Check inside your OEM rock rails

[MoxiesDad]

I had recently noticed a rust stain on my driveway below the front edge of the driver side rock rail. Thursday while doing my tire rotation I decided to open up the end caps and check inside. Found loose wet rust flakes several feet back from the front. Used my electrician's fish tape to loosen it up, then blew it out with compressed air, using a long piece of tubing attached to my air gun. I didn't see any visible opening, can only guess that water got in somewhere along the bottom welded seam. Completed by spraying in a layer of Fluid Film along the entire inside of the rock rail and installed the end caps. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up.

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[badge2283]

Thanks, good to know.

 

[Mad Mac]

Maybe it is just condensation.
Remember the rust buckets
coming out of Detroit in the '70s?
Among other things, a lack of ventilation
in closed compartments was a problem.
It may seem counterintuitive
but ventilation holes, drain holes,
or simply leaving off the endcaps
might stop the hidden corrosion.
But I could be wrong. I often am.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

 

[Jaxmax]

I thought I was right once, but my wife said I was not!....Jack

PS: Thanks for the heads up on rock rail easy enough to check.

 

[SaiintNick]

What if I live in the desert.

 

[Warandpeace]

What if I live in the desert.

Then it's a dry rust

 

[legacy_etu]

Then it's a dry rust

No, it’s corrosion, not rust in that case.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

I had recently noticed a rust stain on my driveway below the front edge of the driver side rock rail. Thursday while doing my tire rotation I decided to open up the end caps and check inside. Found loose wet rust flakes several feet back from the front. Used my electrician's fish tape to loosen it up, then blew it out with compressed air, using a long piece of tubing attached to my air gun. I didn't see any visible opening, can only guess that water got in somewhere along the bottom welded seam. Completed by spraying in a layer of Fluid Film along the entire inside of the rock rail and installed the end caps. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up.

Thank you. You may have shown me why I hear rolling gravel sounds coming from under the floor. I will check it out. I thought that it was chipmunks loading my frame with acorns.

I have the Mojave factory rock rails. Do the ends just pry off?

 

[MoxiesDad]

Thank you. You may have shown me why I hear rolling gravel sounds coming from under the floor. I will check it out. I thought that it was chipmunks loading my frame with acorns.

I have the Mojave factory rock rails. Do the ends just pry off?

On the inside of the rails near each end, is a plastic push pin that can be pried out. Afterwards just pry out the end caps.

 

[BlackRuby23]

What if I live in the desert.

Then it's "patina."

 

[DanJT]

What if I live in the desert.

Cactus juice!

 

[ScottBeach]

Checked mine today. Wet /muddy but no rust. So water must be getting past the cap. Wondering if pulling the rock rails off. Rough up and bed coating would work. Little worried about fitting the rails back over the coating.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

On the inside of the rails near each end, is a plastic push pin that can be pried out. Afterwards just pry out the end caps.

Got it, Thank you.

 

[FloridaAussie]

I was wrong once. I righted it with a divorce.

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