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Rocker panel replacement

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Old Jun 9, 2013 | 04:27 PM
  #1  
JBsgreenxj's Avatar
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From: Centerville
Year: 1998
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Engine: 6 cylinder
Default Rocker panel replacement

my rockers are rusted out pretty bad... I need to replace them baaaad!! I want the stock rockers no rock sliders or anything. to order them from some place like quadratec they are 70 bucks each at least. I found on ebay a company called classic 2 current fabrications selling 18gauge steel rockers for 57.99. I was wondering if anyone knew if they are a legit source. Or know of a good place to find a good deal on rockers. Thanks.
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Old Jun 9, 2013 | 04:56 PM
  #2  
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Never heard of them but that company has the panels for sale on ebay. Order through ebay and you get some protection as a buyer.

http://stores.ebay.com/Classic-2-Cur...=p4634.c0.m322
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Old Jun 9, 2013 | 05:53 PM
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If your rocker panels are gone, good chance your unibody frame is hurting too. Time to inspect.
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Old Jun 9, 2013 | 06:40 PM
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Get on rockauto.com, $20 a piece for the outer panels.
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Old Jun 9, 2013 | 08:54 PM
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Herp Derp Jerp
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Radi likes C2C if I recall correctly.

Give your XJ a careful lookover before you order. If the outer rockers are toast, floor and rocker backing panel replacement may be in order.
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Old Jun 9, 2013 | 09:19 PM
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The c2c stuff is good. Fits right, well made. Made in Michigan, not China.
My hobby is restoring old classics, mostly GM stuff- I've bought from them and will again.

Note that their Jeep rocker panels are the outer section only and fit over the existing panels (not in place of) after you cut the rust out and stabilize them. They could completely replace the existing ones, but you'll need to buy the backsides and sill plates elsewhere and do a little fab.
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Old Jun 10, 2013 | 08:01 PM
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okay thanks guys. How can I tell if my unibody is rusting. And Radi, can I purchase the outer, inner rockers, and sill plate together? Does anyone have a good write up or how to on that? First time dealing with rockers.
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Old Jun 10, 2013 | 08:11 PM
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http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...866&cc=1315943

This is the C2C on rock auto. they are 20 bucks per side. Now is this the outer rocker panel replacement? or does it just cover up my rusted up one? I think my inner rocker panels and sill plate are okay.
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Old Jun 10, 2013 | 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by JBsgreenxj
okay thanks guys. How can I tell if my unibody is rusting. And Radi, can I purchase the outer, inner rockers, and sill plate together? Does anyone have a good write up or how to on that? First time dealing with rockers.
First stick your head under there and see what you need. You probably don't need sill plates (the top part right under the door) unless you are seriously rotted out.
I've never bought the inners so I don't have a good suggestion on that.
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Old Jun 11, 2013 | 12:30 AM
  #10  
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i bought some rockers for my 48 chrysler from c2c. good quality, fit and finish was spot on, so i'm sure their rockers for a jeep would be just as nice.
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Old Jun 11, 2013 | 06:18 AM
  #11  
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I picked up a set of the C2C outer rockers from Rock Auto and plan to do them this weekend. I'll let you know how they fit up.
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Old Jun 11, 2013 | 06:35 AM
  #12  
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Post pics!
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Old Jun 11, 2013 | 08:07 AM
  #13  
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I just got done doing a full factory rocker panel replacement on my 2001, so feel free to hit me up with any questions. I found the following naxja thread to be quite useful: http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1001463

When I got my cherokee, the PO had already bought a pair of outer rockers but never put them on. The inner rockers were badly rotted as well, though, so I ordered a set of inners from here: http://www.autobodyspecialt.com/cgi-...&category=0227

It was super high quality, heavy gauge stuff. Their outer rockers look just like the ones the PO bought as well, one piece without any cutouts around the A and B pillar, and the ones I had fit like a glove in place of the stock outers. The sill and outer rocker are one and the same, they're one piece. For the inners, the replacement piece you find will be meant to actually replace the entire inside part, not overlay it, which means drilling out lots of complicated little welds between the inner rocker and the A/B pillars and rear fender well. I completely replaced about a one foot long section of inner rocker on my passenger side where it meets the passenger rear wheel well, but the rest of the inner rocker was fairly solid, just the pinch seam was gone. So I hacked up the rest of the replacement inner and basically just made use of the pinch seam, like so:

Rocker panel replacement-liauvln.jpg
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Old Jun 11, 2013 | 09:26 AM
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Some additional pics for you:

What the rear of my passenger side rocker looked like... yeah, that's a big hole straight through to the cabin.
Rocker panel replacement-8qv86zr.jpg

Once I had the remnants of the outer rocker removed, this is how I repaired the last foot of the inner rocker that was just too far gone to use. I cut this piece off of the replacement inner I bought. You can see how I joined it to the rest of the replacement inner that I hacked up to use the lower pinch seam portion.
Rocker panel replacement-vorfmb1.jpg

And here's what that join looked like from inside the cabin.
Rocker panel replacement-ak5yuhd.jpg

Here's where the inner rocker joins up with the rear cargo floor pan and the rear fender well/quarter panel. Had to wire wheel a lot of seam sealer out of this joint to actually expose bare metal.
Rocker panel replacement-fjyckx7.jpg
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Old Jun 11, 2013 | 04:56 PM
  #15  
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kcdt58, yea let me know if those work. ill wait to order mine and see. Pics on the way now. Phil, my rust isn't quite as bad as yours on the inner rocker. I just did an inspection. There are a few spot that are rusted though.
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