2008 Expedition EB Fixing rusted rockers and maintenance information request
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2008 Expedition EB Fixing rusted rockers and maintenance information request
Hello future friends,
I have owned my Standard Length 2008 Expedition EB for a couple of years now and I have some questions related to maintaining it.
I've tried googling some of this stuff and have only found semi-helpful or fragmented information, so I figured I'd see what the enthusiast consensus was.
If you'd like to help me out, please keep reading!
Background:
Back in 2019, I borrowed it from my next door neighbour to haul some stuff away from my spring cleaning.
When I tried to return it, she said she was looking to get rid of it anyway, and to just keep it, and that it came with a parking spot.
They took exemplary care of the truck in terms of general maintenance - when I got it, it had 130K miles.
They had literally *just* put on new tires and brakes...so...nothing really to do there.
It currently has 139K miles and still runs like new.
The truck has always been in the Chicago area, where it still resides.
So it's seen snow, road salt, gunshots, squirrels with gang ties, Indiana, and all manner of terrible things.
I've maintained it myself since purchasing it, and the only things it's needed:
I, like some of you am a car enthusiast, and the truck has come in super handy in support of my other cars.
I seldom use the truck in the summer - it's mostly used for hauling or carrying large things, and also to tow my track car to/from race tracks.
In winter, it is my daily driver.
I love this thing and I want to keep it long term. It's cost me virtually nothing and it's in excellent shape, save for the rusted rockers.
I see that a lot of these trucks suffer from rusted rockers, and it seems to be related to the running boards.
*Cutting* to the chase
In the spring, I plan to do some general maintenance to freshen it up.
So I wanna ask about the following....
1.) Fixing the rocker rust -
My plan was to:
Does anyone else have a DIY of how they fixed/patched theirs?
2.) Trans fluid.
One day, I want to trailer my track car (~2,800LB + maybe 300LB of track spares + Aluminum trailer) cross country.
Starting from my house in the Chicago area, to re-visit COTA in Austin, and then Willow Springs, and Laguna Seca, and back to IL.
So I wanna make sure I take excellent care of the trans.
Any recommendations on whether or whether NOT to do trans fluid exchanges?
I don't know if this is a fill-for-life trans, or if has some easy way to do the fluid swap.
Any help from DIY'ers or experienced owners is massively appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Let me know if pics of the rust will help.
I have owned my Standard Length 2008 Expedition EB for a couple of years now and I have some questions related to maintaining it.
I've tried googling some of this stuff and have only found semi-helpful or fragmented information, so I figured I'd see what the enthusiast consensus was.
If you'd like to help me out, please keep reading!
Background:
Back in 2019, I borrowed it from my next door neighbour to haul some stuff away from my spring cleaning.
When I tried to return it, she said she was looking to get rid of it anyway, and to just keep it, and that it came with a parking spot.
They took exemplary care of the truck in terms of general maintenance - when I got it, it had 130K miles.
They had literally *just* put on new tires and brakes...so...nothing really to do there.
It currently has 139K miles and still runs like new.
The truck has always been in the Chicago area, where it still resides.
So it's seen snow, road salt, gunshots, squirrels with gang ties, Indiana, and all manner of terrible things.
I've maintained it myself since purchasing it, and the only things it's needed:
- New tailgate module for the power tailgate.
- Easy DIY fix after finding the part for $50 on eBay.
- Coolant pipe that goes on top of the spark plug tubes had ruptured, causing a misfire.
- Another easy fix I carried out by buying a new Dorman coolant pipe assy, and Motorcraft plugs + plug boots.
- It has the 1 piece plugs, and they all came out effortlessly.
I, like some of you am a car enthusiast, and the truck has come in super handy in support of my other cars.
I seldom use the truck in the summer - it's mostly used for hauling or carrying large things, and also to tow my track car to/from race tracks.
In winter, it is my daily driver.
I love this thing and I want to keep it long term. It's cost me virtually nothing and it's in excellent shape, save for the rusted rockers.
I see that a lot of these trucks suffer from rusted rockers, and it seems to be related to the running boards.
*Cutting* to the chase
In the spring, I plan to do some general maintenance to freshen it up.
So I wanna ask about the following....
1.) Fixing the rocker rust -
My plan was to:
- Cut off the running boards and ditch them (sorry, short wife!).
- Cut off the rusted parts of the rockers - some of the rust does extend above the door seal.
- Knot wheel and acid wash any leftover surface rusted metal.
- Stitch weld the new rockers into place
- POR-15 black
- Seal the butt/seam with polyurethane seam sealer.
- POR tie coat with a 2K paint/2k clearcoat on top.
Does anyone else have a DIY of how they fixed/patched theirs?
2.) Trans fluid.
One day, I want to trailer my track car (~2,800LB + maybe 300LB of track spares + Aluminum trailer) cross country.
Starting from my house in the Chicago area, to re-visit COTA in Austin, and then Willow Springs, and Laguna Seca, and back to IL.
So I wanna make sure I take excellent care of the trans.
Any recommendations on whether or whether NOT to do trans fluid exchanges?
I don't know if this is a fill-for-life trans, or if has some easy way to do the fluid swap.
Any help from DIY'ers or experienced owners is massively appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Let me know if pics of the rust will help.
Last edited by RustyShackleford; Feb 4, 2023 at 02:08 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 104
From: Fraser Valley, BC Canada
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,584
Take a good look underneath the vehicle for any severe rust from road salt.
What you find will tell a lot about what you maybe should do.
Chicago roads in winter can do a lot of damage to chassis and suspension areas.
There are so many vehicles that look beautiful outside ,but were never washed underneath and salt takes no holidays.
I believe, if you follow the schedule in your owner's manual, you should be OK.
If you run and maintain a track car, you know what to do.
What you find will tell a lot about what you maybe should do.
Chicago roads in winter can do a lot of damage to chassis and suspension areas.
There are so many vehicles that look beautiful outside ,but were never washed underneath and salt takes no holidays.
I believe, if you follow the schedule in your owner's manual, you should be OK.
If you run and maintain a track car, you know what to do.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,584
In regard to the trans, follow what the owner's manual recommends.
As you know by now, if you drop the pan and replace the filter and fluid drained ,you don't stir up a lot of junk and circulate it through the trans and valve body.
Flushes claim to clean that , but it is no better than what was suggested earlier. There is all kinds of sediment in the clutch packs and no amount of flushing will get rid of that . It goes in and out with application and the removal of the pan is a better way to get rid of it.
As you know by now, if you drop the pan and replace the filter and fluid drained ,you don't stir up a lot of junk and circulate it through the trans and valve body.
Flushes claim to clean that , but it is no better than what was suggested earlier. There is all kinds of sediment in the clutch packs and no amount of flushing will get rid of that . It goes in and out with application and the removal of the pan is a better way to get rid of it.
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