Rusted Step Bars on Sport??

[Lazzman]

I have a 98 sport and the step bars seem to have started rusting. The rust is not progessive and seems mainly on the surface. It has moved just a bit in the last 2 years but it looks like crap, having those brown rust spots. I am wondering if there is any quick fix to this problem? The bars are Titanium silver paint?

Would it be cheaper to have them stripped and re-painted by a Ford body shop or would a place like Maaco suffice? Maybe just replacing them altogether might be the solution?? Any help would be appreciated.

I guess this is one of the problems Ford overlooked as this seems to happen to all Explorer Sports with metal step bars.

 

[IAmTodd]

Its called sand blast them to get rid of the rust and then repaint them. Any body shop can do it.

 

[PS94]

I'd sand blast em and get them powdercoated....or some form of boxliner sprayed on...these puppies get alot of rocks hucked at em, I'm gonna powder coat mine when i get bored.

 

[Lazzman]

Thanks good advice....

 

[Lazzman]

Went to a dealer's bodyshop and they told me the bars had to be replaced at a cost of $586. They said there was no way to fix this problem, which I find odd. Next stop is Maaco.

 

[VOATMJ1]

Went to a dealer's bodyshop and they told me the bars had to be replaced at a cost of $586. They said there was no way to fix this problem, which I find odd. Next stop is Maaco.

That's strange, my dealer fixed my rusting step bars. They stripped, fixed the rust, and repainted and clear coated for $246.00. They look brand new like the day I drove the truck from their showroom floor.

 

[hunterdan]

For the cost of repainting of aproximately $250, you might have been able to buy aftermarket ones that were black for the same price or less. I have the ones I took off my 98 sitting in a garage, theres some rust, but nothing thats not fixable. I took them off because they hit my ankles when I get in and out, plus it makes it look taller.

Dan

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

You can get a nice set of Westin step bars for around $200. Why waste time fixing the stock ones?