My 2009 had slip on rocker panels installed when I bought it but road salt has destroyed The drivers side which now needs to be replaced again. My problem is the bottom of the rocker panel is rusted out as well and I'm wondering if OEM parts are available. The side jacking points are non existent and I have to use the center jack points when lifting the car o change tires etc. A google search finds a rocker reinforcement but no complete rocker panels listed anywhere. Has anyone here found a source for a complete weld in rocker panel?
What else is rusted out? Is this vehicle safe to drive? Edit: This site lists rocker panels for a Prius: https://www.carparts.com/ but also read this article: https://www.carparts.com/rocker-panel How would one weld one of these on safely? I guess somehow lift at the wheels on one side and do one side at a time? I mean, it's not like the car can go up on a lift - the supports for the lift are usually placed under the part that is rusted out.
When all the hubbub is over come down to North Carolina to the beach call me when you're down here I'll have you one ready to drive back practically or whatever they're all over the place here you don't want to be doing that welding and nonsense or maybe you do and you can come down here and get a car for whatever pretty cheap if you're a penny pincher $2,000 $2,500 drive your junker down here and swap what you want off yours and throw everything else in the back vacation for a week and drive home I mean that's what I used to do from Western Massachusetts only a few more hours
Replacing the decorative rocker panels from salt damage the first time was your final warning about taking more care to protect your vehicle from the salt with regular thorough cleanings and doing all you can to ensure the slide on panels aren't creating more problems than they're solving by holding salty water. At this point, you need to send the car to the wrecker or spend a fortune on welding big chunks of metal from a non-rusted Prius. Those are the only two options as this vehicle is no longer safe to drive.
