04 Liberty inner rocker replacement?

[Harry1970]

I'm sure someone has tackled this issue before. It an 04 Liberty in need of rocker replacement. I am in process of replacing the inner and outer rocker on drivers side but behind the rocker that kinda ties into the floor that piece is rotted out. Haven't seen any replacement for that. Is there a replacement or just fab some sheetmetal?
Also I coated everything with Ospho any other suggestions for slowing the rust down?
Thanks
Harry

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

 

[LibertyTC]

Wow that is some serious rust going on. Salt *****! They don't call it the rust belt for nothing. Where are you from?
Here is the 2004 complete parts list, IDK but maybe the floor pans are listed? http://www.colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ/04kj_PARTS_FICHE.pdf
Many also recommend POR 15 as a rust protective coating.

 

[Harry1970]

Yeah, Massachusetts has been brutal on the Liberty, thanks for the link I have 03 I could never find the 04 one.
I want to try the Eastwood's non hardening frame rail coating. The ospho is just to slow what rust is there down.
Passengers side of the libby no where near as bad. Just outer rocker replacement.
Thanks
Harry

 

[LibertyTC]

I would be interested to know how the frame rail coating work out.
How long is dry time, and how thick it is.

 

[Harry1970]

I would be interested to know how the frame rail coating works out.
How long is dry time, and how thick it is.

Well grabbed a quart, from Eastwood's. I guess only time will tell.

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[Harry1970]

Anybody replace the inner rockers before?

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

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• Harry1970
• Sep 29, 2019

I might have someone who is parting out their liberty where if their inner rockers are still usable i can have them. Of course I'm chopping them out.

 

[LibertyTC]

Harry, I really wonder now after looking at your gallery of the rust damage images, how did it get into the rear inner rockers so bad ?
https://www.jeepkj.com/media/albums/2004-liberty.1006/?page=2
Suddenly I want an extra can of fluid film to spray the heck in and around the rockers and even more undercoating for further protection.

 

[Shane Giggie]

Mine is as bad as yours or worse, I need to get it fixed this spring. But it works good and I love her and it's worth fixing.

 

[308slegs]

Hi Harry. I just stumbled onto your post as I am dealing with the same problem. How did you make out on this project? What did you end up using to replace them?

 

[KJowner]

I had the same, just got a sheet metal guy to fold me some new ones out of 2mm steel.

You must be registered for see images attach

Note the handy temporary work bench / next years kindling

 

[JeepGoBeep]

Hello KJowner,

I’m trying to repair the whole rocker panel dilemma on my 05 limited. However the box shaped panel right under vehicle and attached to the rocker seems to need replacement aswell. This panel looks identical to the one mentioned in your photo. Would this be correct? I have attached a photo for reference.

Likewise, if so may you please be able to share some of the dimensions used to create this panel. Your help is really appreciated.

 

[KJowner]

Yes that's the inner sill, it's much heavier steel than the outer rocker panel & is structural. You will find the remains of a flat strip of steel that complete the box section of the inner sill and separates it from the rocker panel.
I used 2mm steel to remake it, it looks like the original thickness steel.

 

[KJowner]

This is what it should look like, the 3 bits of steel make a very ridged section

You must be registered for see images attach

My folded section is 30mm x 70mm x 30mm

When you do the outer section make sure you allow for the step in at the rear to let the plastic arch trim sit in so it lines up with the rest of the trim.

 

[cas123]

I have been nursing my rockers for years with annual fiberglassing. But I went to a shop for some work and they crushed them on the lift. We do not have a lift at home and my son was going to do a rock slider thing for me in time- we should have a lift next year if the Liberty lasts that long. So I am trying to recreate something out of fiberglass to get through inspection. It is warped now to boot. Been working on it for days. I got covers for the rockers on the outside but the inside has to be kind of fabricated out of fiberglass for now. I will just tell them DO NOT LIFT BY THE ROCKERS. And hope it passes inspection. Please update your post and if you can measure that steel piece you had made, it would help a lot. At this point it is hard to know where to start. Horrible. It is my daily driver but I am off right now.

 

[cas123]

Harry, I really wonder now after looking at your gallery of the rust damage images, how did it get into the rear inner rockers so bad ?
https://www.jeepkj.com/media/albums/2004-liberty.1006/?page=2
Suddenly I want an extra can of fluid film to spray the heck in and around the rockers and even more undercoating for further protection.

We have tried to figure this out for years. I need to take the inner wheel well pieces off. There has to be a hole that drains there. I am in the middle of trying to have a garage built and we have to work outside so it has not been easy. I found dirt caked in there. It has to be accumulating from some connection to the outside. Mine are really bad also though I have worked on them every year to fix any bad areas to help keep them going longer. Now they were crushed at Monro Muffler so I am in a real bind. The place went under- Karma I guess.

 

[KJowner]

I have been nursing my rockers for years with annual fiberglassing. But I went to a shop for some work and they crushed them on the lift. We do not have a lift at home and my son was going to do a rock slider thing for me in time- we should have a lift next year if the Liberty lasts that long. So I am trying to recreate something out of fiberglass to get through inspection. It is warped now to boot. Been working on it for days. I got covers for the rockers on the outside but the inside has to be kind of fabricated out of fiberglass for now. I will just tell them DO NOT LIFT BY THE ROCKERS. And hope it passes inspection. Please update your post and if you can measure that steel piece you had made, it would help a lot. At this point it is hard to know where to start. Horrible. It is my daily driver but I am off right now.

The dimensions are on the post with the picture.
I really wouldn't recommend glassfiber, they are an important part of the strength of the car, the Jeep doesn't have a chassis like the older ones, the passenger cage is all vital, especially if you have a crash.

 

[cas123]

The dimensions are on the post with the picture.
I really wouldn't recommend glassfiber, they are an important part of the strength of the car, the Jeep doesn't have a chassis like the older ones, the passenger cage is all vital, especially if you have a crash.

I know. But they do make fiberglass bodies and Corvettes are fiberglass. I need another year to get a lift to get steel up in there. Either that or I give up the Liberty for parts and I put $3000 in repairs this year into it. I will say I had an accident this year, slid on a wet hill into a Mitsubishi. Her car was a mess. The Liberty - no visible damage. For a Unibody structure it held up well. I wish I had another option but I cannot afford a weld shop- I have already spent more than the vehicle is worth this year. There is a good bit of metal still there. The outer rockers were destroyed and the inners partially, but rust does not work any better than fiberglass. I sure wish they had not done that to my rockers. It has already been massive work.

 

[KJowner]

I feel your pain, all my car repairs and welding are done laying on my back on my drive.

 

[cas123]

I feel your pain, all my car repairs and welding are done laying on my back on my drive.

Yes we work in the yard. On the grass. It really *****. And cannot work in the rain so everything takes that much longer.

 

[LFX1]

This is what it should look like, the 3 bits of steel make a very ridged section

You must be registered for see images attach

My folded section is 30mm x 70mm x 30mm

When you do the outer section make sure you allow for the step in at the rear to let the plastic arch trim sit in so it lines up with the rest of the trim.

What are the other 2 pieces, you give the measurement of you bend, is the middle one just straight steel, what did you use for the outer one, is that the outer? Also any pictures of it in place or welded in? How long did you make that, do you have the measurement of the length or did you go long then cut it off after tacked in place.