Fender Flares

[KELLY88]

I'm looking to paint my fender flares. Time is taking it's toll and they're starting to look kinda crappy. Has anybody done this before and could tell me how they're supposed to come off? I pulled the tabs out but it still wouldn't come off, and couldn't find what else was holding it. I quit cause I didn't want to break anything but was hoping someone has done this before and can tell me what I'm missing. Also what types of Primer/paint/clear coat work best and how many coats of each to use. Also what kind of prep work? Sorry I have just about no experience painting and want to do this right. Finally can't decide whether to paint them black or attempt to match the trucks color. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Here's a couple shots.

 

[High Desert Ranger]

Duplicolor has a trim paint that should would out fine.

 

[KELLY88]

Thanks. Now I just need to know what the trick is to getting them off the truck.

 

[KELLY88]

Any ideas?

 

[KELLY88]

bump

 

[4x4junkie]

I dunno... those flares still look pretty sharp in those pics if you ask me (guess I just can't see the fading/discoloration).

As for getting them off, there are small nuts on the inside holding them on (in addition to some plastic push pins). I've never tried to actually remove them myself though, so not sure if there's any more to it than that.

 

[KELLY88]

Ya they look ok in the pictures, camera is kinda low resolution though. And on the back one you can see some scuff marks where I hit a few things, the other side is the same. I got the push pins out (broke a few) and found the nuts on the inside of the wheel well for the rear, those should be easy, but what about the front? Does it require pulling out the fender lining? Cause that looks like a bunch of components in the engine bay are mounted to it.

 

[wahlstrom1]

I painted mine with Krylon Fusion, gloss paint meant for plastic. It lasted 2 years before I parked it for the sas, with a few rock dings and a little missing from getting too close with the hotsy, I'd say it did pretty damn good. I just did a good job of masking off the truck and painted the flares on the truck after having wrestled with the rear flare on one side.


-andrew

 

[KELLY88]

I thought about trying to leave them on and just masking them. Would make painting the underside of them kind of difficult. Plus I'm not a very steady handed person and would probably overspray all over the place. I spend a lot of time under my truck and don't really want to be reminded of crappy painting skills everytime I look up. Thanks for the input.

 

[93_RangerSC]

i am in the process of doing the same thing Kelly88. i pulled the lil tabs out also and couldnt get them off so i am just thinking about layin some newspaper out and masking everything off cuz it seems soo much easier in the long run

 

[rickcdewitt]

there is some stuff that the jeep guys use thats a kind of stain that will reblack the flares.tape it off and wipe it on.i don't remember the name though

 

[KELLY88]

there is some stuff that the jeep guys use thats a kind of stain that will reblack the flares.tape it off and wipe it on.i don't remember the name though

I did a search on a few things and came up with this. Is it what you're talking about? http://www.autogeek.net/forblacbumtr.html

 

[rickcdewitt]

I did a search on a few things and came up with this. Is it what you're talking about? http://www.autogeek.net/forblacbumtr.html

forever black,thats the stuff.make sure when you tape off your truck with blue or lime green masking tape that you do it in the shade so the adhesive on the tape doesn't get too good of a bond and take off some clear coat when you pull it off.the lime green 3m tape is best i had the least amount of problems with it at the bodyshop i worked at.

 

[mhughes165]

mothers back to black, works on the short time span, looks good....

 

[KELLY88]

Thanks for all your help everyone. I'll post some pics on how it turns out when it's finished.