Rocker Panel Trouble

wetherbymr2 · 05-30-2009, 10:08 AM

how hard is it to replace your rocker panels? Mine are rusting fwd of the rear wheels on both sides....

Am i better off to replace or sand down and treat and get aftermarket skirts???

mr21998cc · 05-30-2009, 01:59 PM

All of the aftermarket sideskirts that I know of attach to the rocker panel and this is because the rocker panel is a vital structural part of the unibody. You need to buy new ones from Toyota and cut your old ones out and spot weld the new ones in.

jholder · 05-30-2009, 04:30 PM

I depends on your level of skill really. You're going to have to cut them out and weld them back in. I can pretty much guarantee you that if you have visible rust on the outside of the rocker panel, the internal structure has suffered as well.

It took me about 3 months (well, about 50 hours off and on), to remove them from my parts car, remove the ones from my running car, and get them welded back in. I had to fabricate several areas between the chassis and etg car where the metal was just plain missing. If anything, those areas are stronger now than they were from teh factory, but it looks ugly as sin. Luckily its covered up by the rocker panels themselves.

Oh, and keep in mind the location you're referring to is directly above the jack points. I suggest when you jack the car up, you use the rear cross member.

05-30-2009, 10:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
wetherbymr2 PreMidLife Crisis Builder Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Barksdale AFB Posts: 304 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Rocker Panel Trouble how hard is it to replace your rocker panels? Mine are rusting fwd of the rear wheels on both sides.... Am i better off to replace or sand down and treat and get aftermarket skirts???

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05-30-2009, 01:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
mr21998cc Some Skills Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 62 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	All of the aftermarket sideskirts that I know of attach to the rocker panel and this is because the rocker panel is a vital structural part of the unibody. You need to buy new ones from Toyota and cut your old ones out and spot weld the new ones in.

05-30-2009, 04:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
jholder I put the ho in 'hosale Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 468 Thanks: 8 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	I depends on your level of skill really. You're going to have to cut them out and weld them back in. I can pretty much guarantee you that if you have visible rust on the outside of the rocker panel, the internal structure has suffered as well. It took me about 3 months (well, about 50 hours off and on), to remove them from my parts car, remove the ones from my running car, and get them welded back in. I had to fabricate several areas between the chassis and etg car where the metal was just plain missing. If anything, those areas are stronger now than they were from teh factory, but it looks ugly as sin. Luckily its covered up by the rocker panels themselves. Oh, and keep in mind the location you're referring to is directly above the jack points. I suggest when you jack the car up, you use the rear cross member.