also: http://www.wvsp.gov/forms/Documents/MVI-Manual.pdf especially pages 53 and also page 36 section 11.

From page 53

1. Bumpers, fenders, exterior sheet metal and moldings have broken, sharp edges, or abnormal protrusions extending beyond normal vehicle extremities that would be hazardous to any person likely to come in contact.

Is that rust really posing a threat to someone because of a sharp or jagged edge?

Now as far as fixing it, you will need new rockers for that, or at the least to cut out all the rust and weld new metal back in.

For reference I made a post about rust on my rocker panels earlier this year. I have a 2006 with some surface rust at the pinch joint. I am not at the point of having to replace them and think I can subdue the rust with some sanding/grinding and rust reformer and also spraying the inside of the rocker with Eastwood internal frame coating spray. I would suggest doing something similar to every other cavity on your truck before they all look like that.

Good luck and find a new inspection site!

 

What's your frame look like?

 

That was gonna be my other question, did the frame pass inspection?

 

Fiberglass will fix that up enough for inspection. Frame would be another story.

 

I had a truck pass inspection with rust holes using duct tape to cover.

 

Works good for about 2-3 years and then you gotta patch with sheets of fiberglass.

 

Yup, it'll keep rusting underneath, but you'll be in code anyway. That area is hell for vehicles of all makes. I'm always amazed at how new the average car on the road is in the Ohio, WV, Western PA area. They just don't last more than 10-15 years because of the salt in the winter.

 

If replacing the metal by cutting and welding is out of scope right now, there is a lasting solution.

I have had good luck with Evap-o-rust .
I had to treat my roof before I coated it with bedliner. It seems to have done the trick with the rust not coming back.
I covered the area with paper towels soaked in Evap-O-Rust to keep the product on the effected area. I then covered it all up with plastic wrap.
The rust will turn to zinc oxide, sealing it and allowing you to paint or glass over it.
You could then use filler with long strands of fiberglass to reinforce it. Sand it smooth and cover it with a bed liner. Bed liner (various brands) will hide the imperfections and contribute to the rigidity of the repair. You can tint some of them to the color you want or keep it contrasting. You could use color matched paint instead.

 

C'mon @ChadsPride You are going so fast you aren't even reading them.

 

@ChadsPride are you in your own Tacomaworld time zone?

 

Something of the sort ​