Symptoms
Wet carpet, holes under the mats, rockers that crumble under a screwdriver, rusted lower rear quarters.
The fix, step by step
- Strip the interior, cut out the rot back to solid metal, and treat rust you can't cut out.
- Trial-fit the patch panels, then weld them in with plug or stitch welds.
- NAXJA members point out that on a unibody almost every panel is structural, so don't rely on screwed-in tin.
- Seam-seal and coat inside and out, and spray cavity wax into the rockers.
- If the main rails are rotten, that's a much bigger job; walk away or budget accordingly.
Tools & part numbers
- MIG welder
- cut-off wheel
- spot-weld drill
- clamps
- weld-through primer
- seam sealer
- cavity wax
Where to buy the parts
Key Parts front floor pan, 1984–2001 XJQuadratec ↗Amazon ↗
Key Parts rear floor pan, 1984–2001 XJQuadratec ↗Amazon ↗
Key Parts rocker panel, 1984–2001 XJQuadratec ↗Amazon ↗
Key Parts rocker panel backing plate, 1984–2001 XJQuadratec ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Jeep Cherokee XJ parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.