Running boards

[Hayes90]

Hey guys, ive been looking at my truck for a little today seeing what i could do myself for now, and i was thinking about taking off the running boards, anyone done it so i can see how it looks before i undergo hacking away at my rusty bolts.

[VanG]

I took mine off because they rusted through on the bottom. The Pathfinder looks oaky without them but I bought and installed new after market boards and installed them last week.

[slickroger]

I think it will look strange without the running board on the Qx4 the rear and front fenders kind of rely on the running board for looks.

I took mine off but i have a pathfinder

[Hayes90]

I think it will look strange without the running board on the Qx4 the rear and front fenders kind of rely on the running board for looks.

I took mine off but i have a pathfinder

that is true i didnt even notice the flow with the fender vs running boards. I have notice alot of pathfinders with out the runners off and i liked the look.

[KyooX4]

There ya go. Personally, I think it looks fine without the running boards. I almost sorta like it. But to each his own.

[JHC828]

I took mine off and enjoyed it for a while but have recently been thinking of putting them back on...

[93'Jag90'325ix98'QX4]

Yea kind of a toss up. The Q looks good both ways. How come you're taking them off yours? Are the running boards starting to sag and fall off due to the crappy rusty attachments underneath? lol. My passenger side is fragile in the middle now due to the bracket rendering useless now. I was under there the other day and it looks relatively easy to take them off. It started to rain or else I'd have more info for ya! I'll see what I can do asap.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I took mine off and enjoyed it for a while but have recently been thinking of putting them back on...

I've been having these SAME EXACT thoughts about my Pathy. I took off the side steps and I have really been considering putting them back on. The only things keeping me from putting them back on is:

A) The increase in ground clearance without themB) The reduction in vehicle weight without themC) My factory steps need to be re-painted

I dunno what to do. The SE side steps do make the Pathy look a bit tougher though.

[miamiheat3332]

which ones are the SE ones? the ones that have the black parts on top and then a break in the middle < the ones i have , then black part again, or the ones that have the whole black on top are LE or other way around.?

[Pwnin O'Brien]

which ones are the SE ones? the ones that have the black parts on top and then a break in the middle < the ones i have , then black part again, or the ones that have the whole black on top are LE or other way around.?

The SE steps are thicker and have the two separate black steps.

The LE are thinner and have one long continuous black step.

[Qxxx4]

Im taking mine off and am going to refabricate them. Its winter so Im taking them off for the whole 4 months along with my rims. I think it shouldnt be too hard of a task, my dad got a deal on a small welder so it may be a good project to learn how to weld (only did basic oxy and MIG in highschool)

I found a tube similar to the one that rotted out on my running boards and now need to figure out those brackets.

I checked the dealer..$1,000 for the pair...and they wont sell pieces seperately!

[miamiheat3332]

ah ok pwnin, i had it right then, personally i think the LE ones kinda look cheap

[Hayes90]

it looks really good with out them.. the otherday i was washing her and i stepped on the left side runner... well, it made a crunching noise and sort of sank down a little.... i love rust!

[GRNMACHINE]

VanGDo u have any pics of the aftermarket steps? Mine are starting to rust on the bottom. Dont need them but I do like them on and they do keep rock chips at a minimum from oversized tires.

[Natedogg1701]

i took mine of a few days ago and i think my pathy looks better. the look was an added bonus to me tho, my main reason was that in the winter months the gap between the rocker panel and the board is a perfect spot for dirt and sand and salt and ice and snow and all kinds a shyt that can and WILL rot and rust out the rocker panel, the running board itself, and the body/frame. my last vehicle had a nasty case of cancer (rust and rot) and i hated it, it WILL not happen to my pathy. lol.

[longhornsqx4]

Looks silly without them to me

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Looks silly without them to me

I like the look of my car with and without the side steps. I liked it with the side steps because it made the Pathfinder look wider and tougher. I also like the look without the steps because of the ugly color they painted them with. I mean, they used some weird brown/olive color which is only used in one other place on the vehicle: the roof rack rail. The difference is they used a high gloss paint on the steps and a matte paint (with texture) on the roof rack so they don't look like the same paint color at all. I also don't like the look of the brown/olive colored paint with the black steps and end trim pieces.

I was in the process of re-painting my side steps in the graphite color I used for my badges but I ran into a small problem. The screws which hold the black plastic steps down to the tube were seized and the heads of the bolts all broke off with very little effort. I can't pull the bolts out and I can't drill them out so they may just be garbage now. I've also been looking at getting a pair of the sliders from Rocky Road.

[GRNMACHINE]

Old thread yes, but has anyone purchased a decent looking aftermarket replacement? I like the look of the graphite grey side steps I have. Unfortunately, I looked at them from underneath today, the surface rust has graduated to rust through... Wanted to sand them and repaint them in the spring. Gonna be hard to get the paint to attatch to open voids... WoW these tube steps really suck, Path hasnt seen much snow either/been garage kept.

[lino]

I like it with and without.

[exvin]

I think they look fine with or without...

I was going to remove mines from my pathy but I didnt even though they are rusted and rottening.

Why? because the gf said she needs it to get in haha

[Qxxx4]

On the qx4s I think its a must have. Being the winter I took the one on my drivers side off and me and my dad are going to refab it. We bought a cheap arc welder and just need to go to a place that has the support bar we need. It looks silly on the q since the body molds into the form of our running boards. Definately hoping I get mine back on soon this time with lots of rust paint to prevent this crap from happening again. If I hadn't taken my drivers side off then I'm sure it would have fallen off part of the rail was completely gone

[buckeye3d]

Mine are coming off my 02 QX4 as soon as it warms up a bit.

[01silvapathy]

I took off mine, makes it look alot higher and it just looks better in general

[GRNMACHINE]

I actually like the stock running boards but I have to agree with you, they look alot better off on your Path. That is one of the nicest Path's I have ever seen!! What lift do you have/what brand/size tires? Very Nice work!!

Re: running boards, my wheels/tires stick out beyond the flares, I want to replace them for the small amount of rocks/debris the running boards keep off the rockers/doors etc. Has anyone found a reputable replacement?

[01silvapathy]

Thanks bro, its just the 2in AC lift (kyb struts, pro comp shocks, Warn Manual Locking Hubs) I am running 285 75 16 (33x11.5 in) BFG AT, on the stock wheels. I am running 1.5in wheel spacers to allow the stock wheels to clear the struts And yes, rocks and stones flying up is a hinderance without the running boards, but its not too terribly bad, of course the wheel spacers do not help me on that route.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Thanks bro, its just the 2in AC lift (kyb struts, pro comp shocks, Warn Manual Locking Hubs) I am running 285 75 16 (33x11.5 in) BFG AT, on the stock wheels. I am running 1.5in wheel spacers to allow the stock wheels to clear the struts And yes, rocks and stones flying up is a hinderance without the running boards, but its not too terribly bad, of course the wheel spacers do not help me on that route.

How much rubbing do you get with your 33's?

[nbf6165]

Took my boards off today and love it. Looks much better

01Silv, you should try BFG KM2's next. You will love them, they are far superior in mud than the AT's

[01silvapathy]

How much rubbing do you get with your 33's?

I made a new topic on the forum check it out for more info

[01silvapathy]

Took my boards off today and love it. Looks much better

01Silv, you should try BFG KM2's next. You will love them, they are far superior in mud than the AT's

I agree all r50's look better without running boards. And I am planning on getting KM2's when I have money. I got these AT's for 150 bucks for all 4 from a friend and im a college kid so money is hard to come by

[GRNMACHINE]

Anyone purchased these, they say you get what you pay for, they are dirt cheap.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...50089