Rust Alert!!

[Dicktator]

I got this eMail and pictures from Chuckstr/6.0TOGO.

DICK--HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF THE RUSTED AREA (MY SILL) AND THE UPPER BUMPER COVER RETAINER RUSTED IN HALF....FOUND THIS ONLY BECAUSE I DID SOMETHING STUPID AND HAD TO REPAIR THE COVER/R SIDE PANEL.....THIS AREA IS UNDER THE PLASTIC TRIM AT THE REAR OF THE BED--REMOVE BY LIFTING GENTLY--FOUR PLASTIC MAIL CLIPS HOLD IT I PLACE....ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL IF RUST IS STARTING OR NOT...THE PART IN QUESTION IS UNDER THE COVER ITSELF WHERE IT LAYS ON THE REAR SILL....THIS PART CANNOT BE PURCHASED WITHOUT GETTING THE COVER WITH IT...I HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING A STAINLESS STEEL PART--PRICE TO BE DETERMINED BASED ON QUANTITY.....THANKS FOR POSTING THIS(SHOULD YOU CHOSE TO DO SO)......CHUCKSTR

Pictures
1. Rusted part under plastic cover at beginning of Bed area. Under the SSR Logo. Stainless replacement beside the rusted one.
2. What was left and the cardboard template Chuckstr made.
3. Location of the rust, under plastic SSR Cover.

Contact Chuck if you need more information;

I THINK WE ALL NEED TO CHECK THIS AREA!

And Thanks Chuck for bringing it to our attention.


Dicktator

[Dragon2U]

WOW!!!!! I would never have thought of that but as these things age issues like this will rise up more often. Likely the issue is an unpainted or poorly prepped area. Being that there is a lot of moisture entering under the tailgate it would make sense if it wasn't done properly. Even if you don't drive often in rain it might be beneficial to remove the parts in the area and do some preventive maintenance ASAP. Kind of reminds me of the frame issue but this issues is MUCH worse.

[6.0TOGO]

FOR CLARIFICATION AND EMPHASIS---THIS PROBLEM WAS ON AN 05 WITH 53000 MILES DRIVEN DAILEY....MY SILL CLEANED UP WELL WITHOUT ANY SEVERE DAMAGE....THE RUSTED PART SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ANODIZED BY GM--NOT MOISTER RESISTANT....MY STAINLESS STEEL REPLACEMENT PART WORKED WELL AND IS PRIMARILY A STIFFINER FOR THE UPPER BUMPER COVER....SHOULD THERE BE NEED I CAN HAVE SOME OF THESE PRODUCED - I WAS OBVIOUSLY SHOCKED AND WANTED TO SPREAD THE WORD....CHUCK