When I got the 06 TJ from my dad a few months ago, the tired old fender flares were pretty much spent as they'd gotten no cosmetic love since 2006:
The faded brown was just looking...well, faded and dated. I really wanted to give them a fresh clean look, and debated between several options for paint, ranging from Plasti-Dip to Krylon Fusion, and even Rustoleum. Each has it's own pros and cons according to others online speaking to cost, how long it lasts, and the look. I ended up going with the Krylon Fusion when I saw it on sale at Ace for $4/can.
The other thing to consider is whether you want to take the flares off entirely or tape and mask them while leaving them on the Jeep.
1. Remove the fender flares
If you take them off, it's likely much easier to get a completely full coat and you run absolutely no risk of overspray getting on your Jeep body. The downside here is that the screws (5/16") are a bitch to get off because of the retention "bolt" on the inside. It does not come off entirely unless you put your hand on it and hold it firmly in place to unthread it.
2. Mask them off
Just like any masking before painting, this part seems rather laborious, and finding the right material to wedge between the backside of the fender flares and the body is tricky. I tried 5x7 index cards but these were too flimsy. I tried manila folders as well, and these seemed to work a little better. Ultimately, I ended up with a combination of blue painters tape, manila folders and some left over cardboard paper from when I was remodeling the kitchen that had been used to cover the counters.
The trick here is that you still want to get down and at least loosen the screws a little bit so you can wedge the masking material between the flares and the body.
Okay, the above all said, here's the process I followed:
Step 1 - Took the Jeep outside and got some hot soapy water and scrubbed the fender flares to remove any dirt and grime from road and off-road usage.
Step 2 - Loosen fender flare screws and mask off with your preferred method
Step 3: Spray your paint of choice (in my case, the Krylon Fusion) lightly and evenly across the flares. Don't make the mistake of shaking the can in between sprays! The paint is goopy and has a tendency to fly everywhere. You may also want to wear gloves to protect your hands, unless you're ok with using Goof Off or paint thinner on your skin!
After you've painted one coats worth, wait at least 15 minutes to let it dry, then apply a second coat to help even things out, and for an extra layer of protection/thickness.
Repeat for the other side of the Jeep.
Once the paint has dried, don't forget to go back and tighten down the screws on all four flares so they don't rattle around. It's unlikely they will actually unthread and fall off, but jeeps are already notoriously noisy, so why add more noise?
Final results:
The faded brown was just looking...well, faded and dated. I really wanted to give them a fresh clean look, and debated between several options for paint, ranging from Plasti-Dip to Krylon Fusion, and even Rustoleum. Each has it's own pros and cons according to others online speaking to cost, how long it lasts, and the look. I ended up going with the Krylon Fusion when I saw it on sale at Ace for $4/can.
The other thing to consider is whether you want to take the flares off entirely or tape and mask them while leaving them on the Jeep.
1. Remove the fender flares
If you take them off, it's likely much easier to get a completely full coat and you run absolutely no risk of overspray getting on your Jeep body. The downside here is that the screws (5/16") are a bitch to get off because of the retention "bolt" on the inside. It does not come off entirely unless you put your hand on it and hold it firmly in place to unthread it.
2. Mask them off
Just like any masking before painting, this part seems rather laborious, and finding the right material to wedge between the backside of the fender flares and the body is tricky. I tried 5x7 index cards but these were too flimsy. I tried manila folders as well, and these seemed to work a little better. Ultimately, I ended up with a combination of blue painters tape, manila folders and some left over cardboard paper from when I was remodeling the kitchen that had been used to cover the counters.
The trick here is that you still want to get down and at least loosen the screws a little bit so you can wedge the masking material between the flares and the body.
Okay, the above all said, here's the process I followed:
Step 1 - Took the Jeep outside and got some hot soapy water and scrubbed the fender flares to remove any dirt and grime from road and off-road usage.
Step 2 - Loosen fender flare screws and mask off with your preferred method
Step 3: Spray your paint of choice (in my case, the Krylon Fusion) lightly and evenly across the flares. Don't make the mistake of shaking the can in between sprays! The paint is goopy and has a tendency to fly everywhere. You may also want to wear gloves to protect your hands, unless you're ok with using Goof Off or paint thinner on your skin!
After you've painted one coats worth, wait at least 15 minutes to let it dry, then apply a second coat to help even things out, and for an extra layer of protection/thickness.
Repeat for the other side of the Jeep.
Once the paint has dried, don't forget to go back and tighten down the screws on all four flares so they don't rattle around. It's unlikely they will actually unthread and fall off, but jeeps are already notoriously noisy, so why add more noise?
Final results:
