What are thresholds and why are they needed on a car?

What are the thresholds for?

Thresholds in a car perform several functions:

• are part of tuning;
• protect the body from mechanical damage and the aggressive effects of salt reagents in winter;
• serve to strengthen the bottom;
• act as a supporting element for the central pillar;
• provide full body rigidity and increase the passive safety of the car.

Original linings – moldings, surface treatment with special anti-gravel films, and additional varnish painting – help improve the aesthetics of the vehicle.

During movement, the element, along with the bottom of the car and the lower trim of the front bumper, experiences constant mechanical impact from flying gravel. Unlike other parts, thresholds are the first to react to corrosion hazards. They get more water during rain, acids and salt reagents in winter.

Rating of high-quality car thresholds and trims for 2021

Our list is compiled based on real reviews, it takes into account the opinions of customers familiar with the product and its functions. Here you will find photos and tables of characteristics.

Inexpensive

Renault Arkana, (stainless steel, 4 pcs.)

Protectors from the TCC brand are ideal for protecting your car's paintwork from chips, scratches and abrasion. Unfortunately, such breakdowns inevitably arise as a result of the operation of any vehicle; it is easy to damage the body, and this happens very often. They appear during boarding of passengers who stand with their feet on the thresholds.

manufactures some of the most popular tuning elements among car owners. With their help, you can complement the appearance of your car without major investments, giving it completeness and individuality. During production, sample models are used to customize accessories for each specific vehicle model. Thanks to this, they accurately follow the contours of the body and do not cause much noise at high speeds.

Renault Arkana, (stainless steel, 4 pcs.)

Linings for Lada Vesta 2015

Rear door interior protectors are functional accessories that automotive experts recommend purchasing and installing immediately after purchasing a car.
This is due to its high protective functions. During the operation of the vehicle, especially when boarding passengers, various damage may appear in the paint in the form of scratches, abrasions, chips and even dents. As a result, corrosion and weakening of the metal may occur. This leads to the appearance of through holes in the original sills and the subsequent repair of rotten body parts, which are cut out and replaced with new ones. Buying a protector will help eliminate costly repairs.

Linings for Lada Vesta 2015

Datsun on-DO, mi-DO (stainless steel, 4 pcs.)

Datsun on-DO, mi-DO (stainless steel, 4 pcs.)

Average

Toyota RAV4 CA30 Rival NP.5713.1

The popularity of the models is growing every year; in their range you can easily find protective plates for various brands of vehicles. This brand is one of the most popular. The non-slip film gives the product optimal functionality and is easy to install. The protector will never cause you discomfort during use. Rival overlays form a personal interior of the car and protect the paintwork from mechanical damage.

Design features

Structurally, a car threshold is a hollow block that has an external element and a reinforcement. The outer part performs decorative and protective functions. The amplifier is part of the body and provides the entire structure with the necessary rigidity.

During any repair, the condition of the amplifier must not be ignored. This is often millimeter-thick metal that corrodes after moisture penetrates through the outer lining.

According to the type of attachment to the body, there are thresholds:

• plug-in or integrated;
• fake;
• removable;
• non-removable.

Fixed ones are welded to the base of the body and form a single system with the bottom. The element bears a significant force load when the car is moving.

Removable thresholds provide only protection from gravel and reagents; the force load on the part is minimal. They are installed from the inside of the passenger compartment, secured to the body with screws.

Integrated thresholds are part of tuning; they are installed instead of the standard plug-in, removable, or, less often, non-removable ones. The elements do not reduce ground clearance and are made of aluminum and ABS plastic. Integrated sills can withstand loads of up to 120 kg and provide the body with additional rigidity, which increases the passive safety of the car.

False thresholds are considered a type of integrated ones. The elements are attached to standard places, reducing the ground clearance by at least 3 cm. The running boards are made of galvanized steel and can withstand a load of up to 200 kg.

How to determine whether LED overlays are faulty

Cracks, scratches and deformation indicate that the product is time to be replaced. You should inspect the clips to make sure they are securely attached. If the clamps are loose or damaged, repair the plates or install new components. If the footrest covers are illuminated, you will need a multimeter to check them. Connect it to the terminals of the power cable, measure the voltage when the lights are turned on. If the energy does not reach the LED, the cover is faulty. You can determine that the door sills require inspection by the following signs:

The most common causes of failure include mechanical damage. They usually occur as a result of careless parking, hitting a curb, or being hit by gravel or other foreign objects while driving. Internal protectors are highly susceptible to abrasive wear, while external protectors operate in a more aggressive environment. Exposure to direct sunlight, dirt, humidity and temperature changes leads to changes in the performance properties of the material from which the plates are made. Due to loss of strength, components can be damaged even with light impacts. In backlit products, the most common malfunction is oxidation of contacts, detachment of the diode due to exposure to dirt and moisture. This failure is more relevant for low quality components whose housing may be leaking due to manufacturing defects.

You can easily change the parts yourself. The replacement procedure depends on the machine model, the type of footrests and the location of the installed parts. As a rule, it is enough to disassemble the worn component, clean the seat from dirt, dry it and degrease it. If the covers are being installed for the first time, the clamps should be secured so that they do not become distorted. After this, secure the new cover using the provided fastenings: double-sided tape or clamps. When replacing illuminated covers, be sure to carefully disconnect the electrical connectors before removing them.

Methods of protection

There are several ways to protect the threshold on a car:

• aerosol anti-gravel;
• overlays, moldings;
• armor film;
• mastic.

Each method has advantages and disadvantages. The only specificity of protective equipment is to protect the metal from wear, rust, and dents.

Using aerosol anti-gravel is a reliable method of protection. The product is applied to the treated surface, forming a thin layer of elastic coating. It ensures reliable preservation of corrosion sites and prevents its spread. The price of a cylinder starts from 300 rubles.

Moldings are decorative and provide mechanical protection. To ensure a complete corrosion block, before installing the linings, the internal surface is treated with an anti-corrosive agent.

If the threshold is new, it is recommended to pour oil or paraffin anticorrosive into the inner part before installing the linings; for this, use the technical holes in the body.

Anti-gravel or armor film is applied not only to the lower part of the body, but to all paintwork, mirror housings, etc. Provides complete protection of the metal from rust and impacts from gravel. Disadvantages of the coating: rapid wear.

Treatment with mastic in 90% of cases is carried out independently. Thresholds must be carefully checked before application. Bitumen-based mastic is considered the best protection for wheel arches and underbody.

Features of repair and replacement

There are different procedures for removable and non-removable thresholds. To repair and replace removable parts you need:

1. Unscrew the bolts or screws with which the element is installed on the body.
2. Check the condition of the seal. If the metal is rotten, then it is necessary to carry out a full cutting. When minimal traces of rust are observed, carry out treatment: sand, apply mastic or anti-corrosive agent.
3. The removed threshold is checked for corrosive wear and straightened. If necessary, the part can be partially replaced: install metal patches on the element, treat it with a primer, etc.

It is impractical to repair plastic thresholds; it is cheaper to replace the part with a similar one.

Cars produced more than 10 years ago, VAZ, Moskvich and other models have permanent sills, the repair of which requires special tools and skills. Depending on the defect, the procedure for repair or replacement is selected. For all cases, the preparation remains the same:

• doors are removed;
• The seats and flooring are removed.

If the part has a lot of corrosive wear, then a piece of metal is cut out and the seal is checked. When it is necessary to level out a dent, metal extraction is used.

With minimal corrosive wear, repairs using a cold method without welding are allowed.

It is necessary to change removable elements if the part is worn by more than 60%. In this case, the use of anti-corrosion, linings and anti-gravel coatings will not prevent metal rotting. Replacement is carried out at a service station; for self-repair, the following is required:

1. Determine cutting locations.
2. Use a grinder to remove the old paint layer.
3. Follow the instruction manual to determine what kind of protection is behind the front panel and where it is attached.
4. Make initial cuts of the front part, drill out the points of the factory fastenings in the area of ​​the racks.
5. Pull out the damaged part.
6. Treat the edges to remove burrs and sand the metal.
7. If, after removing the outer part of the threshold, rust is found on the amplifier, then cut out the worn part of the metal. When it is possible to remove a corrosion plaque without cutting out the amplifier, remove the rust and treat it with an anticorrosive agent.
8. Adjust the new part of the element, stretch it, bend it, and weld the metal using gas welding.
9. Clean the welding areas, carry out anti-corrosion treatment with bitumen mastic on the internal part and anti-gravel treatment on the external part.

If the old threshold is completely replaced with a new one, not factory-made, then be sure to leave drainage holes in the threshold.

How to install overlays?

The protectors are manufactured so that they can be installed independently on any type of car. Simply put, attaching a plate is not much different from installing single-sided tape on a regular surface. It has a strong adhesive base that makes it easy to attach the protector to any painted car body. To install the products, you need to follow a few simple steps:

Depending on the intensity of use and exposure to external factors such as rainwater, body wash soap, products can easily last from several months to a couple of years. This gives a great return on a minimal investment, which is especially important when you consider how much money they will end up saving on body restoration and paint repair costs. To achieve longevity, you don't need to over-maintain your treads. In fact, they require minimal care on your part. You need to wipe them down every few days to keep them looking like new.

Types of connection

When repairing parts related to cutting, three types of connection of automobile thresholds are used:

1. Butt joint using an additional insert. An internal lining made of processed metal will strengthen the connection of the new part of the part with the base. Using an insert allows you to quickly level the surface, the danger of burning through the metal disappears, and thermal deformation of the bottom is minimized.
2. Overlapping. The most common type of connection, used for minor repairs when welding metal patches. The advantages of the connection include the minimal risk of burning through the metal during welding. To get a smooth surface, it is necessary to apply a thick layer of primer and anti-gravel.
3. Butt. The welding method is used by specialized specialists. New parts are welded to the base without gaps. The seam must be thoroughly sanded and primed.