How does door rust start? Could it be...
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Lower Mainland B.C.
How does door rust start? Could it be...
I was stripping a door down today and noticed how the lock is held in place by that clip that gets installed through the slot behind the door skin. Well that is a convenient place for water to get into , being that it is on the weather side of the weatherstrip!!!
Do most doors start to rust at the back rear corners? That slot would explain it. (aside from shoddy window seals, leaking mirror mount bolts, and people not washing their door bottoms!)
My doors will be getting minor rust along the bottom seam fixed and I'm going to have that slot welded shut. I'm going to use a different similar clip, the lock seems to be the same size as the one off of my dads 94 Nissan truck(I put speakers in for him and had the locks rebuilt for his Bday). I'll have to take a junkyard tour and look at different lock setups to be sure of sizes.
Do most doors start to rust at the back rear corners? That slot would explain it. (aside from shoddy window seals, leaking mirror mount bolts, and people not washing their door bottoms!)
My doors will be getting minor rust along the bottom seam fixed and I'm going to have that slot welded shut. I'm going to use a different similar clip, the lock seems to be the same size as the one off of my dads 94 Nissan truck(I put speakers in for him and had the locks rebuilt for his Bday). I'll have to take a junkyard tour and look at different lock setups to be sure of sizes.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Near St. Joseph,MO
My thoughts are that yeah, maybe some water gets in there, but most probably gets in at the bottom of the window. I haven't seen an old car/truck that hasn't had that rubber piece all cracked and hard. One little gap, and the water that gets to that point has free reign on the inside of the door. If you were really worried about it, you could put some silicone around the clip. That way you can still remove it if you want, but wouldn't have to worry about it otherwise.
The real problem is the drain holes at the bottom get plugged, then water just sits there.
The real problem is the drain holes at the bottom get plugged, then water just sits there.
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Water will find a way to get in no matter what you do. My guess would be the outer window seal as the weak point... The best thing I have found to do is just be ready for it. Water management is key. Its gonna get in no matter what, Just make an easy out for it. Leave the door open and hit it with a pressure washer and watch the path and put a hole where it wants to puddle (be sure to coat the hole with something). Look at how many super duty tailgates rust at the bottom due to the holes for the plastic trim in the top. In my super duty I drilled 6 holes in the bottom of the tail gate and then rhino lined the inside of it. Not a spec of rust after 6 years.
Logistics Pro
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The doors are designed to have water enter the inside-hence the drain holes. Even the new trucks, cars are still designed this way. You won't ever seal the doors 100% and if you do you will really get rust issues.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Lower Mainland B.C.
The drain holes are staying, I'm just trying to minimize water intrusion, I'll be putting new window felts/seals in as well, once I find a good place to buy them from.
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From: Mississippi
I got in my '04 ranger one day after not driving it for awhile and heard a sloshing noise, at least I thought I did. Kept hearing it and when I parked and opened the door, I realized it was coming from there. There are two plastic , loose fitting plugs on the drivers doors and I pulled one down and out came about 2 gals of water. The passenger door didnt have the plugs and I removed them from the drivers side as well.
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Logistics Pro
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If the rust isn't bad I would scrub the inside with a wire brush and ophro or Metal Ready from Por15. Let it cure and repeat then either Por15 or epoxy prime and seal the inside lower section.
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Could have been a spot that didn't get primed/painted well or that was damaged during installation.
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From: sacramento
Ill get a picture ina minute...
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From: sacramento
<a href="http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/?action=view&current=IMG_20110729_122209.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/IMG_20110729_122209.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/?action=view&current=IMG_20110729_122152.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/IMG_20110729_122152.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/?action=view&current=IMG_20110729_122220.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/IMG_20110729_122220.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The bottom of the door really suffered.
the top and the door jam are pitted
<a href="http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/?action=view&current=IMG_20110729_122152.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/IMG_20110729_122152.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/?action=view&current=IMG_20110729_122220.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc484/Alex_Neils/My%20truck/IMG_20110729_122220.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The bottom of the door really suffered.
the top and the door jam are pitted
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