A Guide for Beginners: Replacing Rocker Panels and Side Skirts

Replacement Rocker Panels

A rocker panel is a pressed steel piece that is an essential part of the body construction of your vehicle. Rocker panels are positioned along the sides of the car, right below the doors, connecting the front and rear tire well openings. In fact, every time you enter and exit, you lift your feet over them. Aside from the roof supports, these are the only portion of the frame that connects your vehicle's front and back ends. In this post, we'll go over the function of rocker panels on your vehicle, why they're more prone to corrosion and the best options for buying new rocker panels whenever the time comes.

A BMW executive showcases the placement and construction of the new i3 rocker panel.

A rust-compromised rocker panel must be cut out and replaced so the rust does not spread further.

Rocker panels provide structural support to protect the bottom of the vehicle from sagging in the middle of unibody automobiles, where the body and frame of the vehicle are one. The toughness of rocker panels is vital in generating a passenger cabin region that does not bend in an accident the way hood and trunk parts are meant to do on more modern automobiles and trucks with front and rear crumple zones. As a result, we can conclude that rocker panels play a significant role in safety.

Rocker panel rot does not affect older body-on-frame automobiles that have a separate frame for reinforcement in the same way. However, with newer trucks designed with separate frames, the rocker panels and other related parts are being used to increase sturdiness and create torsional stiffness, thus they serve an important structural role there as well.

If your Camaro's rocker panel is rusted or damaged, you've come to the right place. Rick's Camaro provides rocker panels and covers for most classic Camaro models, ranging from 1967 to 2002.

The chrome trim pieces on this 1971 Cadillac Eldorado were a common source of rust formation.

Shown above is an image of common off-road damages. A damaged rocker panel will offer less structural support and will accumulate rust quicker.

Rocker Panels' Location

Because rocker panels are positioned low on the body where the eye does not notice, they may be overlooked when washing the car. Carwashes can end up missing these areas on many sporty cars that slope inward at the bottom. When OEM plastic or metal trim pieces are present, they frequently cover the rocker panels, blocking maintenance efforts that would normally eliminate the condensation, grime and corrosive road salt that accumulates.

All About Rusty Rocker Panels

Fiberglass repair kits were popular in the 1950s and 1960s, when most cars in Rust Belt states suffered rocker panel rot after only a few years. After soaking fiberglass pieces in water, they were plastered onto the damaged region and sanded smooth. Because almost all cars of the time had separate bodywork and frameworks, rocker panels were able to be patched since they did not carry the car's weight. Unfortunately, the only safe option to fix a damaged rocker panel nowadays is to replace it totally. Correctly replacing it entails removing the old, rusted metal and putting in a new rocker panel component.

Unfortunately, most classic Camaro rocker panels are extremely prone to rust and will often require replacement. Consider a 1967-1969 Full Camaro Full Rocker Panel Assembly to get your Camaro looking and riding as good as new.

These GM sill plate moldings would trap corrosive moisture, resulting in the accumulation of rust.

Shown above is an OEM rocker panel trim piece being removed. These pieces can trap moisture and salty slush deposits, resulting in corrosion over time.

Formation of Rocker Panel Rust

Rust on rocker panels usually always develops from the inside out, unless in cases of damage or scrapes. If any rust can be seen with the naked eye on the surface, it's a good bet that the metal inside is corroding. According to specialists, if you find a hole that has rusted entirely through, the amount of metal that is eaten away along surfaces on the inside is several times worse. In summary, the rocker panel is well on its way to disappearing entirely.

Off-Roading Takes a Toll on Rocker Panels

Off-roaders are well aware of how damaging the trails can be at times. Deep holes can be hidden by bodies of water, perilous ruts can arise from nowhere and even the most solid of rocks can move unexpectedly. Before you know it, the lower corners of your rocker panels have been rocked hard enough to wrinkle and rip the metal.

If your rocker panel has been weakened in this way, you should consider replacing it as soon as possible. Severely damaged panels provide less structural stability over tough terrain, are considerably more prone to rust and significantly reduce the value of your car. Installing a high-quality replacement part is what smart money does, and you should follow suit.

Corroded Rocker Panels Compromise Safety

A worst-case scenario of rocker panel rust.

The rocker panel is highlighted in red.

A deteriorated rocker panel may make it hard to utilize your factory jack if it's precisely shaped to function with fitted jack points, because the component of the rocker panel holding the jack point has lost its strength. Corrosion can cause a trailing arm to detach on vehicles with suspensions that have rear trailing arms attached to the rocker panels. A misaligned rear wheel or seized brakes could result in a loss of vehicle control. Exhaust entering the vehicle is another problem associated with rust holes on any lower portions of the car (including rocker panels and floor boards).

If you purchased your vehicle due to its security and safety ratings, keep in mind that the crash ratings it obtained are based on government crash tests performed on new vehicles with undamaged rocker panels. If you want to make the car safe, you must first make it whole again. The only proper technique to repair a rusted rocker panel is to remove all of the damaged metal and weld in a new one. Unless you have sheet-metal welding skills, hiring a professional is your best bet. Of course, after the new component is in place, the task isn't finished because the new metal needs to be treated with the required primer, paint and undercoating coatings.

Address Beginning Stages of Rust

On a side note, inspecting any drain holes situated in Camaro rocker panel locations on a regular basis is definitely worth your effort, especially in older models. Remove any muck that has accumulated inside them to avoid the moisture buildup which leads to corrosion. If you notice any slight surface rust forming in hidden spots, thoroughly dry the area, scrub it with a wire brush (or tapered, narrow brush) and apply some rust inhibitor.

A quality wire scrubbing brush can go a long way in protecting your Camaros rocker panels.

The Specific Rocker Panel Parts We Offer

Here at Rick's Camaro, we stock quality Camaro replacement full rocker panels from respected manufacturers who specialize in creating OEM-quality body parts at less-than-OEM rates for most classic Camaros.

We also sell Camaro dog legs and end caps, which connect the various ends of the rocker panel to the rest of the vehicle.

Dog Legs

Here is an example of a Dog Leg.

End Caps

End caps are additional components that connect the horizontal rocker panel part to the remainder of the vehicle. While end caps are normally used in the front of the rocker panel, certain vehicles also utilize them in the back.

Rocker Panel Patches

What exactly is a rocker panel patch? These are partial portions of the horizontal rocker panel. They come in handy when rust has only affected a small region and the complete rocker panel does not need to be ripped out and rebuilt. Patches from Goodmark, Sherman, Spectra Premium and other brands are available.

We have composed the Rocker Panels part of our website to present you with specific alternatives for your year, make and model to guide you through it. When you enter your vehicle's details, you'll see all of the rocker panels and related accessories that match.

To summarize, repairing damaged Camaro rocker panels improves the vehicle's crashworthiness, increases safety and provides you with peace of mind that your car's backbone is as strong as ever. We're happy to answer any questions you have about your Camaro's rocker panels, so please give us a call seven days a week!