How do I Change a Bed Side on an S10 Truck?
The bed of an S10 pickup truck is built similar to that of a larger truck, making the process of collision repair fairly straightforward. S10 trucks all use spot weld construction, and the bed sides pull completely off in one piece once these spot welds are removed. The task is made easier by first removing the bed from the truck, which will leave the cab side spot welds exposed for removal.
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Things You'll Need
- Automotive hand tools
- Saw horses
- Drill
- 1/16 inch drill bit
- Spot weld cutter
- Clamps
- Spot weld tool
Instructions
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1
Remove the bed from the truck by first unbolting the bed mounts on the frame rails, then disconnecting the wiring harness which leads to the brake lights and turn signals. This can be found on the frame of the truck. Open the fuel filler door and unscrew the fittings to allow the bed to raise up off the frame rails.
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2
Remove the truck's rear bumper and tailgate, then lift the truck bed off of the frame rails of the truck and support it on a pair of saw horses.
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3
Locate the spot welds which connect the damaged bed side to the bed floor. They are located on a flange on the front (cab) side of the bed, at the roll pan, and also along the top inside flange of the bed. Drill the spot welds with the 1/16 inch drill bit in the exact center of the weld.
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4
Cut the spot welds using the spot weld cutter attached to the electric drill. Avoid cutting through both pieces of metal, however. Only cut the top sheet of metal so that there will be an adequate welding surface when the new bed side is attached.
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5
Pull the bed side off of the truck by first pulling out slightly on the bottom of the bed, then lifting up to clear the bed rail flange over its mounting point. The bed side is now free of the bed of the truck.
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6
Install the new bed side in place of the old by aligning it with the proper mounting points and clamping it in place. Temporarily install the tailgate to ensure that the new bed side's top rail is even with the top of the tail gate. When the bed side is aligned, use the spot weld tool to reproduce the original spot welds on the bed side of the truck.
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Tips & Warnings
Always measure twice, so that you only have to weld once to be certain that the bed side is properly aligned.
Do not look directly at the spot weld diodes while welding, as the weld point is bright enough to damage your eyes.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
