Rust in Roof Rain Channels - Fix?

TimT · Sep 6, 2018

I have rust in the rain channels on both sides of my '07 XLT. I'm expecting to have to take it to a body shop for the fix, and I want to do so ASAP so it doesn't spread.

My question is, is this area called the rain channel/gutter? How are they attached? Welded? Seems like a useless part to put on the truck unless it's for a rack or something. Just curious of the purpose, and if anyone else has seen this issue and its resolution.

Any idea of what the cost to fix would be? Assuming the rust isn't pervasive and is just surface.

Photos Attached

Thanks!

85_Ranger4x4 · Sep 6, 2018

Uselessness may vary. On older trucks that is where the side of the cab meets the top of the cab and is the seam where it is pinched and welded together.

Probably somewhat similar on yours, mine incorporates it into an actually rain gutter though.

bobbywalter · Sep 6, 2018

not good. not sure its an easy fix...be able to strip it out and slow it down though.

croatankid · Oct 26, 2018

I have a similar situation. When it rains the head liner gets wet where the driver side sun visor is mounted. The only I can see is a very small hole in the seam seal between the top and the corner post. I'm going to check with a body man but I think I'll have to use a needle or something to pick the hole clean and then seal it with something. I don't have any rust inside but the head liner I'll replace. Your thoughts?

L5wolvesF · Nov 30, 2018

Hi new guy here. How do you remove those pieces - "Drip Molding" is what Ford calls them? Or more specifically, do you have to take out the rear/side interior panels to get to the fasteners?

I need to clean up the area around there and reseal them.

Thank you

Ranger305 · Dec 2, 2018

croatankid said:
I have a similar situation. When it rains the head liner gets wet where the driver side sun visor is mounted. The only I can see is a very small hole in the seam seal between the top and the corner post. I'm going to check with a body man but I think I'll have to use a needle or something to pick the hole clean and then seal it with something. I don't have any rust inside but the head liner I'll replace. Your thoughts?

This is common on Gen1 and 2 trucks. Mine is the same, both sides. It will eventually cause a rust hole to appear in the roof. I ground mine out a filled it with kitty hair epoxy. I also used a brass wheel to strip all the old seam sealer out of the gutter and redid it. You can get the sealer at a parts store, I use DynaTron Seam Sealer. This took care of most of the problem, but recently, I found it didn't 100% fix. I ended up pulling the windshoeld trim and found that the metal on the drivers side had delaminated and had pinholes in it where the gutter welds in. I ground it out and put a layer of kittyhair on it, then I'll sand and paint. On the pass side, I found pinholes in the upper corner of the door frame and under the front edge of the gutter where it sits on the A pillar. Ground them out and filled. Will see if that holds, not sure what the best fix is.

Hope this helps a bit.

Craig0320 · Dec 2, 2018

I am in the same boat right now. I am going to take all door seals and drip edges of since we are already doing body work anyways. I am going to try and seal all of it. Luckily my buddy is working on a 65 and has seam sealer and everything I need.By the way the drip molding has nuts fastening them from the inside of the truck. You have to remove the inside rear panels to see them from the inside. There are holes in the cab to access them.

L5wolvesF · Dec 2, 2018

Craig0320 said:
I am in the same boat right now. I am going to take all door seals and drip edges of since we are already doing body work anyways. I am going to try and seal all of it. Luckily my buddy is working on a 65 and has seam sealer and everything I need.By the way the drip molding has nuts fastening them from the inside of the truck. You have to remove the inside rear panels to see them from the inside. There are holes in the cab to access them.

Thank you for the info. Now I can plan for how long it might take and how much work. I'll try to get pics to post up here. Good luck on yours.

Craig0320 · Dec 6, 2018

I found my leak today. I stripped the interior and ran the water hose over both sides of the roof. The seam sealer in the area were the extended cab meets the rockers on both sides split and water was running in from the bottom. Rain would run down the the door jam and the path was perfect for the water to track in. I had one place up top on a factory crimp seam that was leaking past the sealer. I am going to address both of these this weekend along with priming and painting the rain channels up top.

Rust in Roof Rain Channels - Fix?

TimT

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85_Ranger4x4

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bobbywalter

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croatankid

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L5wolvesF

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Ranger305

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Craig0320

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L5wolvesF

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Craig0320

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