How to Perfectly Repair Rusted and Rotten Side Skirts?

[LeAdelyn]

Side skirts that are rusted and rotten can be perfectly repaired by using a touch-up paint pen or going to a 4S store for polishing and welding. Here are the detailed steps: 1. Not serious: If the rust is not severe, you can use a touch-up paint pen to fix it. Use ultra-fine water sandpaper dipped in water to polish in the same direction until the rust is removed. After cleaning, apply primer. Once the primer is dry, sand it with water sandpaper, then apply the original paint that came with the car in a small can. This counts as anti-rust treatment. 2. Serious: If the rust is severe, you must go to a 4S store for re-polishing and welding.

[LaMarley]

My car's side skirt is rusting, and as a friend who frequently works on cars, this needs to be done step by step for a perfect repair. First, use a grinder to remove all the rust, exposing clean metal, and make sure no corrosion spots are left behind. If the rot is severe, simply cut out that section and weld in a new metal panel of the same material to maintain strength. After welding, sand it smooth, then apply rust-proof primer and topcoat, ensuring the color matches the original car. The entire process must be done in a dry environment, or the rust-proofing will fail. Side skirt rust is often caused by water accumulation or road salt buildup, so I recommend cleaning the skirt regularly after the repair and applying some rust-proof wax for protection. Take it to a professional body shop for this job—they have the right equipment for a more durable result. Don’t skimp on costs and compromise safety.

[TannerFitz]

I've been tinkering with DIY car repairs at home for years. Fixing rusty side skirts yourself is both simple and cost-effective. Get some tools like an angle grinder and sandpaper to thoroughly grind away all the rust, leaving no residue. Then spray with specialized rust remover and let it react for 15 minutes to eat away corrosion. After drying, use automotive body filler to smooth out dents, sanding until it's as smooth as new. Next, apply rust-proof primer followed by topcoat paint - just pick a spray can color matching your car. Take your time during the process to avoid dust affecting the paint. Remember, rust starts from moisture buildup, so park away from puddles and dry the skirt areas after washing. DIY repairs might not be factory-perfect, but careful work gets the job done.

[McHarley]

My old car's side skirts were rusted and rotten, which was quite distressing. With a limited budget but still pursuing a perfect repair, I figured out a practical approach. Cutting out the rotten parts directly was too expensive, so I just used sandpaper and a wire brush to remove the rust and applied rust-proof paint to seal it. If there was a small hole, I found cheap second-hand parts or metal sheets to weld and patch the gap. For the painting step, I chose affordable colors, aiming for a close match. The money saved was used to buy rust-proof spray for regular maintenance of the skirt area. At its core, rust occurs due to long-term neglect of maintenance, so I now park in dry spots during humid weather. This method may not be 100% perfect, but it extends the car's lifespan and saves costs.