Eliminating Rattles From Rocker Panel Covers

[RRoller123]

So I finally got fed up with the constant rattles coming from the rocker panel covers that are installed on my car. Frankly I don't really like them, but they were supposedly dealer installed on only 2-3% of our cars, and they are original, so I leave them on.

But....They rattle on bumps because the chrome strip is only attached at the ends, and the covers are only infrequently attached as well. The chrome strip rattles on the rocker covers, and the door threshold plate rattles on the chrome strip.



So I added some small screws (#4 x 1/2" are fine) along the chrome strip, down into the top of the rocker cover, where they would be hidden by the threshold plate when reinstalled. The heads don't interfere with the fit of any of the trim pieces.



Then I temporarily re-attached the threshold and marked the outer edge with masking tape, to act as an alignment guide for installing the EDPM weatherstripping next.



I attached some rubber EDPM weatherstrip molding with peel off adhesive to the top of the rocker, such that the bead would sit inside the pocket of the threshold. Fits perfectly!:







I put it all back together, pulled the masking tape, and no rattles! Nice and quiet now. And no new visible fasteners. Maybe I will come to actually like this widgetty setup after all.

[wizard124]

Interesting! My car has them. I assumed they were standard.

I found rust under one. Bad enough that the top of the rocker was cut out and replaced. The installer had placed some jute matting under. It held moisture and rusted the panel. Oddly, the other side had some foam and was rust free.

I layed in some foam weatherstripping during the reinstallation. No rattles. I like them

[TX82FIAT]

This is a good thread as these strips can also come lose very easily. The screw by the front fender often comes lose as well. I have used a dab of thread lock an at time used a slightly larger screw.

[bradartigue]

Those are stock; the chrome rocker covers that ran under the door from fender to fender were not

From the factory those kick panels (or steps or whatever they're called) had a durable cloth isolator strip to keep from making noise. Looks like yours had been misplaced. Nice solution!

[toyfiats]

From the factory those kick panels (or steps or whatever they're called) had a durable cloth isolator strip to keep from making noise. Looks like yours had been misplaced. Nice solution!

According to Joe Lakatos @ Joe's Fiat Service (now retired but a Fiat-only repair shop for 40 years), those cloth strips were a mistake that were only installed on the passenger sides. I'm not sure whether he meant they were a mistake because they were only on the passenger side, or because they tended to trap moisture and cause rust, but sure enough both original (never taken apart) '81 Spiders that I disassembled for paint only had them on the passenger side, and in both cases the top of the removable rocker panel was rusted as a result.

[RRoller123]

Double mistake, because there is a small remnant of some type of fibrous crap under the DRIVER'S side on mine, Hahahah!! and the passenger side was completely clean. But anyway, this solution works really well and I like that there are NO new visible fasteners. Glad to contribute it. Now if I could just get my damned rear view mirror to stop rattling.....

[bradartigue]

Joe is wrong.

On the mirror, remove it and take it apart, they are easy to disassemble. There isn't much to them that will rattle, so clean up the glass bits and figure out what's loose in there

[spiderdan]

Now if I could just get my damned rear view mirror to stop rattling.....

EZ solution Pete
https://youtu.be/AjGXn249Fc0

[spider2081]

From the factory those kick panels (or steps or whatever they're called) had a durable cloth isolator strip to keep from making noise.

I purchased this stuff from HD and stuck the kick panels to the body. I also use it on some areas like inside the doors, sticking it to the metal reduces the tinny sound form panels.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Grace-Vycor- ... /203057402

It is a thin rubber like material that is self sticking to most surfaces.

[RRoller123]

Dan: First rule of Italian driving; what isa behind me does notta matter. hahahah! Great movie.

[80spiddy]

I used dum dum (form of body puddy/sealer). Less apt to retain any moisture. I used it sparingly and only where needed to get rid of any vibrating noise as I tapped around on it.

[toyfiats]

Joe is wrong.

I posted that just for you as I knew that would be your response, because reading microfiche trumps actual decades of experience every time.

To the original poster, nice solution. I need to so the same thing soon.

[bradartigue]

Joe is wrong.

I posted that just for you as I knew that would be your response, because reading microfiche trumps actual decades of experience every time.

To the original poster, nice solution. I need to so the same thing soon.

I made some nasty post in response, but instead deleted it. Good luck with whatever you and Joe do together. I earned my stripes long before we had the microfilms and parts guides, when a small group of us were spending time un-screwing up cars people like Joe worked on. Because in the end the biggest enemy to the FIAT Spider were 95% mechanics who worked on them.