I'm new here, and will probably ask a lot of stupid questions, so bear with me.

Anyway, my truck's got some bad rust on the bottom of the door panels, on both sides. Now, i got this truck used and i also noticed rust around the weather stripping on the bottom of the windows. Would simply replacing the weatherstripping fix the problem of the leakage into the doors, or is there a bigger issue at hand? Also, would sanding the rust out and then bondoing it be an appropriate measure?

I'm not sure if this was a year-specific problem, but if the year of the truck matters, just look at my sig. Thanks.

 

welcome to df, replacing the weatherstripping would help since waters just sitting in there creating rust. as for the rust, i would just sand it completely off and then spray some good paint on it. if you can get a can of cold galivanizing thats most likely the best stuff to use. then paint over that. i dont think you need bondo unless its actually rusted through.

 

bondo is not a way to repair rust. anyway the doors are prone to rust along the bottom edge due to a poor design and improper drain hole locations.

 

My 2000 just started at the bottoms of the front doors and at the bottom of the tailgate. The rear Quad cab doors are fine...kinda odd.

 

yep, the rust is all the way through. Alrite, thanks for the advice guys. I could probably get the weather stripping at the dealer, right?


(which reminds me, i need damn new gastank brackets...)

 

has any body heard anything about drilling new holes for drainage? these trucks all come leaning towards the front so why in the hell did they put the drain holes in the rear of the door. im thinking about drilling and painting new drain holes towards the front to prevent mine from goin (one has started). just wonderin if any body has done this?

 

Hi there, I too am new here, and a little late. I hate to start out on the wrong foot but I just had to put in my 2 cents. You all are way too nice, we should be outraged!!! We need to get together and send our voice to detroit. My truck has a rusted door, and I have seen trucks as yearly as 94 with the same problem. This means the team of monkeys that designs these things knew about this when mine was built and didn't do a damn thing. They just kept pumping them out and left us holding the bag. Its not year specific, So if you don't have a rusted door: YOU WILL.

 

I have the beginings of rust.

Drill drain holes, water won't really hurt it unless it pools.

Fix your weather stripping. If you roll the window down and it won't wipe the water/fog off it, you need new stripping. Wire wheel the paint off, use POR-15 or rust bullet, then re spray w. auto paint. Por-15 and rustbullet are a godsend and will truely stop rust in it's tracks. Just prep it right.

POR-15 is also great for underbody and other rust prone areas.

 

I's definitly a problem for the 95 model year...mine has it on both sides and I've seen 4 other 95's with EXACT SAME problem.

 

Mine is a 99 and had some rust spots but I dont think is just dodge, I have seen Chevys and Fords do the same, its more than likely just the weather stripping has gotten old and needs to be taken care of. Like oils and other components the weather stripping should be replaced when it gets bad.