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Removing and painting fender flares

7K views 19 replies 10 participants last post by  Chanch0 
#1 ·
I have a 98 TJ sport.. need to remove and repaint the fender flares and put them back on. I see all of the bolts and stuff under the flare that I need to get off in order to take the fender flare off, but what do I do about the side turn signals? this is the only thing that I can't figure out. I don't know how to remove them and take the signals out, and put them back in once I paint the flares. :banghead:
Also, does anyone have suggestions on what kind of paint to use on the fender flares? do the flares require priming like the actual jeep would? about how many coats should I put on?
thanks
 
#2 ·
Lots of threads on this subject that will give you more info than you thought possible. Just use the search function. In fact there was a post on this exact question from yesterday
 
#3 ·
Krylon Fusion is the best paint for the flexible flares... but if they are just discolored, just use a heat gun on them which is highly effective at restoring the black color. At least for quite a while until it needs to be done again. The benefit to using a heat gun is you don't have to remove the flares or turn signals. Watching the effect the heat gun has over the ABS plastic is amazing... almost like the heat gun was spraying shiny black paint instead of just heat.
 
#9 ·
Any tool store will have a heat gun including Home Depot. It looks just like a hair dryer that does not get hot enough for this job. The turn signal plastic is harder so it would take more heat to affect than the flares do. Move the heat gun just fast enough to turn the flares dark and if you keep it moving, you won't harm the turn signal plastic.
 
#8 ·
You don't have to remove the flares to paint them... Just tape off the markers, and stuff index cards between the flare and the tub, then mask above the index cards to protect from overspray. Fusion would be best, degrease, scuff, clean, and paint. Any over spray will come off with a bit of acetone.
 
#10 ·
If it's the same as a 2000tj think it is .
On the inside of the flare on top of the light their is 1 nut and pull the top back twards the motor and it comes right out ..
So 1bolt on top and the bottom just hooks into the flare be easy with the nut it's just plastic threds on the light
 
#12 ·
Watch the heat gun. If you get one that is made for stripping paint... you can melt your plastic flares too. Remove the side marker, it's easy. As for painting, clean with alcohol first, scuff the textured surface with 3M Scotchbrite or a similar scuffy pad. Use adhesion promoter before painting. Thinner coats of paint are better than one massive coat. I repair these all the time.
 
#14 ·
Watch the heat gun. If you get one that is made for stripping paint... you can melt your plastic flares too. Remove the side marker, it's easy. As for painting, clean with alcohol first, scuff the textured surface with 3M Scotchbrite or a similar scuffy pad. Use adhesion promoter before painting. Thinner coats of paint are better than one massive coat. I repair these all the time.
ok ill see if i can get it off
 
#18 ·
I have done both methods. The heat gun looked great for the 6 or 7 days it lasted till they turned a splotchy gray/black again. The fusion holds up really well though. Slightly pull the flare away from the jeep, just enough to slide index cards behind the flare, then mask and tape a little larger area. Use Fusion matte black and they will look great. As said, clean well. I used ammonia based window cleaner.
 
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