Rocker panel time, 2011 EL

[stevemiller333]

I figured I would start a thread because after a lot of searching, I haven't seen too much discussion about a complete rocker replacement on the 3rd gen EL model.

I am going to do the passenger side this year because it is the worst, and the driver side next year or the year after depending on when it needs it. I ordered two of the same rockers for the passenger side from here...

https://www.carparts.com/rocker-panel/key-parts/fit1984110

They are around 30-50 cheaper than I could find anywhere else and they are the same part. Only "KEY" manufactures these as far as I can tell.

Credit to JExpedition07 for his posts and his image below showing that these rockers look like. I am going to have the body shop lengthen and make one rocker from the two so it works for the EL and install the complete outer rocker.

I will include before and after pics. The shop is charging me $1000 to do the job and I spent about $280 on the 2 rockers shipped. So I think I will end up about $1300 a side. I have a 2011 EL limited with 110k miles, I really like it so it is worth it to me to keep it in good shape.

 

[mjp2]

 

[stevemiller333]

Here is my truck and current state of passenger side rocker after 9 upstate NY winters, heavy salt. My parts get here today, I will drop it off at the body shop on Tuesday.

 

[Plati]

Here's my Expy after 17 Rainchester winters.


I might suggest you buy some Fluid Film and yearly spray the inside of your brandy new Rockers and a few other places like: brake & tranny cooler lines, gas feed tube, radiator support mount, spare tire rim & cable, wheel well perimeter, various other susceptible spots. I would also advise hit your lower steering shaft knuckle with WD40 every fall.

 

[cdahlen]

I have a 11 xlt. When clicked on the link,it said that part didn't fit.

 

[stevemiller333]

I have a 11 xlt. When clicked on the link,it said that part didn't fit.

Yes that is true. I have read on this forum that several people have used them for the 3rd gen as there weren't any significant changes to body design. I will have to get a couple of those front door jam pieces from the parts dept because 3rd gen doesn't have them but hopefully it will work! They also don't make them for an EL so I am in double trouble!

I will post some good pics after they chop up my truck and put it back together again.

 

[JohnA]

Quoted $4K for both sides 2010 XLT 150K, by local shop here in Rensselaer County NY this summer. Interested in how yours turn out. About same amount of damage also. Good luck.

 

[stevemiller333]

Looking good, here are some progress pics so you can see how he is making them fit.

 

[Plati]

Looking good, here are some progress pics so you can see how he is making them fit.

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That looks so nice, I'm jealous.
Can you post the shop name doing the work or PM it to me?
I figure if they do good work - they deserve the exposure.
I need some things done on my 2003 ...

(passenger floor is GONE for example)

 

[Naumoff]

Just discovered my 09 rockers are rusted out. Heartbreaking. I love my Expedition but at 200k don't know if I want to sink the money into it. It also need body mount bushing and i discovered a bad rusted out area on the frame while i was changing the starter yesterday.
Good luck with the repairs

 

[JExpedition07]

Yes the 2006 model year rocker panels fit perfectly with a little finagling. I’m not sure why the parts websites have not updated their figment guides, when I had my short 2007 Expedition the 2006 panel was a dead on match. I measured it every which way and all the creases matched. With the EL you have to lengthen it a bit.

 

[mjp2]

Looking good, here are some progress pics so you can see how he is making them fit.

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Any pics of the inner rockers? How'd they look when the outers were cut off?

I've been watching these for awhile. They don't match the factory design but line up with some natural cut lines on our trucks.

 

[stevemiller333]

I did not get a pic of the inners but they were solid. The main area was where I poked the hole through, I think there was a salty puddle resting in there for half the year. That is why it's important to get to it before it spreads to the inners.

 

[stevemiller333]

A few more photos of progress, got a couple of the inner rocker...

 

[stevemiller333]

Here's a couple more he sent me. You can see the mod to lengthen the panel to fit the EL.

 

[Trainmaster]

That's nice work. *Nobody* around here does that kind of work. It would be slapped over the rusted one with a handful of spot welds and Bondoed.

 

[Plati]

These are the plugs I use in my 2014 "inner rocker panel" to keep goobus out in winter
Almost time to reinstall them

 

[JExpedition07]

That's nice work. *Nobody* around here does that kind of work. It would be slapped over the rusted one with a handful of spot welds and Bondoed.

It truly is an art. We have some excellent body shops in Buffalo. On my last red 2007 expy my passenger wheel well was bubbling and rusty. I took it in and they cut out all the rust, grounded the remainder off, welded on new sheet steel and shaped it, filled, and painted and blended. It was excellent work and they got every single crease correct. I was blown away that they got red paint to match literally perfectly. You couldn’t pick out where the repair was done after the work.

 

[mjp2]

That's nice work. *Nobody* around here does that kind of work. It would be slapped over the rusted one with a handful of spot welds and Bondoed.

Emphatically seconded. @stevemiller333 you have an excellent shop working on your rig.

 

[stevemiller333]

Yes he is doing a really nice job! It's coming along...