Door Drain Idea
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
Door Drain Idea
So i had a think today while driving to work from school and the doors usually rot out on the bottom where the drains are. On the bottom of my doors there is a bunch of dirt and crap etc that i had to get out then i painted the inside with POR. I didn't even think of this but what about taking a dremel to the drains and cutting them down so that here is no bottom lip? the water would not puddle up and sit stagnant inside until it evaporates and leaves all the crap behind. Also you could easily take the door panel and sound barrier off and hose the inside out to get the dirt out and keep it clean every once in a while?
Thoughts!? good idea or bad?
Thoughts!? good idea or bad?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,357
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I suppose you could pull the door panels off and clean the inside out. I removed the door panels and sound barrier to access the inside of the doors and I had pretty good access to everything so I could coat the bottom of the door with fluid film. I think that unless you spray some sort of rust inhibitor onto the seam they will rust out eventually no matter what you do. They will probably rust out even if you coat the seam.
I think a better setup is an open bottom like the '04-'08 F150's had. The entire bottom of the doors was basically a drain and was open so you could blow the water out with an air gun. On my old truck I would blow the water out of the channel along the bottom of the door at the end of the day if the truck was driving in wet weather or washed and you'd be surprised how much water would come out. It was time consuming and took multiple trips to the garage to get all the water out, but after 7yrs of ownership there was zero rust on the doors.
I think a better setup is an open bottom like the '04-'08 F150's had. The entire bottom of the doors was basically a drain and was open so you could blow the water out with an air gun. On my old truck I would blow the water out of the channel along the bottom of the door at the end of the day if the truck was driving in wet weather or washed and you'd be surprised how much water would come out. It was time consuming and took multiple trips to the garage to get all the water out, but after 7yrs of ownership there was zero rust on the doors.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
That's not a bad idea either, I was just brain storming because the rust on my doors is only up to where the water settles because it doesn't drain out all the way. I was thinking that if it was flush with the bottom instead of up a half in or however high it is that it might let the water completely drain out.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
So it doesn't look as tall as i pictures it in my had but here is a pic of the drain holes. I was thinking just elongating it vertically until the bottom lip meets the door flush so the water does sit stagnant. I don't think this is a cure all but it may indeed help.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
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if it was me I'd add more drains since I think that is part of the problem. Really the drains on these trucks is poorly thought out. Drains are supposed to be at the bottom, not above an area that will hold water. It's just not a ford problem though, my wife's old '03 chevy had the same setup and that truck developed rust along the bottom of the doors when it was around 5yrs old.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
if it was me I'd add more drains since I think that is part of the problem. Really the drains on these trucks is poorly thought out. Drains are supposed to be at the bottom, not above an area that will hold water. It's just not a ford problem though, my wife's old '03 chevy had the same setup and that truck developed rust along the bottom of the doors when it was around 5yrs old.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,446
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From: South Jersey
On my 04 during the summer months I just use hot water and car soap inside the doors. Put the hose in the door an let it run for a few minutes, then a day or two later take the door panel off again and drench the bottom door lip with WD40 and now fluid film since it's "suppose" to be better
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Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
On my 04 during the summer months I just use hot water and car soap inside the doors. Put the hose in the door an let it run for a few minutes, then a day or two later take the door panel off again and drench the bottom door lip with WD40 and now fluid film since it's "suppose" to be better
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,825
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From: Land of Taxes
Fill the door up with LPS as it looks like you've done and be done with it. The conferring idea is ok but you'll be exposing metal which should be painted. The LPS will stop the crap from migrating into the seam. Good stuff!
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,272
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From: Cincy area
Fine if you want to cut additional ports for drainage. IMO less would be more though. How about blasting the ports with compressed air as needed or as a part of scheduled maintenance? Maybe even spray WD40 lightly inside with a blast of air. It works wonders maintaining good seals on my off road machines.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
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From: Stevens Point, WI
Thats the way, oil is best!
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
I guess I'll just put grease in there lol, I was just trying to think of something creative that might help. So you guys think grinding down the bottom lip to keep the water from settling isn't a good idea? I figured with that and oil/grease it would work quite well. I'm not one to cut into metal especially being in the North where anything exposed for more than two days develops rust or in the winter time like 4 hours lol.
BTW I had a brain fart yesterday I know what LPS is i use it at work every day lol I just had barely any sleep yesterday.
BTW I had a brain fart yesterday I know what LPS is i use it at work every day lol I just had barely any sleep yesterday.