So over the winter mine started developing bubbles on the lower rocker by the rear wheel. Finally warm enough to do so work today so I peeled the paint of only to find that water was trapped between the paint and the body (which had been patched by a PO . Gonna clean it up and put some primer and undercoating on for now but what are my long term fix options. Is there a drain that is clogged allowing water to sit behind the rocker? Should I make a drain? Solid enough now that I don't need to do any welding but in a couple years it would be ready for patch number 2 if left without a fix.

 

I'm interested in any thoughts on this also. Getting ready to battle the same rust bubbles behind the rear wheels on the rocker panel.

 

My little rust bubble (about 1 square inch) popped up just in front of the rear wheel well along the rocker. I'm going to try a three part treatment myself and see how that holds up.

 

Reveal all the rust you can, and put a rust converter on it. Let it dry for a day or so, and repeat if you like. Then prime, paint, and clear it. That is about the best you can do with rust. I live in the "rust belt", and that is about all we can do, short of cutting out the panel, and replacing it........Best of luck.......Mike

 

Search threads by Race Diagnostic, you want to see rust, RD's the worst I've ever seen and he's tackled all of it!

 

Rust is easy. You cut it out and weld in new steel. Solving the poor design is what I'm looking to do as new steel will rust in the same spots as the old steel did unless you fix stupid.

 

This is a common rust area in a lot of different cars. Are there any factory drain holes that are getting blocked? You could make your own, the water needs a place to run out. Just as there are drains in the bottom of the door stampings to allow water to run out. Water is not likely to get in through a little hole. Some American cars have a little slot that is covered with a thin rubber strip that acts as a one way valve.

 

Exactly what I'm asking as I see no factory drain holes down there but even a drain hole doesn't stop the water from getting in.