Fender Rust
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Fender Rust
Hi,
I have some really annoying rust over the driver's rear wheel. It started out as some really small bubbles a few months ago, but it has grown to an area about as big as my hand, and the middle is cracked open. There are a few smaller bubbles along the fender and a few small ones on the passenger's side. I was thinking that once it warms up, I would grind it out and see how bad it really is. Then, I would bondo as best I can, if I can, and paint. I probably can't get it to look good though, I'm a really bad painter. So, I guess I would just cover it with a set of fender flares painted to match my truck, even though I'm not crazy about how they look, and they're expensive. Are there any better options? Any suggestions on how to go about fixing this?
Thanks
I have some really annoying rust over the driver's rear wheel. It started out as some really small bubbles a few months ago, but it has grown to an area about as big as my hand, and the middle is cracked open. There are a few smaller bubbles along the fender and a few small ones on the passenger's side. I was thinking that once it warms up, I would grind it out and see how bad it really is. Then, I would bondo as best I can, if I can, and paint. I probably can't get it to look good though, I'm a really bad painter. So, I guess I would just cover it with a set of fender flares painted to match my truck, even though I'm not crazy about how they look, and they're expensive. Are there any better options? Any suggestions on how to go about fixing this?
Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,764
Likes: 39
If you are going to repair it ,,you need to cut out anything that is rusty on the inside ,,keep cutting until the steel is clean on the back side . I do it a little at a time ,so I don't go any farther than I have to . Fit a patch of 22 guage steel ,a 1/2 inch or so larger than the hole ,,& weld it in (with a wire welder & a stich technique ) or a spot welder if you have one ,,cooling with air every 5-10 seconds ,then filler ..
Bondo won't last without patching it first ...
More than likely ,some one sells pre formed patch panels for the Veh...
Bondo won't last without patching it first ...
More than likely ,some one sells pre formed patch panels for the Veh...
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I got a quote from a body shop. Ready for this... Drumroll please.... $1600. Yes, sixteen hundred US dollars. I don't want it to look like crap, and it's getting rapidly bigger. I would rather pay the dealer/shop $400 to do whatever Ben's shop would do then do it myself and just have to cover it up with some flares that I don't even like hand would end up spending about $400 on. Ben, what did your shop say they were going to do?
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, PA
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, PA
I was also (still am ) thinking about grinding it out myself and using a primer then cover it with fender flares. Another idea I had was to remove the bed, sell it on ebay and get a flat bed for it. Problem with the flat bed is this is not a beat up work truck. Still my daily driver.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I also had similar thoughts, but a flatbed would be impractical for me. I think I'll check my local dealers. It doesn't need to be perfect, I just don't want it to keep spreading. It looks like my truck has some terrible disease.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I had a thought. My bed really is worse than I like to think. The passenger's side had been bondoed before, and it is starting to peel up. The rust on the driver's side is so bad that if I press had from the inside of the wheelwell, I could probably put my had through it. It is rusting from the inside out. Also, the previous owner didn't have a bedliner, so the bed surface looks like heck. Is it insane to contemplate getting another bed entirely? If I just happened to find one at a salvage yard with front end collision that was painted my color (obnoxious red), how much would it cost? COuld I sell my current one for anything?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
I just picked up a bed side from the local pull & pay for $75 ... so you might think about just doing the bed sides 1 at a time as you find good ones. It seems that a good complete bed runs between $500-$700, but fairly hard to find .... atleast around here.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,359
Likes: 1
From: Hampstead, NC