A novel method and apparatus for installing and securing auto rack side panels, either during manufacture of the auto rack railway car, or during refurbishment of the car, where covers are placed over components which clamp the panel corners. In a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein end portions of elongated dust closure plates are employed to clamp side panel corners against brackets to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the end portions of the dust closure plates and the side panel corners engaged by the end portions thereof, plate covers are installed over the end portions of the elongated dust closure plates so as to be disposed between the end portions of the dust cover plates and the panel corners, to avoid abrasion and rusting as a result of friction. In accordance with a further feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are provided a plurality of bracket covers which fit over the brackets between the brackets and the panel corners engaged thereby to avoid abrasion and rusting resulting from friction with the brackets.