nerf bars: chrome vs. stainless

[tacosauce]

i recently put on some chrome westin nerf bars. now i'm starting to regret and wish i got stainless ones instead.
not even a week and i'm already starting to see rust building on the very inside edges of the bars. is this even normal? after a week? any suggestions on what i can do to stop the rust?

[Lebeau]

You should of went with some sliders I love mine.

[bb609]

I thought all Westin chromies are stainless steel. Are you sure they're rusting?

[Tufemup]

Mine are chrome and no rust yet after two winters in CT except where I scratched and dented the bottom of one on a rock. I polish off as much as I can every so often to delay the inevitable.

[DCabTaco]

I would imagine 1 week in Hawaii will be a lot worst on metal than 2 winters in CT due to the higher salt content in the air(mist). Sorry to hear about that and sorry I can't offer any real help.

[tacosauce]

I thought all Westin chromies are stainless steel too. Are you sure they're rusting?

i looked underneath on the edges right by where the bars meet the brackets i see tiny orange spots right on the edges. should i be concerned? do you guys see the same on yours?

[dsopac]

It's the brackets on the inside of the bars. I cut mine up last year and the ends were all corroded...

[tacosauce]

dude, that sucks. is there anything i can do to prevent it? am i screwed?

[dsopac]

http://www.geocities.com/dsopac/CorrodedNerfs.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dsopac/NerfBars.JPG

See if you can trade for a newer set and rust proof em before putting em on? Or just get sliders, still have to touch up the surface rust, but as long as they're sealed should last awhile...

[bb609]

i looked underneath on the edges right by where the bars meet the brackets i see tiny orange spots right on the edges. should i be concerned? do you guys see the same on yours?

They are warranteed. I returned mine no problem because of problems with the chrome. Take them back if you're concerned about it.

[Tufemup]

I would imagine 1 week in Hawaii will be a lot worst on metal than 2 winters in CT due to the higher salt content in the air(mist). Sorry to hear about that and sorry I can't offer any real help.
Then you would have assumed wrong. Have you ever driven in a northern state where salt is used on the road to help melt the ice and snow? The entire vehicle is covered in salt all winter. Even when it's not snowing, there is salt on the road and melting snow causes a constant spray all winter. My truck gets washed once a week and it only lasts until I drive it again. One commute to work and salt spray all over the side and undercarriage again. I've been to Hawaii and Florida. Cars are emaculate in comparison. So Cal is probably the same. The only salt spray in the air would be if you park right next to the ocean. 1/4 mile in or so and you would be spotless.

[JLtaco]

Then you would have assumed wrong. Have you ever driven in a northern state where salt is used on the road to help melt the ice and snow? The entire vehicle is covered in salt all winter. Even when it's not snowing, there is salt on the road and melting snow causes a constant spray all winter. My truck gets washed once a week and it only lasts until I drive it again. One commute to work and salt spray all over the side and undercarriage again. I've been to Hawaii and Florida. Cars are emaculate in comparison. So Cal is probably the same. The only salt spray in the air would be if you park right next to the ocean. 1/4 mile in or so and you would be spotless.
I beg to differ...We have a major problem with corrosion here in Hawaii, and not just while parked on the beach. By no means have I done a scientific study on the rate which metal rusts, but it's a fact that our fridge in our house at the 1500' elevation probably 10 miles away from the ocean has little rust spots on it. Try and explain your theory to the rust that was constantly forming on the stainless sink and also the stove that were fortunately replaced recently. No, we don't live in a hut and yes we have windows that are always open to receive the warm salty ocean breeze into our home. We live on tiny little islands in the middle of a huge ocean so I would assume that the salt breeze is difficult to avoid. :)

[Tufemup]

I beg to differ...We have a major problem with corrosion here in Hawaii, and not just while parked on the beach. By no means have I done a scientific study on the rate which metal rusts, but it's a fact that our fridge in our house at the 1500' elevation probably 10 miles away from the ocean has little rust spots on it. Try and explain your theory to the rust that was constantly forming on the stainless sink and also the stove that were fortunately replaced recently. No, we don't live in a hut and yes we have windows that are always open to receive the warm salty ocean breeze into our home. We live on tiny little islands in the middle of a huge ocean so I would assume that the salt breeze is difficult to avoid. :)
There is just no comparison between your corroded stainless sink and stove (probably over the course of a decade or so) to the abuse a vehicle is subjected to in a northern winter. Maybe your sink and stove are rusting but salt does not evaporate into mist like water. Ever heard of distillation to purify salinated water. Water spashing up will have salt in it but there is no salt in the air. Salt is a disolved solid in water. Your rust in the house is probably due to some other issue like high humidity and everything constantly being damp from all the water in the air. Salt only speeds up the process of corrosion but water alone will do the trick over time.

[wslytoy]

You should of went with some sliders I love mine.


Hey man,
not tryin to be a dick or anything, but not every1 wants or likes sliders. I personally like em', however I have no use for em seeing as how the only rocks we have are on dirt roads. BUt, like I said, not tryin to be an ass, I just knew some1 was gonna say it, lol! Peace, Wes

[Ursidae69]

On my old truck I had a set of Smittybilts and they rusted after 2 years. I called them and they warrantied them and drop shipped me a new pair. Regardless of brand, I'd look into warranties. You never know.

[tacosauce]

so it turns out the rust was coming from the bracket. sure nuff, the warranty don't cover rusting of the brackets, only the bars (sneaky bastards).
so i took off all the brackets, stripped em down and re-finished em with rust-oleum. came out okay. shot some into the bars too. not sure how much good it will do but at least i feel a little better now.

btw, thanks for all the input.

[Fishbone]

Give 'em a good coat of wax, should delay the rust for a while.

[Fishbone]

The winters here in the NE are absolutely brutal. Don't know how it compares to living near the ocean, but I think it'd be hard to find a harsher climate for a vehicle than here.
Rust sucks.
--Scott

[-dustin]

after reading this thread last night, i took my Westins off today, in hopes of selling them. below is what i found.

http://www.pbase.com/inbred/image/44905755/large.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/inbred/image/44905756/large.jpg

dumped from both:

http://www.pbase.com/inbred/image/44905757/large.jpg

for sale: Westin nerf bars...cheap! :rolleyes:

[Paul]

Should of bought sliders...

[-dustin]

at the time i bought the Westins, i didn't know what sliders were. however, they are now on my 'want' list.

[NorcalPR]

I dislike sliders and nerf bars, they get ni the way of stepping in and out. At least sliders act as something else than a step though!

[slimstacoma]

that looks like puke

[Mike]

I dislike sliders and nerf bars, they get ni the way of stepping in and out. At least sliders act as something else than a step though!

You can make or buy sliders to fit your needs. It's entirely possible to install sliders that don't extend very far and won't get in the way of you getting in and out.

Later,
....Mike

[-dustin]

i like the fact that some of the sliders i have seen are nice and close to the body. but the steps...yeah, a few pairs of pants had mud stains on the back of the calves.

[Tufemup]

i like the fact that some of the sliders i have seen are nice and close to the body. but the steps...yeah, a few pairs of pants had mud stains on the back of the calves.
Whether nerf bars or sliders - if your using it as a step, you have to use the step and not just slide out of the truck over it - hence the muddy calves. When my wife wanted running boards on her Pilot, I said you have to actually use it to step in and out otherwise you'll have dirty pant legs cause they stick out past the body.

[01taco4x4]

If youll get some "Never Dull" polish from the autoparts stor and polish them about once a week the rust will polish out. I used to have a set of chrome rims that were always getting rust spots then i found that stuff. Itll polish the rust off. Just dont let it get to out of control.

[NorcalPR]

You can make or buy sliders to fit your needs. It's entirely possible to install sliders that don't extend very far and won't get in the way of you getting in and out.

Later,
....Mike

Yeah, when lookin for a Taco I test drove a lifted one with sliders on it. The very edge only stuck out about 2" from the body. Still got in the way for me though.

I'll just keep mine slider free. I don't do enough wheeling to worry bout um.

[-dustin]

Whether nerf bars or sliders - if your using it as a step, you have to use the step and not just slide out of the truck over it - hence the muddy calves. When my wife wanted running boards on her Pilot, I said you have to actually use it to step in and out otherwise you'll have dirty pant legs cause they stick out past the body.

yes, i understand that now. it was odd at first, though, and hence, the dirty legs.

--edit==

i got in touch with Westin, out of curiousity's sake, and asked about warranty. they said that up until 2005, the Signature series bars had a 5yr warranty. if i can find my receipt from 2001, i might be able to get the warrantied. i asked if i should check for interior rusting, and the question was avoided.

[usmcbombboy]

Nasta uses stainless steel for all components of their nerf bars (bars, mounting plates, & hardware). I am looking at getting a set when they get around to making ones to fit an '05 Dbl Cab.

[JaiRook]

Whether nerf bars or sliders - if your using it as a step, you have to use the step and not just slide out of the truck over it - hence the muddy calves. When my wife wanted running boards on her Pilot, I said you have to actually use it to step in and out otherwise you'll have dirty pant legs cause they stick out past the body.

i dont like sliding out of my truck...cuz the side of my seat gets stained blue with my jeans. :rolleyes: