Cab corners & rockers

[B. W.]

About to start replacing the rockers & cab corners.

Should I do rockers first or corners?
Does it matter?
Am I over-thinking this?

[BD70CST]

I’ve only done the rockers, but I’ve read that you will want to do the cab corners first.

[mongocanfly]

be sure to weld some x bracing in there before you start cutting...

[72HuggerK20]

You'll want to do both at the same time, taking the cab corner off first, then take the rocker off, then new rocker in, then the new cab corner. You'll probably need to replace the bottoms of the pillars as well so be expecting that. Mark your bolt holes on the door hinges for easier alignment because you'll have to hang the doors and take them off multiple times.

[B. W.]

Thanks for the info guys, I'm hanging the doors today for a trial fit with the old rockers. (Doors are from different trucks) Good idea to mark the hinges.

[dracko]

yeah once you get your doors testfitted nice you know theyre gonna fit back in there. Cross bracing doesn’t hurt but if you aren’t cutting the outer floor or A pillar things should remain where they are. You doing the inner rocker too? Which is basically the outer floor.

Regardless, I would recommend not cutting the rocker and cab corner off at the same time. Take off the rocker first. While it’s off, drill out the couple spot welds on the cab corner that are covered by the rocker.

Use the original cab corner to ensure your new rocker panel fits where it should. Tack it in place or use self tapping screws to keep it where it lines up nice with the old cab corner, the door (test fit again) and the fender. If all good weld some more but not crazy. Then carefully cut off the cab corner and replace it. You can weld it on the backside where those spot welds were because the new rocker is in the way.

[B. W.]

Thanks for all the advice. Got the doors fitted, ended up ripping into the driver's cab corner first due to B pillar damage. Truck took a pretty good hit on the section that's cut out in the pic. Bent the pillar causing the door gap to be uneven. Think I'll keep the driver's cab corner - no rust just damage.