So I have a golfball sized hole in my rocker panel of the car. They are saying it is an inspection issue so I have to fix it. Autobody shop says entire rocker panel has to be replaced.

My questions:
1) why is this a safety issue? doesnt lead into the cab as far as I can tell, doesnt seem like a safety concern.

2) Is there no way to just patch this spot? I do not care what it looks like, the car is on the way out, I just need it to pass inspection

Thanks,

Cul

Wouldn't it be a structural issue?

No idea, seems on a pretty standard spot that is going to get rusted out. Why would you make that part of your structure?

I don't know, but that's what I always thought.

I found this:

http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByDepartment/Rocker_Panel

Thanks. Maybe a better question is, does anyone know an autobody shop that likes to repair things, rather than replace?

If you're interested, I can give you my Dad's contact info. He does that kind of work in his shop at VERY reasonable rates. PM me if you're interested.

And yes, it's a structural thing. Cars with a unibody frame are basically held together in the middle by the rocker panels and floor. So you can just "fix" the area, but new metal MUST be welded in it's place, not just stuffed with filler or something like that. And usually if there is a hole in one spot, the rest is pretty weak too, just not broken through the paint yet. So you fix one area, another area has a hole a month later!

Another option is Bingley's Auto Body, 33 Barclay Ave., in Stratford.

I've had work done by him before and he did a great job at a reasonable price.

Thanks for the tips. I find it rather... well annoying that a rocker panel would be assigned structural importance given its likelyhood of rust and damage. It is a replace market I guess.