QX4 Running Boards advice

[spb1313]

I Have a 99.5 QX4. My Running boards are completely rusting out. The brackets underneath look in OK shape, but the underside of the boards are completely shot. Was wondering if anyone had replaced their running boards with aftermarket? If so how which brand and how to they look? I guess my other option is to start searching the salvage yards and hope I can find some not already rusted out.

[fueler]

Mine are shot too - not from weather or salt - but from offroading! I plan on getting some rocky road sliders http://www.rocky-road.com/pathfinderrockrail.html

[Qxxx4]

ive got the same question! i cant even stand on my drivers side running boards...they are looooose lol i am curious what aftermarket would look like on the q too.

[spb1313]

Mine are pretty much shot from salt, snow, etc. Those rocky road sliders look good, but the Q's OEM running boards are integrated on the ends with the body panels, so I am worried how aftermarket would look.

[Infinitidood412]

Its funny that all of us have the same problem...haha yeah mine are lose and i yell at anymore who even puts a foot on them. the last thing in the world would do is stand on them lol

[ws6ta]

This is my first post so hopefully I do it right. I had this same problem on my 1999 Qx4 . The support beam on the bottom of the running boards were rotted out and I could not find any postings about fixing them. I first took them off the truck so I could see what I was dealing with. The boards come off really easy, I think it was 6 bolts holding them to the truck. I used my cutoff tool to cut out the rusted beam and I found that Galvanized Kindorf was almost a perfect fit to replace the beam. I got to 6 foot pieces and took out the welding machine. I welded the new metal to any brackets that were still in good shape and welded them in.The Kindorf is galvanized steel so it wont rust out again but I sprayed everything with rust preventing paint anyway.Hope this helps someone. I can tell you I was climbing on those running boards for a week and shaking the whole truck just because I was so use to avoiding them when getting in and out of the truck.

[Qxxx4]

wow thanks alot for sharing! thats impressive...how much did you spend on materials? and is there anyway of doing it without welding? my skills are limited to automotive shop class in highschool where i just did arc welding and oxyacetelyne...which my skills were....novice at best lol plus i dont have a welder!

[ws6ta]

I hope I can be of some help. The Kindorf was given to me so the repairs did not really cost anything.The metal is called Kindorf metal channel. the number on it is B-907 which gives you the dimensions 1-1/2 x 3/4 You could try an electrical supply place or home depot for the stuff. I think its sold in 10 foot lenghts not expensive from what I was told. I guess you could use anything but this stuff fit really well. If I were you I would buy 2 pieces cut ,prep the steps and bring it to someone who can weld it together.I dont think it would cost much since it was maybe a 20 minute welding job and I am a novice. I cant think of another way to get that step solid without welding it. --- Joe

[spb1313]

Thanks for the info, I was thinking about repairing them but wasn't sure what approach might work best - that looks easy enough if you can weld. Looks stronger than the original!

[MagicM]

i put down one vote for NO running boards , i think the Pathfinder/qx4 looks better without them. They also get bent if you do any offroading.

[ws6ta]

What really bugged me was that these trucks arent cheap and to look under the truck and see support beams rusted to nothing was unacceptable and it became a mission to fix them.Its easy enough to drive around without them,I just thought the Qx4 looked funny like part of the lower molding is missing.Here is a picture with it off-- Joe

[Infinitidood412]

That's not as bad as i expected the thing to look....and wow there sure is alot of good info in this topic lol

[Qxxx4]

What really bugged me was that these trucks arent cheap and to look under the truck and see support beams rusted to nothing was unacceptable and it became a mission to fix them.Its easy enough to drive around without them,I just thought the Qx4 looked funny like part of the lower molding is missing.Here is a picture with it off-- Joe

if you throw on some aftermarket steps it would look decent!

but i think its worth it to pay someone to weld the stuff for me...ill def look into that next year...let these dirrrty bastards go for one more winter!

[ws6ta]

Imagine the fun you will have when you finally get to stand on your steps and discover the black molding around your sunroof starting to rust!

[Qxxx4]

wow im glad i dont have that problem yet! my sunroof is mint including that trim above the windshield. just my window weatherstripping is starting to bubble..definately want to fix that soon!

anyways....it was sucha coincidence, i saw a qx4 today with the sidesteps removed!!! it looked pretty good

[fueler]

my side steps gave their lives to protect the rest of the body... and it worked...

[bmlawless]

When are you going to install your sliders fueler?

[QX4Dad]

Like everyone else, my 1998 QX4 running boards were flapping in the breeze. I want to thank ws6sta for showing me how to get this fixed. I went to an electrical supply store and bought 1-5/8 x 1" support strut (galvanized steel, perforated) and did a replica of his repair.

The bolts were pretty hard to get off, until used the candle method (short heat with a plumbers torch, melt a candle on the end of the bolt and then an easy turn of the wrench) the wax wicks up the threads of the hot bolt and makes it easy to get the nut off. I used a battery operated grinder with a cutting blade on it to cut away all the old tubing and then put it all back together with the new strut stock. I took it to a weld shop to finish the job and the guy charged me 50 bucks. - I agree that the design is flawed - using tubing is a mistake, the perforated stock makes more sense. All in all, a half hour to get the bolts off, 20 minutes of cutting and a trip to the store. not too bad.

[Empty V]

I plan on getting some rocky road sliders

+1 I'd love to get a set of these but they're so damn expensive. I was thinking about getting the 67" trail gear sliders but they've got to be cut and welded and that sounds like a big PITA. It sucks having 33's and aftermarket springs because you're only real option when offroad is a high-lift jack and you really need rock sliders for a jacking point. BTW you see that Rogged Rocks was out at Anza Borrega last weekend?

[CanuckQx4]

On that rocky road site that was linked. For a 2001 Qx4 they have 2 options

They listed the super slider and pictured them @ 409 but they also have a $319 option, where is the info on that sidestep??

$400 is kinda spendy but those superslider ones look really nice.

A Qx4 doesnt look right missing the lower moulding.

[m0nkeyprince]

Yeah, the rocky road super sliders look crazy, if i had that kind of cash, id get it in an instant

[SZawlocki]

Just took em off. Looks a little funny without the flush fenders towards the bottom, but the truck isn't tall enough for them anyway.

[dacameron]

So last week I repaired the running boards. There is a little more info I wanted to post. First, the Kindorf B-907 channel Silver is what I used and I thanks you for that posted info. I purchased it from Grainger and did a local pickup for a 20ft pc since it was half the price. I brought my saw and cut it there in 3 pcs. I checked with 3 different weld shops in my area and found 1 that was willing to do any small job. the others were not very interested - so find the right place (small is good).
I suggest taking off the running boards at the weld shop. The running boards come off with 3 pairs of bolts. All but 1 pair sheared when I took them off due to the old locktight - oops. The weld shop did a great job of cutting out the old steel and working with what was still good on the old brackets. They then welded on the new channel and redid the welds on all the old brackets were needed. One important thing to note is getting the angle of the three 3 main brackets correct. They have a slight angle. If you don't they will go on a little crooked, so check that before you finalize. Now we had to deal with the sheared bolts. The best approach was to shear off the integrated nut, which is square and part of the frame bracket. Then you are just working with a hole (not tapped) on the chassis bracket. We used a 5/16 drill to keep the hole the right size. We then used a 5/16 bolt, a washer on each side, and a lock nut. Tightened everything up and carefully aligned the running boards.

Summary of costs - 20ft Kindorf B-907 silver was $70 with tax. 3.5 hours of labor and the weld shop was $300.
Can of spray undercoat/rust inhibitor for the channel - $7.
Everything looks great and you can stand on the running boards now if you want!

[sammad]

Hello, first post!
Does anyone know anyone able to do a running board repair like this in the the Pittsburgh area. Both my running boards on my 2003 Qx4 are shot.
Thanks you