I was washing some of the salt off my truck this morning and found an interesting future problem spot. When i had the front door open i happened to look down by the lower hing. There were a bunch of leaves jammed between the inner edge of the front quarter panel and the outer panel of the truck body. After i pulled the leaves out i found a bunch of very fine mud has settled into the space. I took the hose and cleaned all the junk out. I the hose on full blast and it took a while to get all the mud out. I found the same thing on the passenger side. I can see this becoming a place for rust to start and from now on I'll spray it every time i wash the truck.

Anyone living in areas they salt or sand the roads, drive on gravel or dirt may want to check this out. If you open a front door and look below the bottom hinge at the very bottom of the front quarter panel you'll see what i mean.

Can you post a picture of this area? I am interested to know how it is getting there.

Another problem area is behind the wheel well liners at the bottom of the fender. Surprizing how much dirt will collect there.

I think we may be talking about the same spot. I'll try to get some pictures posted tomorrow some time.

All GMs do this my 81 did so does my 06 and it is some what of a problem area for rust.

Can you post a picture of this area? I am interested to know how it is getting there.

Open the front door look at the hinges and look down you can see there the front fender meets the cab. There is a space where the fender meets the cab inside there.

i try to clean that area out every couple of washes...ALOT of stuff finds its way down in there.

I have the same problem. The flap in there makes it really difficult to clean out.

yes! I have seen this to.... Look at the rear inner fender walls too. Don't forget that area between the bumper and the plastic top , hit that with high psi and it just pours mud out .

That area on mine has some sort of foam rubber insert. Son't you guys have this as well?

ive noticed this too, does this spot connect to the inner fender some how? if so couldnt you just cut a hole to let the stuff drain out or something?

No its mud and leaves form where the cowl and fender meet. If you put a hole in there you’re going to have more problems.

I don't think cutting a hole in the foam will do much good, althoguh i havn't taken a good look at it. If you blast water at it it will drain down through the front end of the foam.

If you pull the foam back a little with your fingers you can clean in their very well with a hose.

Does anyone else have unequal foam pieces ?

On my drivers side the foam is tight against the fender and no dirt or water is getting around it, but on my pass side the faom is about a 1/2" away from the fender so water and dirt will not build up behind it as much.

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:nopics: !!!

I know there area as ive got my liners removed. What foam? i got gyped

Mine looks more like insulating material. I stuck a vacuum cleaner hose to it and about tore it up.

I collect leaves there so I thought it was leaves coming down through the cowl vent.

Pictures? Ask and ye shall receive:

anyone figure out a solution to this yet?

I just cleaned my truck today and found a bunch of leaves (large leaves, too) and silty mud behind the passenger side flap. The driver's side flap was too tight to pull away and get any fingers into the space. Judging from the size of the debis, it's coming in from above and/or the fender well. My guess is from the cowl. I'd like to stop it at the source, of course unless that would create other probs, like improper ventilation, etc.

I'll investigate and post with any info.

Pictures? Ask and ye shall receive:

Thats how mine looks the pass side has some space around it
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=33642&d=1171301357


And the drivers side is tight against the fender.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=33643&d=1171301357


Everyone should pull the flaps towards you so you can vacum out and then rinse out and debris caught back there.

A lot of stuff collects back there and never dries out if theres sand trapped in there too, could be a rust spot later.

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anyone figure out a solution to this yet?

If you can help it, stay away from parking under or close to trees.