Chevy Silverado Rocker Panel Replacement Cost [Labor & Parts]
Rocker panels make up an important part of a vehicle’s body, and they connect the front of a car to its back, from one wheel well to another. But this part can easily rust and get damaged over time, which means you may need to replace it at some point.
It costs about $2,760 on average to replace a Chevy Silverado rocker panel. Within this estimate, note that the average cost of replacement labor is about $2,500, and the average cost of a new rocker panel itself is going to be closer to about $260.
However, this cost can vary, give or take a couple of hundred dollars.
Below, we’ll break down the costs associated with this part replacement for Chevy Silverado models, including labor and parts.
We’ll look at factors that influence the cost from person to person, including the type of Chevy Silverado model, the year the Silverado was released, your location, and more. Costs will also vary depending on whether you replace the part yourself or hire professional mechanics to do so.
Cost Breakdown for a Chevy Silverado Rocker Panel Replacement
We already established that the average cost for this replacement job, including parts and labor, is around $2,760. Parts are actually pretty affordable compared to the cost of labor for replacing rocker panels. Below, take a look at how the cost of parts and labor differ for this replacement.
Cost of Parts
The cost of parts is generally between $150-$350 for a new rocker panel, but the cost can vary depending on the manufacturer and the type of rocker panel. We’ll compare some price quotes from online retailers to see the range of costs for new Chevy Silverado rocker panels.
1999-2006 CHEVY SILVERADO ROCKER PANEL EXTENDED CAB DRIVER-SIDE
Sold for $119.50 by Raybuck Auto Parts online, this rocker panel fits Chevy Silverado models between 1999-2006. This is only for the extended cab driver side panel.
Slip-On Style Rocker Panel; Driver Side; Replacement Part
This rocker panel is sold by American Trucks online for just $65.99 (market price of $71.99). Note that it’s a panel made for the driver side, and its price is so low because it’s a slip-on rocker panel. It fits Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models between 2007-2013.
2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Extended Cab 2 Piece Rocker Panel Set
This rocker panel 2-piece set fits Chevy Silverado 1500 models between 2007-2013. It’s sold for $309.95 (market price of $441.95) by 1A Auto.
Replace® RRP3718 – Passenger Side Slip-On Style Rocker Panel
This is only a one-piece rocker panel purchase. It’s a side rocker panel fit for older Chevy Silverado 1500 models (ca. 2001). It’s sold for only $44.01 by CARiD online.
Rocker Panel – Driver and Passenger Side, Inner, Extended Cab
Unlike other price quotes, this one fits Chevy Silverado 2500 models between 1999-2013, Chevy Silverado 1500 models between 1999-2019, and various Chevy Silverado 3500 model years. It’s a 2-piece rocker panel set sold for $172.99 by CarParts.com (list price $567.96).
1999-2007 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Universal Fit 4 Door Extended Cab Outer Rocker Panels (2 Pcs)
This is our last pick because it’s a universal fit rocker panel set of two. You can use it on any Chevy Silverado truck model, whether you have 1500, 2500, or 3500. It’s sold for a good deal of $99.99 on Amazon by MPH Production. They need to be welded and painted on for installation.
Cost of Labor
While the cost of parts can vary, as seen above, so can the cost of labor. Depending on how many rocker panels you need to replace and what part of the Silverado they’re for, prices will vary.
In general, though, the average cost of labor for rocker panel replacement is about $2,500. However, this cost could be as low as about $1,000 or as high as almost $4,000. Labor is much more expensive than the cost of the rocker panels themselves.
We can also get an average labor cost estimate by looking at hourly rates in the US. On average, it takes about 8-10 hours per side to replace a vehicle’s rocker panels. This means that a full rocker panel replacement for both sides will take an average of 16-18 hours.
Since the average cost of labor (per hour) in the United States is about $105, then we get a labor estimate of about $840-$1,050 per rocker panel or $1,680-$1,890 for both rocker panels.
Part of what makes labor so expensive for rocker panel replacement is that the doors and other car parts often have to get removed. The process of installing new rocker panels is pretty laborious and time-consuming.
This is why people pay mechanics to do the job for them. However, you can save a lot of money by doing a DIY installation. We’ll explain how this affects costs later on.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Chevy Silverado Rocker Panel Replacement
Although there are average estimates for the cost of this part replacement, individuals will inevitably face different price tags at the end of the day.
Whether or not you pay for professional labor plays a part. The type of Silverado you own, the Silverado’s age, as well as the type of rocker panels you’re replacing also affect overall costs. Let’s take a look at how these factors affect costs.
DIY vs. Professional Installation
You can save quite a bit of money on a rocker panel replacement job by installing the new parts yourself. Granted, you have to have the mechanical know-how and skills to remove the old parts and replace them.
You also have to have the knowledge of how to remove any other car parts, such as doors, in order to exchange the rocker panels. This is a lot more difficult than replacing windshield wipers at home, for example. Consider this before deciding on whether to pay for professional labor or not.
Slip-On vs. Welded Rocker Panel
There are also different types of rocker panels to choose from. Slip-on rocker panels are of a lower quality than welded rocker panels, and their installation is less expensive. Therefore, you’re going to pay a bit more for welded rocker panels.
For example, when we compared price quotes for different Chevy Silverado rocker panels sold online, we found that slip-on rocker panels were less than $100. On the other hand, welded rocker panel sets are closer to $200-$300.
Number of Rocker Panels You’re Replacing
Costs are also going to vary depending on how many rocker panels you need to replace on your Silverado. You might be replacing just one, or you might need to replace panels for both sides of the truck. You’ll spend almost twice as much on parts if you need to buy both.
Furthermore, labor prices will increase if you need to have two rocker panels replaced instead of one. This is due to both the added time and effort it takes mechanics to install both rocker panels.
Age of Your Chevy Silverado
The age of your vehicle also plays a role in the cost of replacing parts. Sometimes, parts are more expensive for older models because they’re less likely to be in stock. However, in other cases, parts are more expensive for newer models because they’re modern and of higher quality and better design.
When it comes to the Chevy Silverado, it seems that rocker panels are generally more expensive for newer vehicle models.
Type of Chevy Silverado Model
Another price factor that will shift costs is the type of Silverado you have. Some people have the Chevy Silverado 1500, while others have a 2500 or 3500 model. Among these models are also submodels, such as the HD and Classic submodels of the Silverado pickup truck.
On average, the cost of a 2-side rocker panel set for Chevy Silverado 2500 and Silverado 3500 models is not all that different. However, you may incur extra costs with the 2500 and 3500 models if you need to replace the rocker bottom and cab parts.
How to Save Money on Chevy Silverado Rocker Panel Replacement Costs
One of the most obvious ways to save money on Chevy Silverado rocker panel replacements is to make it into a DIY project. Since labor takes up so much of the cost, you’ll save the most this way.
However, there are a few other ways you can budget this project, including
- Buy your rocker panels in a set. If you know you need two rocker panels instead of just one, find a set of two sold together. Chances are you will get a better deal than if you were to buy them separately.
- Get rocker panels replaced at an auto body shop instead of the dealership. As a rule of thumb, dealership prices tend to run higher than mechanic prices.
- Look for special deals on rocker panel parts online. Certain parts manufacturers have limited-time sales on car parts that are hundreds of dollars lower than the MSRP.
- Buy gently used replacement parts. If you can find replacement parts that are in good condition, it may be worth your money.
Conclusion
On average, replacing the rocker panels on a Chevrolet Silverado truck is going to set you back about $2,760. This average cost consists of the cost of parts (around $260) and the cost of labor (around $2,500).
Prices will vary depending on what type of Silverado model you have, the age of your truck, how many panels you replace, and whether or not you pay for professional labor. You can follow our tips to save some money overall.
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