Rocker panel tore

[ltzsilverado]

I bought my truck brand new last January and noticed a couple months ago a rattle over bumps from the back seat area. The rattle got progressively worse and finally got under the truck to investigate. I was tapping on different areas and when I tapped on the running board it made the noise. So looking around I seen the tear where the bracket mounts to in rocker panel. Has any one had this happen to them? I'm only 190 and in usually the only one in my truck. This is on the driver side

[wforrest08]

Dealer installed running boards? Still in your 3 year/36k warranty? If so take it to the dealer, if your dealer has a body shop go talk to them instead of the service department. 

 

I wonder if the bolt was other tightened to begin with when the board was installed?

[ltzsilverado]

I installed the running boards the day I bought the truck. I'm a mechanic myself. After about 8 months of being installed was when I first noticed the noise and than I did double check all the bolts. 

[DONWT15]

Is that bolt bottomed out against the outside of rocker? Noticed that's a pretty thick spacer under the head of the bolt.

 

[Thomcat]

.02  Doesn't look like an OEM running board mount......no mounting bolts located anywhere near that sheet metal on the chassis with OEM mounts/boards, three separate mounting arms cantilever 90 deg. off the reinforced sill rocker panel portion of the chassis. Supports 350 lb+ with no flex, just chassis tipping when two people stand on the same board.

 

Looks like a crazy way to mount it anyway...poor design likely to save money or adapt the product to multiple brand/model chassis.....weight on the board will cause a rotational force on the right anchor bolt transferring all the weight on the bracket to the left anchor bolt left which is secured into thin metal and it cracked exactly where the reinforcement plate ended.

[ltzsilverado]

1 hour ago, DONWT15 said:

Is that bolt bottomed out against the outside of rocker? Noticed that's a pretty thick spacer under the head of the bolt.

 

The bolts are not bottomed out at all.i checked that when I was looming

[ltzsilverado]

46 minutes ago, Thomcat said:

.02  Doesn't look like an OEM running board mount......no mounting bolts located anywhere near that sheet metal on the chassis with OEM mounts/boards, three separate mounting arms cantilever 90 deg. off the reinforced sill rocker panel portion of the chassis. Supports 350 lb+ with no flex, just chassis tipping when two people stand on the same board.

 

Looks like a crazy way to mount it anyway...poor design likely to save money or adapt the product to multiple brand/model chassis.....weight on the board will cause a rotational force on the right anchor bolt transferring all the weight on the bracket to the left anchor bolt left which is secured into thin metal and it cracked exactly where the reinforcement plate ended.

How does the factory boards mount. I was looking at factory brackets and I thought they looked similar

[Thomcat]

Similar doesn't count......painting stripes on a white horse doesn't make it a zebra. Difference is in the shape of the brackets, areas they are bolted to and most important the part of the structure where the weight from the board is transferred. OEMs are specific to these areas whereas aftermarkets may be designed to fit a majority of vehicles in ways different than the truck manufacturers design.

 

OEM mounts are installed in dedicated holes designed into reinforced areas of the body which are multilayered welded steel and the shape of the bracket to transfer support to the strongest areas of the body. All the bolts directly support the weight as well as the curved reinforced lip against which all three brackets rest. There is no rotational torque around any mounting bolt no matter how much weight is placed upon them and all bolts are mounted into dedicated reinforced areas.  Photos depict the mounting areas. All brackets is specific to the mounting location - bolted one to the the reinforced bottom lip of the rocker, one to the steel channel or multilayered structure and the end of the brackets bearing the majority of the transferred weight rests against against a curved support lip of multilayered welded sheet metal..

[Thomcat]

In closer look comparing the photos it appears the brackets are similar, but appear to be too short with not enough extension of the bracket past where the bolt rests in the slotted end of the bracket.....since they do not extend far enough to rest upon the multilayer lip of welded steel and against the stronger curved lip, resting only on the flat single layer of sheet metal the weight punched through and cracked the sheet metal.

 

Maybe each bracket a little different.....could be brackets installed in incorrect position on the board?

[ltzsilverado]

I do noticed that my boards do flex the rockers a decent amount. More than I like. 

I'm just going to buy oem running boards I guess. 

 

Now the question is what's the best way of fixing it? See if the dealer will do anything. Truck is only a year old. 

Would a body shop be able to weld it or would it habe to be replaced? 

[DONWT15]

Could probably weld another piece over the top of the crack to strengthen it.

[joshc64311]

Would the insurance company consider it totaled?

[wforrest08]

1 hour ago, joshc64311 said:

Would the insurance company consider it totaled?

If it was a Vette then yes it would be...

 

https://jalopnik.com/heres-how-a-corvette-was-totaled-because-of-one-inch-of-1806727930

[DEV1ST8R]

What aftermarket brand running board did you use?

[ltzsilverado]

2 hours ago, DEV1ST8R said:

What aftermarket brand running board did you use?

They are IONIC 6" BLACK NERF BARS. I had the brand on my last truck and didn't have a problem.