Running board rusty...

So the last few weeks there’s been steady rain here in SoCal and at one time I drove in the Tundra, including some puddles.

The Tundra’s been garaged and dry a few days, but I noticed some rust coming out of the ends of my running boards. It looks like there is a gap in the ends that water has gotten in and some of the rust even splashed on the panels while the water was in there.

Should I be concerned about stopping this from happening again? Are the runners rusting away? Should I not drive the Tundra in the rain? (umm, not!) Any advice or thoughts appreciated...

Don’t judge me! I know it’s dirty, haven’t had a long enough rainfree weekend or time to give it a shine!

 

Pull the caps and get kind of rust inhibiting coating in there and the seal the caps somehow.

 

Pat, once I pull the caps, should I make sure it’s dry first? I don’t know if I can scrape what rust is in there off..

What inhibitor would be good to use? I think an epoxy goue would seal the end off once the caps get back on...

 

ETA, my NFABs did that on my Taco. That's what I did. I used a fish tape and an inhibitor on a rag and punched them a few times. Then I put silicon on the caps and put caps back on no problems since.

 

Yes make sure its dry and get the most you can get off.
If I remember I used a Rustoleum brand inhibitor. It's been about 7 years. It was more like paint, rust converter. Remove what you can then blow it out. it was messy and tedious. I dipped the rag then ran it through a couple of times.

 

looks like surface rust: clean and spray some rustoleum then seal as mentioned above.

 

If you choose to do it the way I did, make sure you have old nasty clothes, nitrile gloves and plastic laid out, so you donr stain your floors or driveway.

 

I got the cap off, does this inner piece come off? Do I pry it off??

 

Be careful it may be brittle. That cap goes in about 2 inches.

 

I see there’s a bolt underneath the end cap.

 

Mine didnt, they were held in place by friction.

 

Two screws! Bottom and inner side.

Lookie what was inside!!

 

My suspicion is that there are cutouts on the top of the step tube where the plastic tread plates are
These cut-outs are allowing water to enter inside of the step tube from the top.
If you seal up all of the drain ports, you may just end up trapping more water.

 

This is the back step on driver side.

I got both ends off on driver side. Doesn’t look like any other holes cuz I don’t see any light coming thru any holes on top..

 

Just drill a few holes at the bottom of it to let water drain out and allow some air to come in and dry it out, just an idea.

 

Good call!

My NFABs did not have the tread plate, just metal tubes with stirrups.

 

Rubber seals on end caps are rotted, looks like that’s how water got in. The front end cap seal is worse than back, likely how water got in there...

 

time to upgrade to some sliders....

 

Thanks guys!!!! I got both ends of running boards open and I will let it dry out and in the meantime get some rustoleum to tackle this rust.

@Grumpy Uncle Pat I know you had good luck with silicone, I’m wondering how epoxy would do.

Does ristoleum come in a can? I would think dipping rags to run thru inside would be better than spray can...

 

I thot about that. But doesn’t sliders get put on close to the frame? I’m 5’2”!!! No step, then escalator!

 

that is true.

 

Yes, if I remember I used 2 pint cans of the rustoleum rust converter.

The I used the silicone because the caps that I had were plastic but, they were flexible. That was my logic for using silicone. I would recommend silicone because it is easier to work with.

 

Just jump every time. Your gonna need sliders if u wanna keep up with all the SoCal peeps.

 

Tony, can you come to the bank with me?...Umm, gonna make a...withdrawal! ..yeah, that's it!! Maybe 4 banks actually!! I'm upgrading my suspension, then sliders!!

 

Sure buddy ok pal, how did u know I need cash for my suspension also. How much can I have?

 

Tony, the more banks we hit..um, withdraw from the more your take! 50/50, but I ain't doing your time!

 

You might have to lower the truck Monet

 

Hmmm, no...the plan is to put back window all the way down, crawl thru it, over Bakflip, open trunk and get 3-step little giant ladder, then get down.

 

Tactical load up!

 

Hahah I’m down, u got any hook ups with a judge that can save our asses? Hahah