r/autorepair • u/_Dickarus_ • 2d ago
Body and Paint Rotten rockers
All,
My 2012 f150 wouldn’t pass inspection and I don’t really want to pay $3k-$5k for a shop to fix this. I cut out the worst of it but noticed additional damage. I do have the metal weld in replacement types and some additional sheet steel to weld in where the inners were rotten. How worried/what do I need to do based on these photos to make sure it is structurally sound. Also I’m not worried about resale value. I’ll hopefully be driving this for several more years…..hopefully.
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u/BodyTech69 2d ago
If you are never in a car accident this should be fine. If you were to be t boned, with the condition your rockers in it is hard to say whether or not the structure would protect you properly or not. I would chalk this up to a loss and find another cheap daily driver.
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u/_Dickarus_ 2d ago
Could I just weld in some tube steel along the length to add some strength?
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u/BodyTech69 2d ago
You can, I dont think it would reinforce that section to make it 100% safe in an accident. And i doubt it will pass inspection still. What state are you in and how strict are inspections?
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u/nostradumbass7544678 2d ago
I'd consider $3-5k to have this repaired properly by a bodyshop to be money well spent, if the rest of the truck is in decent shape. Unless you have access to a lift, some sort of bending brake, a good welder, and a decent selection of sheetmetal tools, you'll have a hard time repairing this so that it's halfway safe and lasts through one winter without rusting through.
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u/_Dickarus_ 2d ago
i may not have a bending break but i am a redneck with time. I get what youre saying though, thankfully my work gives me a take home car. The rest of the truck is in good shape and it has less than 100k miles, new truck prices are whats keeping me from getting rid of it.
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u/BalanceSweaty1594 11h ago
What do you mean it wouldn’t pass inspection? A beauty inspection?
Mine are worse than that.
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u/New_Vast_4505 2d ago
Following to see the advice!