The Reason Why These Rocker Panels Rust Out??

**pmk138** · 05-15-2013

Hello,

I am new to this Forum as I recently bought a 98 GTP. It's a Great car, minus my rusty rocker panel. I have replaced rocker panels before on a 1989 z24, so I am familar with what needs to be done. What I was wondering is if anyone has investigated why these rocker panels are rusting out and where the water is entering. When I changes the brakes and rotors a few months ago, I found what looked to be a factory open void in the rear wheel well. And I also noticed right away that rocks, dirt and junk like to lay in that area too. So if anybody has any thoughts were the water is coming in at, that would be very valuable information for me. I will probably have the car for about 10 years and would like to do this repair only once!!

Thanks,

Paul

**Scottydoggs** · 05-15-2013

a lot of people think its from the plastic cover the GP's have over the rockers, regals dont have this and dont seem to have as bad a rust problem.

if your rockers are rough looking, pull the carpet from the strut tower in the trunk, see what the tower tops look like. they all like to rust there.

**burgundybullet** · 05-15-2013

I know for a fact that the GT and GTP trims arent the only ones with this problem. The SEs have tons of issues with rusty rockers as well. Im just glad I have a GT so the plastic covers it. haha. My guess is that there is a lip on them that likes to catch the salt and hard to clean off. As for where the water is coming in at I cant help you there.

**Euro** · 05-15-2013

My guess is the backside of the rockers catch debris/moisture and it forms there. GT/P's just get it covered with the ground effects, but SE's and Century's get the eye sore-ness of it.

Regals show the same fate, but have the mouldings on the bottoms of the doors and rockers to cover it up.

x2 on the strut towers, check in the trunk and see. 97-00 W-bodies had a different design for the wheel well liner compared to the 01+'s. 01+ cars had a much better design, preventing the rust from forming on the rear towers.

**RareGMFan** · 05-15-2013

Originally Posted by burgundybullet

I know for a fact that the GT and GTP trims arent the only ones with this problem. The SEs have tons of issues with rusty rockers as well.

Same thought occurred to me. For a while, I thought the GTs and GTPs were trapping the moisture in the rocker moldings, but then I thought.....that doesn't explain why the SEs rust out just as easily without them. My driver's side one is shot to hell/isn't worth saving anymore (yet somehow, my strut towers look great). And it doesn't seem to matter how well you clean your car, either. Panda on TCG is O/C about keeping his cars immaculate, yet, apparently when he went to sell his GTP, his rockers were rotted to hell. Honestly, I don't know why it happens.

**Elite6** · 05-15-2013

Where does the sunroof drain?

**Euro** · 05-15-2013

Originally Posted by RareGMFan

(yet somehow, my strut towers look great)

*ahem*

Originally Posted by Euro

97-00 W-bodies had a different design for the wheel well liner compared to the 01+'s. 01+ cars had a much better design, preventing the rust from forming on the rear towers.

**RareGMFan** · 05-15-2013

LOL, sorry. Missed the last sentence, and now that you mention that, I remember someone else saying the same thing.

**Euro** · 05-15-2013

I forgot to look at yours Saturday, I wanted to creep under an 01+ and see if it's similar to mine. Would explain mine being minty, that someone already swapped liners.

**at0mix** · 05-30-2013

I have a 98 GTP, in which I am currently working on replacing the driverside rocker, (already did pass side). During this adventure that i'd rather not have had the joy of taking I noticed a few things that I didn't like, besides the rust. 1 behind the fenders is a giant wool-like sound dampener. 2 the sunroof drain hoses drain locations. All four of the drain hoses drain to the underbody, but on the inside of the rocker panel/fender area, and likewise with the rear drains, inside rocker panel. Im not too sure if they originally had holes where the water could escape the rocker panel or not, since mine were all rusted thru. Now, on the front 2 drains, there is the issue of the sound dampener material, I took mine out and replaced it with closed-cell foam (the kind that doesn't absorb moisture) because this was one big wet sponge and i'm pretty sure it probably never completely dried, EVER, after the first good soak it received back in 1998 due to its location and what not. hope this helps someone

**BillBoost37** · 05-30-2013

Even my 00 Silverado has rocker rust... it's common on a number of vehicles.

Maybe because they are so close to the ground..hmmm

**dsmuts** · 05-30-2013

my comp g is close to the ground and it doesn't have any rust............yet

**Mad Monkey** · 05-30-2013

the cover keeps in moisture, it happens.

**Neil98gt** · 05-30-2013

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Maybe because they are so close to the ground..hmmm

No way. Noooope nope way too logical

**Neil98gt** · 05-30-2013

Originally Posted by Mad Monkey

the cover keeps in moisture, it happens.

SE's no have cover, they still rust?

**Mad Monkey** · 05-30-2013

se's are crap.. point moot.

my 05 is great, no issues, but i also clean it regular in the winter, starting this winter tho its gonna get spray'd too.

**txslow6** · 05-30-2013

What is this rust you speak of? :P

**dsmuts** · 05-30-2013

Damn southerners

**dpzelenak** · 05-30-2013

rust? if theres dark brown/ light brown stuff on the rockers and wheel wells, then its either **** or mud, most if the time is both. dont know what all this talk of rust is??...damn yankees

**pmk138** · 05-31-2013

Now my sunroof drain tubes exit out in the area of the front door hinges. Are you guys saying they actually have water channeling through the rocker panels? If so, where on the car do they exit out? I have a 98 4 door gtp

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