Ram Bedside Wheelwell Rust - Here's Why:

I spent the afternoon removing the rear wheel tub liners on my 2017 Ram 1500 to rustproof it, & discovered why these things rust out at the top of the wheel openings! First off, it's doublewall along the top 50% of the wheel tub where it meets the outer bed skin - which I already knew & was expecting. The thing I was not expecting was Dodge's use of soft, black FOAM SEALANT along the whole area where the two come together! So, there is no way to penetrate this tight doublewall area, & the foam of course traps & holds moisture - just like it does on Challengers & I'm sure many other Mopar vehicles. To say I was totally pi$$ed to find this out after all the work is an understatement. I bought this truck back in March with the intent to keep it for at least 10 years. Looks like it's going to rust out prematurely like all the other 2003 & newer Rams - this should happen in about 4 years or so. At least they all do in the rust belt anyway.

I fully intended to apply my magic Texaco rustproofing formula & I also had a spray penetrant anti-corrosion formula. I ended up spraying the non-Texaco stuff as best I could up in the tight areas of the foam-laden doublewall areas - hoping it might creep into & under the foam, but I won't hold my breath. Anyway, thanks Chrysler for building-in rust guaranteed areas!

Wow , and I thought it was just because they were crap....try putting some trans fluid in there and letting it soke in

If the soft foam can absorb water, can it not also absorb an oil based substance?

Hopefully, but like I said I won't hold my breath. My 2008 Ram was the same design, but no foam was used, so I was able to successfully rustproof that.

3m cavity wax

That hardens & does not creep in hot weather. That is key - stuff has to stay active.

That's a sound deadener, a lot of new cars have the A pillars and other cavities filled with it.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...tml#Post2525703

gss - right-on. I did the best I could & can only hope my efforts will pay off.

Now to tackle the rockers, cab corners, & doors next. I sure hope they did not fill the rockers with expanding foam like they do the Brampton vehicles!

Been a long time since I heard of anyone using Texite......stuff is awesome. Had our 89 W250 done with it.

Our local service garage used it 40 years ago.

One local had the frame on his 66 vette done, it went in to be restored 10-12 years ago. I was at the shop, the lead resto guy was beside himself, had never ran across it before. I was lmao at him, he looked over and yelled "what the **** is this?"

Ed

In the Detroit area years ago, there were a few places that applied the Texaco rustproof formula. One was on Outer Drive & Michigan in Dearborn, then the main place was called Snyders. They were at 7 Mile & Beech I think - that place was the bomb. Cost about $170.00 to get your car done. They would heat the thick goo until it was like thin oil, then spray it all over. Stuff smells wonderful & is SOOO messy! It never got hard, & would still weep out of drain holes years later on hot summer days. The guy applying would drill holes in quarter doglegs, & in doors, trunk lids, & hoods. He would wand spray in those areas. If applied properly, water or moisture could never reach the metal - vehicle could only rust from the outside if you never touched-up chips. Then one day in the early 90's, some punk robbed old man Snyder & got like $40-60.00 & shot him dead. That was the end of Snyders Rustproofing & the last good place to go. Real nice.

I bought my 5-gallon drum of the stuff just before Texaco stopped making it.

They have been doing that for many years now. My 96 Ram has all but rusted off of the frame. Everyone picks on it & makes fun of it but it just won't die. I have had it 20+ years now. All of my buddies, Dad, co-workers & neighbors have all been thru 10-15 or more trucks while I still have this one. I can't complain though this truck owes me nothing.

Transtar Amber is like water when it goes on so it gets in the seams and pinch welds really well. Then it hardens enough so it doesn't collect dirt like Fluid Film. You can build a pretty thick layer of it if you are doing frame rails and floor pans. I can smell it on a hot day. I use it on new vehicles that haven't gotten dirty yet. If I buy a car that has been exposed to dirt or water, I would be afraid of sealing in the moisture with a wax product like Transtar Amber, so I will use Fluid Film instead.

I just did my 2011 Ram 1500 Sport for the third time

Zero rust here in WI and I only drive the truck in winter - WI and the U.P. For snowmobiling

Fluid Film and LPS 3

Pull all the wheel well liners out - Spray through the factory holes in those double wall liners above the rear quarters

Backside of front fenders also where that strengthening epoxy coated patch is

Pull all the black plastic plugs in the rocker panels , and the cheap crap tape they used from the factory on the backside of rockers

I have never once seen this factory foam that everyone talks about anywhere in the rear quarters or rocker panels ? Even used a led flex light through all those tiny holes

Was this a specific year thing or a build plant ?

That strength patch on backside of front fenders sprayed with Fluid Film over seven years

What’s this foam look like in the rear quarters ?

Here in Kansas I've been bragging up the 09-newer Rams pretty hardcore in regards to rust or lack thereof. We have many many 2010-2011 (or newer) gm and Ford trucks running around with bedside and cab corner rust but the 09-12 rams have been holding up great. I have seen exactly one 09 ram with bedside rust starting and the jury was out on it anyway (repaint). I know it's coming and it's a matter of time before the oldest ones start bubbling but don't think for a second you'd fare any batter with brand X. They're worse. Far worse.

It's black & soft on my 2017. It's mostly out of view, but you can feel it after the wheelwell liners are out & a little of it peeks out where the doublewall piece ends. It's like it is expanding foam - they must caulk a bead of it thinking it is going to seal the cavity, but in reality it's promoting moisture to be held there. I know a lot of this foam (maybe all of it) is meant to deaden sound. The white foam is used extensively in all the Brampton-built vehicles - in the rockers, door jambs, quarter cavities, etc. New Challengers are rusting in the rockers & ahead of the rear wheels in the quarters in very short order. Many Challenger owners have been pleading with Chrysler to STOP using this foam, but it's falling on deaf ears.

On the rear areas in my Ram, it is IMPOSSIBLE to remove this foam - you can barely get your hand in there to feel it. My 2008 Ram did not have this - I was able to Texaco those areas effectively.

I've seen several of the 2009+ body style with rotted front fenders from the stuff glued on the inside and never knew the problem until I started reading about it on google. A friend of mines neighbor has that body style ram and has held up a lot better then same year gm and Fords.

I don't know why car companies insist on using the foam. I guess they don't care because when things rust out they can sell someone another vehicle. Sound deadening my ass, I'd rather put up with a bit more noise then rust.

The foam was there I always pick it out while standing next to my truck at the gas pump. LOL. Most of my foam is gone now along with any of the wheel openings.....

I use Rust Check on my '04 ram 1500. been using it since new. probably the only dodge truck in the area with no rust. I have noticed chevy and ford trucks in my area with the same rust issues. makes wonder if the beds on these trucks are sub-contracted out to the same vendor.

i live in fl,rainy and humid.my truck sits outside its a 04.no rust.

If your in the car/truck manufacturing business, any vehicle that lasts more than a couple of years past the normal payment schedule is costing you money. Once the vehicle leaves its dealership, the only income it will derive is in the form of repairs. Its not in the best interest of the company to build a vehicle that will last more then 10 years.

Many people reduce the amount of money they spend on a ride that is nearly 10 years old. If a major repair is needed, or the ride is showing rust, they go shopping for something new. If something makes it past the warranty without many issues, and makes it past (or near) that last payment, most will replace it with something similar to what they had.

The 2019 model year stuff is out, why would the manufacturer care about something built in 2009 or 2010? Gene

What is this rust crap you guys are talking about?

I have a 99 W2500 CTD QC LB and there is not a drop of rust after 233K miles.

Seems like you guys are doing something wrong.

Ford is the most notorious for this. They once had the goal that the car would basically self destruct at 100k miles. Obviously people now expect more from their vehicles now.

California, you are not even allowed in this thread.

In Ontario Canada, the only solution is to park them for the winter months. Road salt kills cars.

Have you thought of stopping putting down salt? I know salt is cheap and works well.

Did I mention I have a completely rust free 1975 Trail Duster?

The rear fender wells are starting to show some bubbling on my 05 ram. I need to get in there and try to slow it down.

Here in WI , through 2008 third generation are notorious for rust in the rear quarters
Guys love to cover that rust area up with flares

Personally , including my 2011 , I have seen very few 2009 and up fourth generation 1500 s with rust