Decided to pop the doors open today to take a good look at that dent on my rocker panel and it’s worse than I though. They were smashed and overlapping each other.

I think the top A pillar might be bent in and that’s why the top of the door has such a large gap.

i got tboned 6 months ago and have been fighting the other party with a lawyer , I have bulging discs in my neck at 23 yrs old now with permanent nerve damage.

To make matters worse there’s nothing to go after other than the state minimum which in California is 15k BI and 5K property damage.

the 3rd party insurance is fighting pretty hard not to pay me out despite everything.

anyway enough of that ....... the inner panels and structure of the cab is creased but I have a
buddy at work who knows someone who will fix it for 1500$ with a frame puller

not sure if it’s a viable option or if it will seal enough with new doors if he tries to straighten it out

doesnt look like money’s coming at all unless there’s a long court battle so I can forget about saving for a diesel truck , especially with prices right now in CA

nothing else is wrong with it other than the accident knocked my end link loose and it rattles up against my leaf spring , especially when I turn

someone put the wrong size bushings on too so the sway bar has play

weighing my options

 

Its hard to see what else may be damaged with just that one picture, but to me your rocker is bent and just needs to be cut out and replaced. A frame puller won't do you any good.

 

More than just rocker damage. And yes, a frame machine can get it back to alignment but not cosmetically straight. If you can stand the looks of the rocker once straightened then yes, you can repair it without replacing rocker panel. The floor panel behind the rocker is also damaged and that's where the frame machine would work best to correct. Don't try it yourself, get the professional frame guy to take care of it for you.

 

A shop vac would be pretty beneficial too.

 

they would cut it out and replace from a donor. looks like you need to get it cleaned up and shampooed first.

I would not touch it until it is somewhat clean.

 

that would cost about what ? 10k$ ?

 

hard to say, but expensive yes.

 

If the A post is bent too they may try to total the truck.

 

Or a leaf blower

 

Hey, give him a break, he already cleaned out three bags of garbage out of it.

 

I've watched a body shop owner friend of mine fix simular damage by removing the plastic kick plates to inspect any floor or inner panel damage then welding tabs on the rocker panel and pulling it out until it looks close to being back in position, that will also straighten the A piller. Then remove the rocker panel and replace it with new or used. A lot of man hours and it isn't cheap to do.

Demny

 

At this point a cab swap might be a cheaper option.