Found a Future Rust Pocket...
 

Maybe this has already been covered, but if not, y'all might want to check this out on your own trucks.

So, I was in the planning stages today of doing a mod where I need to get behind the front fenders. The easiest access is loosening the wheel well liners.

Well, you wouldn't believe the crap I found at the aft end, near the front door hinges! I was working on the driver's side first and cleaned it all out before deciding to take pictures. The pictures from the pax side are a before and after, and you can see how much crap was packed in there. And that doesn't include what I blew out with the air hose afterwards.

When I was working on the driver's side, I was out in my driveway, that is until it started to rain. I can tell you this though, water does get down in this area, too, because in the time it took me to put the nose of the truck in the garage to work on the pax side, water was already dripping from this area. In one of the pics, you can actually see a "water trail" down to where this pocket of crap was packed.

If you're going to check yours out, there are 4 screws (7/32") holding the liner in place, but you only need to remove 3 of them to clean this area out--the 2 at the bottom aft, and another located at about the 10 o'clock position on the pax side; 2 o'clock position on the driver's side. Then you can peel the liner back enough to clean this area out.

those are some serious, serial-killer gloves :)

Thanks for the heads-up!

Good to know . Thanks for the post !!

+1 props dude. I have to check mine when I get home now :icon_cool:

Props for posting this. I found the same thing on my truck.

Ditto on the find.

I noticed you have Cooper AT3s on your truck. How do you like them? Have you had them through a winter season?

Wow! Thanks for the headsup. Soon as time allows, I'll check mine. Maybe throw some undercoat in that area as well.;)

Stop parking under trees. Mines garaged, so no issue here. Itll be traded for new long before rust artives.

I'm a collision repair tech and that is very common on just about everything. I've never seen one rust though.

Don't take this as I'm trying to take away from your post. I'm not. I only want to add, that in my 15 years working in the Auto Body industry, this area right here is where I find most leaves, pine needles, dirt, you name it. Many times when we paint fenders or to blend them, we will remove those wheel liners and find tons of stuff, I typically have a pile of junk on the floor when I'm done cleaning I'm out before I paint. This is the sole reason I do not buy the rear wheel liners, it is why I spray bed lined in mine

Hahaha, yeah, well the wife's car gets the garage.

BTW--besides the leaves, there was a LOT of dirt, and I don't park under dirt piles. :thumb up:

Yeah, actually have had them through a couple of winters already. Have over 40,000 miles on them and still going. When I finally wear through these, I'll definitely be getting another set. No complaints at all. :thumbsup:

Nice tip. Thanks.

mbullock - This is on the front wheel well where there is a factory liner. It is not optional.

Found a Future Rust Pocket...
 

Yes I know. Seems you only read the last sentence of my post. That is not what I meant. The fact that I find this in the front liners of many cars and trucks every week, is the reason I didn't get the rear liners. Not to mention the rear vibrate and wear paint down to the metal.