Check you Westin Step Bars

[DarrellB]

Please if you are running Steel Westin Step Bars check them for rust. Mine almost gave up the goast this week. Had to take them off the rust was so bad on the passenger side bar. As I was removing the passenger side bar it fell apart in my hands. Granted these bars are 6 years old but this rust didn't happen in just one year. So please crawl under your truck and give a look see so know one gets hurt.



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DB

 

[DarrellB]

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[DarrellB]

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[DarrellB]

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[gsbrockman]

Questions....

Any possibility of water entering the bars from the step pads and not draining completely ? What condition was the driver's side in relation to the passenger's side ?

Greg

 

[DarrellB]

The third pic is of the driver's side. You can see that it is starting to rust through as well Greg. The bars are 6 years old and had a five year waranty but I still wouldn't expect them to get that bad.



DB

 

[jwilliams3]

Darrell,

Maybe if you kept your truck cleaner, you wouldn't have this rust problem!!

 

[Doubleclutch]

They don't call it the "rust belt" for nothing. Glad you didn't have a surprise while using these puppies. Thanks for the heads-up.

Greg

 

[y-knot]

You know this step bars are no different then anything else that bolts onto these and all other trucks, and anything less then then stainless steel is a waste of your money. From the shape of your bars in the picture, I am sure this didn't just accrue to you that they were having a rusting problem, it takes time. And if you spent any time at all around your truck you would have noticed the cancer. I have preached the wise use of stainless steel for years, but few tend to listen to anything but their wallets. You save nothing by buying chromed or painted steel exterior accessories, they just do not last. Nerf bars, grill guards, exhaust systems and anything else that is mounted to the outside of your truck and exposed t the elements should be stainless steel. Hopefully others will see this and wake-up.

 

[DarrellB]

I'd venture to say that I spend more time under and around my truck than you think Mr. Y-Knot. I'd also venture to say you won't find a cleaner under side of a pickup than mine. When I bought those bars 6 years ago there where no Stainless equivalents avalible. There for how could I have benifited from running SS if I couldn't buy them.



I posted those pics and started this thread to inform others of the problem in the hopes that they will check their bars and that someone will not get hurt by a rusted step. If I knew someone was going to try and bash me for my lack of attention to my truck I would have not even bothered.



DB

 

[gsbrockman]

Amen ?

I have preached the wise use of stainless steel for years, but few tend to listen to anything but their wallets.

Can I get an "AMEN !" for Preacher Y-Knot ?



Maybe we should just shut down the TDR, DTR, and any and all other diesel truck related websites and just have all inquiries go straight to a PM to Preacher Y-Knot. Obviously he knows all and has never had in error in judgement since his conception; there's no reason to share info on this or any other board as we're all just dumbasses anyways, huh ?



Hail to Preacher Y-Knot !



Greg

 

[DMC]

Thanks for the heads up. A good point to consider, some drain holes may help. By the way was the end that was the worst the front end?



The only way to not ru into a smart @ss on this board is to not post anything.



You may have saved someone from a lawsuit or broken hip or both.



Good Luck



Don

 

[DarrellB]

By the way was the end that was the worst the front end?





Don

Both the bars are rusted only in the back. The front of the bars look great, but there is some rust coming through the top of the drivers side bar by the rear step.



Just keep an eye on them guys, I don't want any one getting hurt.



DB

 

[y-knot]

No I do not claim to know it all, and I have never meant my post to come off that way, if they seem like that to you then I'm sorry, but that is just how I see it.

I am also glade you spend alot of time on, in, or under your truck. I do as well, and enjoy working on it. There i s a huge difference between liking to work on a truck, and having to work on a truck.

About the Nerf bars, they seemed to be in vary bad shape from the picture, and I found it had to believe you hadn't noticed them rusting away till they failed on you. I am also sorry you did not look around long enough 6 years ago when you purchased them, stainless steel tube steps have been out since 1990 when I purchased them for a Chevy I had. They were also out in 1996 when I purchased a set for my Dodge, which I recently replaced with a set of Putco Boss bars just a few months ago. They are by far the best built and best looking bar I have ever used, 100% 304 SS and all welded to form a strong one piece structure. Maybe you would like to look into them as replacements to your now defunct step bars, just a thought. Good luck in your search

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

For you boys (And girlz) That have Black powdercoated units

A handy tip: When I do my Yearly BIG detail (A 5 day endeavor) I go thru 2 cans of PB Blaster and coat and clean my frame and all undercarriage components with it. My Waags also get the "Stuff" too. I like the PB because it really turns the frame , and all the other dark metals to an allmost black finish when rubbed in. The oil has kept me for the most part rust free (Let's not go to the door issue right now) and makes future undercarriage cleanings easy. Now as for the nerfs ... the are holding up better than I expected. except for one lil' spot by a tread they are s o l i d! I started doing this back when I had em on my chevy and one set rotted out. I replaced them with an identical set and treated them once a year and they were mint when I sold the truck a couple years later. . . about the same amout of time it took to kill the first set.



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[DarrellB]

Y-knot,



Like I said there where "NO" SS bars availible when I bought the truck in the summer of 98. The only thing in the Mopar catolog was the chrome Westins and the back Westins and some ugly gray Mopar units. Since the bars where a throw in by the dealer those where my only 3 choices. I knew the bars where rusting but they didn't show the cancer until I shoved my thumb threw them last week while installing my traction bars. The chrome plating was actually covering most of the rust. The bars rusted from the inside out, which means they where holding some serious water and moisture.



Toolman, thanks for the tip. I've used the stuff for about 3 years now on my truck and ATV. It does work well for preventing the rust and the rest of my truck is spotless, not a spot of rust on the underside. That stuff does great on the ATV too, makes it really easy to clean up after a good muddy ride.



DB

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Not only that Darrell It ... . Well it smells pretty good too #ad

 

[ob1kobi]

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:-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf That is the best smiley I have ever seen.



As for the PB Blater treatment, you just spray in on and leave it, or do you have to wipe it down afterwards?



Ted

 

[propuller]

Armorall works good for the undercarriage to. Darrell's truck is nice but i think my truck is cleaner. Hey Darrell i learned a long time ago some people just love to start stuff on hear & you just need to ignore them. P. S. how is the old red truck that your buddy bought from me coming along.



Kurt

 

[DarrellB]

The old Red truck is doing pretty good Kurt.



It was one rough ride home though. Bill and I seen about half a dozen tractor trailers turned over and one barn blown down before we ever reached the Indiana line. Bill's got all kind of goodies just waiting to go in, now he just needs to find the spare time to do it. I told him that day we where up there if he didn't buy it I was going to. I think that sealed the deal for him right there.



DB