My front doors are rusting, HELP!!

[FlamedoutF250]

I have a 2002 , never been in a garage and I live in Indiana and the other day I was washing the truck and noticed rust coming through the paint on the very bottom of the front two doors, were the weather stripping is on the inside looking like were the rust started. I tried to search , but didn`t find much info. I`m not a body man so i was wondering if this area could be fixed or I have to replace the doors? I don`t have any pictures right now. Any and all input would be GREAT!!!!

[NoRalPh]

"Replace the doors???" Goodness NO!

Unless you're seeing huge holes, you can do some preventative maintenance now. Here's what commonly happens, the weather stripping get sand & grit on it and as you drive down the road, it Grinds through the paint and the bare metal constantly rusts....

Get some really good paint treatment (POR-15, KBS, etc) and properly prep & prime everything so it doesn't happen again. Look around the whole truck, especially the wheel openings and under the rockers, I'm sure you'll find Many spots that can use the same help. Get a complete kit and make a weekend of it! (you better hurry-up or wait 'till Spring, these moisture-cured paints don't like the cold & dry)

[FlamedoutF250]

COOL!! Thanks a million !! I`ts has more rust inside the door than outside. I does look like it was cause because of the weep/ drain hole behind the weather stipping. thanks again!! I will take some pictures and post them, so you can tell how bad it is.

[dazdillenger]

Pry apart the seam at the bottom where it is rusting-once you have it separated, sandblast or wirebrush it until there is no rust left, POR-15 it, then paint it.

That seam is notorious for trapping dirt, water, and everything else the weatherstripping keeps out. If you don't open it up a bit so you can completely eliminate the rust, it'll just keep coming back. Whenever I wash my truck I pressure wash the heck out of that area. Keeping it clean helps prevent the issue.