Preventing Rust On Bed Sides

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Jul 6, 2016 | 01:48 PM

#16

sammy77

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From: Illinois

Well, it's a very common issue, and it is caused by a "foam" that is behind the wheel well where the pan meets the quarter panel. This foam retains the moisture/road salt, and causes the rust so many trucks see.

On my '05, I completely removed the foam, replaced the roll pans on both sides, painted everything in POR-15, then rhino lined it all. Then I added wheel well liners, to prevent as much stuff getting sprayed back up as possible. Seven years later, not a speck of rust there. Including a few years of snowplowing after the repair.

OCD you say...? lol

Jul 6, 2016 | 03:27 PM

#17

kcducttaper

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I've thought about ripping my foam out and bed lining it up and slapping some wheel well liners in there. Maybe doing a yearly application of Krown on top of it too.

I just can't figure out why the foam thing is in there to begin with. It's an extra manufacturing expense, so there has to be some reason they put it there.... Just can't figure out what the heck it's for.

Jul 6, 2016 | 03:55 PM

#18

GN1220

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From: Kansas City, MO

Is there access to the foam to remove it? Seems like that should be priority number one.

Jul 6, 2016 | 04:45 PM

#19

SteveH-CO

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Joined: Jul 2005

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From: Southern Colorado

I could not get my hand up there to remove the foam, and it seemed to be crimped into the inner/outer fender joint. If anyone has removed all of the foam, they should explain how, in detail.

I ended up drilling a few small holes in the inner bed over the wheel well, and pumping in ATF from a pump oil can, until it was running out of both ends of the wheel well. I let it drip on newspaper for a couple days. I have confidence that the foam in there soaked up all the ATF it could.

Jul 6, 2016 | 05:29 PM

#20

ProjectTriton

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Joined: May 2016

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The reason ford put the foam in the wheel wells was for sound deadening purposes... I'm leaving the foam out when I replace my wheel arches in a week or two... but like the other guys said a coating of some time should work well along with wheel liners....As for pulling the foam out somehow good luck.. I just tried pulling on what I could thru a hole in my wheel arch and the foam just stretched and broke... so taking it out as one piece wont happen. maybe(idk) but maybe there is a chemical that would dissolve the foam.. I know you could burn it out but then you risk messing up your paint job on the outside.... well anyway good luck to ya....

Jul 6, 2016 | 06:02 PM

#21

sammy77

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From: Illinois

I had everything cut out, and replaced the skins of the bed sides. When the roll pans were removed, you're able to access, and remove all of the foam.

Jul 6, 2016 | 07:16 PM

#22

GN1220

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From: Kansas City, MO

Brake cleaner dissolves foam I believe......

Jul 7, 2016 | 09:32 AM

#23

droldsmorland

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Joined: Nov 2011

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From: Land of Taxes

I like sammy77s idea...Cutting out the inners and welding in new is about the only way to do it properly...unlike OEM. Should I need to do this on a new 50-60+K truck? NO...But the next new new one will get this treatment. That is unless Henry decides to eliminate this CRAP after 15 years. Noise abatement CRAP! It sells new trucks and pizzes me off. A sponge in a 4x4 wheel well, good job, fine engineering practice...This one was bean-counter driven for sure.