How To Repair Rocker Panel On Silverado

How to Replace the Rocker Panels in a Silverado

by Jenny Carver

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Rust generally forms on the rocker panels of a Chevrolet Silverado after mud has become stuck to them and allowed to remain for long periods of time. One time rust is formed, it tin can speedily spread across the surface and through the canvas metal of the rocker panels. Fortunately, there are direct replacement rocker panels for the Silverado, so once you lot remove the old panel, y'all tin fit and weld a new one into place with no need to cut out new panels.

Step 1

Hold the new rocker panel upwards to the Silverado to measure the size. Marker the truck with a permanent marker along the edges of the new console.

Stride 2

Use a grinder and cutoff bike to cutting along the marker line. Cut out the entire section that is marked off, along the peak, bottom and sides. Wear leather gloves when treatment the grinder and metal, as the metal edges are very sharp.

Step 3

Wear a welding mask and welding gloves for protection. Clamp the new rocker console in place using body clamps. Only a few clamps are needed since the rocker panel is calorie-free weight.

Step 4

Weld along the edges of the panel, joining the new panel to the truck'due south surface, by using tack welds. Weld one spot at a fourth dimension, spacing each weld 4 inches autonomously until the entire panel is welded. Proceed adding tack welds until the unabridged border is welded solid. Tack welding keeps the metal surface from overheating, which could warp the metal into unusable condition. Permit the welds absurd for an 60 minutes.

Step v

Grind the welds down until they are flat with the surface of the rocker panel. Just grind enough then that the welds are flat, don't grind as well much or you may grind through the welds and crusade the panel to have cracks or holes in the future.

Step half-dozen

Employ a small-scale glaze of trunk filler along the welded line using a squeegee. Permit the filler dry for i hour and sand information technology shine using 180 grit sandpaper. Sand until the seam along the rocker panel is smooth.

Pace 7

Sand the unabridged section including the seam and the new rocker panel using 220-dust sandpaper. This smoothes the surface and prepares the area for pigment.

Spray a coat of primer over the new panel and the seam, holding the can six to eight inches from the surface. Let the primer dry for thirty minutes. Spray three coats of paint over the entire area, waiting five minutes betwixt each glaze. Go on the coats thin to avert runs in the paint. Await four to six hours before handling the area.

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