Faded plastic fender flares? Paint 'em!

[Dante]

Lots of suggestions in here about how to restore your sun faded fender flares - I suggest painting them. Way easier, with a LOT less wiping, and they come out great. I painted everything that was black..even my mirrors and the gas cap, lol. Now, my black stuff looks like brand new and won't fade ever again.

TIP: Don't use a flat black paint, I have found that mud stains flat colors & you have to repaint them to cover the stains...same thing with flat bed liner products. Get a satin finish. Stay away from gloss, as it's too easy to see imperfections and shows dust more than the satin finish.

Here's what my flares look like, I haven't painted the wipers or the bumpers (I'll probably be replacing both bumpers anyway)

 

[steelhd]

For the flares and other plastics use a product made for plastics that is UV stable and remains flexible like SEM Bumper Coater. For metal use paint made for metal. Epoxy, enamel, urethane, etc.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Report back in a year.
p.s. The paint doesn't look even in the pics.

 

[up on the mountain.]

Maxima Sc1. comes in spray can. you can get it at most motorcycle shops. over all the years of owning bikes seems to be better than 303 protectant or the other products.

 

[Dante]

Report back in a year.
p.s. The paint doesn't look even in the pics.

I painted my trailer with the same satin black in 2019 — paint won't fade. Here's a pic of it taken recently, still a bit dirty from a rainstorm (spots on top of the fenders)

Is it perfectly even? Actually, it looks very nice in person. If you wanna pick nits, the pics don't do them justice. Also, they look WAY better than faded plastic, so it's good enough for who it's for....ME.

As for using specific stuff for plastic, metal, etc...I wanted all the blacks to be the same color. That won't happen when I start mixing brands...so again, I used the same thing I did on my trailer.

I'm not saying this is the ONLY way to fix these, I just suggested an easy fix that I like. You guys do what you want, you will anyways

CHEERS

 

[SSTJ]

Nice. I took a similar approach, using SEM "Landau Black". Next time I have a reason to remove them, I plan on sealing the deal with some clearcoat.

 

[Paul Land]

For the flares and other plastics use a product made for plastics that is UV stable and remains flexible like SEM Bumper Coater. For metal use paint made for metal. Epoxy, enamel, urethane, etc.

KiWi Liquid Black shoe polish and 1" foam brush. Lasts 1-2 years. Mine turned gray years ago and it's a great fix.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Painting flares is easier than just using a heat gun on them?

 

[steelhd]

Painting flares is easier than just using a heat gun on them?

You and I both know that doesn't last.

 

[Ron and Kay]

WE are having Lil Red repainted....I had them remove the flares ... and tried their recommendation of using cleaner...not paint remover on them....having cleaned one flare several times using the cleaner (for grease and dirt)...I confirmed that our flares had been painted. SO....before repainting them....should I use paint remover? What do you all recommend ? I will not sand them as I do not want to damage the original texture....I see recommendations to use a Satin Spray Paint or SEM Bumper Coater ? What would you do if it were your Jeep ? Thank you for your help. K

 

[Tray Burge]

KiWi Liquid Black shoe polish and 1" foam brush. Lasts 1-2 years. Mine turned gray years ago and it's a great fix.

That's a great idea! I'm gonna try that too.
I found f-11 will bring em back black too, but that shit is waaay over priced.

 

[Wtrask]

A torch or heat gun will work for a while. I painted mine with SEM trim black. It lasted about 3 years before it started coming off. I did absolutely no prep on them before I painted them tho.

 

[Ron and Kay]

That's a great idea! I'm gonna try that too.
I found f-11 will bring em back black too, but that shit is waaay over priced.

I had thought about shoe polish too ! I may go that direction...any buildup could be easily removed...WE already have $30 invested in the recommended cleaner and Rustoleum wipe on restorer ... which is clear...THIS stuff was recommended by the paint shop/body shop....going to quiz them today about its effectiveness ... since these things were obviously painted a number of years ago...I originally, thought it was just wear and tear on 20 yr old flares ... then when I started working on them up close...realized the paint...

 

[Fred85]

I had success using the Duplicolor Trim and Bumper paint. Evidently it's more of a dye rather than paint, so it works particularly well on plastic.

 

[Ron and Kay]

A torch or heat gun will work for a while. I painted mine with SEM trim black. It lasted about 3 years before it started coming off. I did absolutely no prep on them before I painted them

What did you when the SEM came off ? Remove the SEM ?

 

[Rcroane]

OP, I see you are in Paradise, CA. How is life there after the terrible fires a few years back?

 

[Zorba]

I too used SEM - now a bit over a year ago. Still looks good, didn't even take them off the Jeep.