Sealant under rocker and corner guard armor

[JimT]

I am about to mount corner guard armor and rocker rail on my project TJ. The last rocker I installed years ago became the source of mud and sand trapping an ass ton of rust. I have spent the last 6 months mitigating rust. I don't want to cause more problems in the future mounting this armor if I can avoid it. I am considering a silicone or perhaps a 5200 coating to seal it. Any experience or advice would be appreciated.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Silicone will eventually let crap in and cause it to rust even worse. There are rocker guard gaskets available like this one... https://www.4wd.com/Armor-Protectio...spx?t_c=79&t_s=468&t_pt=101315&t_pn=TUS000184

 

[PStov98TJ]

I've been wondering this since my Savvy sliders should be here tomorrow. Is a gasket really recommended? I've seen a handful of install write ups, but only one or two people used a gasket. And wouldn't you have to pull them every so often anyway to clean and possibly replace the gasket anyway?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I've been wondering this since my Savvy sliders should be here tomorrow. Is a gasket really recommended? I've seen a handful of install write ups, but only one or two people used a gasket. And wouldn't you have to pull them every so often anyway to clean and possibly replace the gasket anyway?

I wouldn't worry about it outside of the salt belt and you definitely don't live in the salt belt. I've installed 4-5 and never worried about gaskets, silicone, etc.

 

[PStov98TJ]

I wouldn't worry about it outside of the salt belt and you definitely don't live in the salt belt. I've installed 4-5 and never worried about gaskets, silicone, etc.

That's what I figured. Have you ever bothered with taking them off and cleaning up behind them?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Have you ever bothered with taking them off and cleaning up behind them?

I have never even considered doing so. There are so many panels, fenders, etc. bolted together in our Jeeps without gaskets etc. that I wouldn't give the rocker guards a second thought outside of the salt belt.

 

[PStov98TJ]

There are so many panels, fenders, etc. bolted together in our Jeeps without gaskets etc. that I wouldn't give the rocker guards a second thought outside of the salt belt.

This logic was escaping me. Very good point.

 

[Northwood]

I had this same dilemma when I put mine on and ended up using Monstaliner behind them. And for the record, I initially had them on for about a month in the summer without anything between the body and the slider. That short time was enough to cause a few areas of surface rust to develop where grit had worked it's way in.

 

[JimT]

I live deep in the center of the salt/rust belt. I have sanded/primed/painted/sealed everything under the panels and parts that I will add as well as the undersurface of the parts that I will add. The rocker guard gasket looks like just the ticket.