12 replies to this topic

[mr.x]

My car is in very good conditioning consider the age, but some minor rust is starting to appear. It has never been driven in road salt. I had the front left A panel replaced 2 years ago, because it was starting to bubble outward, and now both door sills are starting expand under the black trim strip. The left side door is starting to show rust along the lower edge. The paint is starting to bubble. I want to catch it before it gets out of hand. How much labour is involved in replacing the sills and what should be done with the door? The rust is coming from the inside on the lower skin. Re-skin or repair existing?

[Timify]

Depends how bad it is, photos might help give a better idea of the work involved.

[mr.x]

Will post photos early tomorrow morning.

[sonikk4]

If you are keeping the car then replace the door skin and replace the sills. At least that way you will see what is happening underneath and if any further work is required.

Neither job is too taxing, as long as you can wield a welder then its fairly straight forward although with the door skin you will need to strip off the handle, mirror etc

Edited by sonikk4, 05 May 2010 - 05:58 PM.

[mr.x]

Here are pictures of both doors, inside and out, both sills. Left side sill is far worse then right side. Right side exterior of door is worse then right, but right side inner door is worse then left side.

[Frog]

My car is in very good conditioning consider the age, but some minor rust is starting to appear. It has never been driven in road salt. I had the front left A panel replaced 2 years ago, because it was starting to bubble outward, and now both door sills are starting expand under the black trim strip. The left side door is starting to show rust along the lower edge. The paint is starting to bubble. I want to catch it before it gets out of hand. How much labour is involved in replacing the sills and what should be done with the door? The rust is coming from the inside on the lower skin. Re-skin or repair existing?

From the photo's it looks like you need to re-skin both doors, which will mean removing the doors, stripping them down then grinding the old door skin off & drilling out the spot welds, clean up the frame treat & paint any rust (you may have to repair the door frame) then re-fit the new skin etc, prepare, prime & paint, treat with waxoil re-fit & re-build. From the photo's it looks like it's the door steps not the sills that are bubbling, depends on how bad it is you could treat it then re-paint or cut it all out to get rid of it & replace the door steps. The amount of time it will take depends on what you find when you start digging.

[sonikk4]

By the looks of the photo's you will be best to reskin the doors and replace the lower section of the door frame.

The sill lips are the crusty items i can see, now maybe these will clean up after grinding the rust away, treating with Krust and repainting. If you have to take a lot of material away then you will need to either repair that section of sill or replace them completely.

Have you had a look at the inner sills under the carpet as this maybe hiding some other nasties.

Oops not quick enough got beaten by frog, oh well the opinions are much the same though.

Edited by sonikk4, 09 May 2010 - 05:24 PM.

[mr.x]

My car is in very good conditioning consider the age, but some minor rust is starting to appear. It has never been driven in road salt. I had the front left A panel replaced 2 years ago, because it was starting to bubble outward, and now both door sills are starting expand under the black trim strip. The left side door is starting to show rust along the lower edge. The paint is starting to bubble. I want to catch it before it gets out of hand. How much labour is involved in replacing the sills and what should be done with the door? The rust is coming from the inside on the lower skin. Re-skin or repair existing?

From the photo's it looks like you need to re-skin both doors, which will mean removing the doors, stripping them down then grinding the old door skin off & drilling out the spot welds, clean up the frame treat & paint any rust (you may have to repair the door frame) then re-fit the new skin etc, prepare, prime & paint, treat with waxoil re-fit & re-build. From the photo's it looks like it's the door steps not the sills that are bubbling, depends on how bad it is you could treat it then re-paint or cut it all out to get rid of it & replace the door steps. The amount of time it will take depends on what you find when you start digging.

So there is a door step and door sill? They are two separate items?

[minisilverbullet]

those seal trims are naughty rust traps. Just had mine repaired. I can advise people to pull these off and let any trapped water dry over night every so often. only takes a couple of minutes to refit!

[mr.x]

those seal trims are naughty rust traps. Just had mine repaired. I can advise people to pull these off and let any trapped water dry over night every so often. only takes a couple of minutes to refit!

The rain collecting behind these is what did mine in. Is there a design that will seal out the water from getting behind these stupid trim bits? What a horrible design!! I don't want them to rust again after I replace these steps/sills.

[minisilverbullet]

those seal trims are naughty rust traps. Just had mine repaired. I can advise people to pull these off and let any trapped water dry over night every so often. only takes a couple of minutes to refit!

The rain collecting behind these is what did mine in. Is there a design that will seal out the water from getting behind these stupid trim bits? What a horrible design!! I don't want them to rust again after I replace these steps/sills.

I ordered a couple of metres from northwest minis. it was a different design from the original and was a lot tighter fit. the guy at the bodywork place also added some sort of sealent, looked like teh type you would use on a windsreen rubber - it was a bit of a lost in translation situation but he was sure it would keep the water out!

[sonikk4]

My car is in very good conditioning consider the age, but some minor rust is starting to appear. It has never been driven in road salt. I had the front left A panel replaced 2 years ago, because it was starting to bubble outward, and now both door sills are starting expand under the black trim strip. The left side door is starting to show rust along the lower edge. The paint is starting to bubble. I want to catch it before it gets out of hand. How much labour is involved in replacing the sills and what should be done with the door? The rust is coming from the inside on the lower skin. Re-skin or repair existing?

From the photo's it looks like you need to re-skin both doors, which will mean removing the doors, stripping them down then grinding the old door skin off & drilling out the spot welds, clean up the frame treat & paint any rust (you may have to repair the door frame) then re-fit the new skin etc, prepare, prime & paint, treat with waxoil re-fit & re-build. From the photo's it looks like it's the door steps not the sills that are bubbling, depends on how bad it is you could treat it then re-paint or cut it all out to get rid of it & replace the door steps. The amount of time it will take depends on what you find when you start digging.

So there is a door step and door sill? They are two separate items?

Yes they are 2 seperate items.
Door step


Outer sill


Its the lip where the outer sill and door step join that is corroded.

Hope this helps

[tomasotomi]

Hi, here is the link about stainless steel door sills, maybe will be interesting
stainless steel door sills

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