Topic: Forever Black for Faded Flares?

[dunklervogel]

http://www.quadratec.com/products/91083_600.htm


I might order a 2" skyjacker spacer lift from Quadratec and was thinking about tossing this in the shopping cart as well.  I was wondering if anyone has experience with this on their flares and how it went?  Does it last?  Obviously at 10 bucks I can't go very wrong I guess.  This would just be something to hold me over till I get around to replacing the stock flares, if I ever decide to that is.

[Jeffy]

I've heard of a similar product called 'bumperblack' that people have used in the past.  I'd be interested as well as others, I'm sure in your thoughts on it.

[Jesse-James]

I just use Black Magic on mine, seems to do well.

[Mozman68]

I used to buy from Griots Garage when I had my Audi.

I bought and used their stuff and it was awesome.....the thing with Griots is that they really do have their cleaners, liquids and a few other items specially formulated just for them...not just some re-badged junk.  It took about half the bottle to really soak every piece of faded plastic on my Jeep....you just need to keep re-applying it as you work around the Jeep so you avoid streaks.  I was so dissapointed when I started, but the more I put on the more it blended in...everything looks new now!

http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=11183&search.x=0&search.y=0

[87comanche]

Use Krylon Fusion.  Really looks great and is specially made for plastic.  My TJ (now sold) looked new after using this.

[Jeffy]

I don't really understand why DC used the materials they did for the TJ flares.  CJ and YJ flares fade a bit too but not nearly as much as the TJ's.  I'd probably see if you can you cna find a Fusion paint that matches you Jeep.  They have started adding fusion to their other paint lines like their flat paints.  Otherwise you could paint them black.  Can of paint's probably less then $7.

The only thing about Griots Garage I've found is that some things are expensive but they are like Mozman said commercial products you won't find at WalMart or the auto parts store.  Do you have to touch up the fenders with the rub on stuff?

[Bounty Hunter]

Heat gun, they'll look new again.

[Crunch]

I used forever black on my fenders.  It took a lot of coats, but they looked MUCH better in the end.  Now, about 6 months later, they are faded in spots again.  I'm going to apply a few more coats when I can locate the darn bottle again.

It was a good temporary solution IMHO.

I was going to paint mine eventually, then I buggered them up rock crawling (bump stops would help ).

[zeitlerusmc]

JUST DITCH THE PLASTIC FENDERS AND GO WITH POISON SPYDER TUBE FENDERS!!!

[Jeffy]

JUST DITCH THE PLASTIC FENDERS AND GO WITH POISON SPYDER TUBE FENDERS!!!

Be careful with those tube flares.  They aren't legal in many states.  Not to mention you have to pay extra for the 3 or 6" flare.  In any case check your local laws.

[gomi]

My nieghbor just recently hit one of my flares and scratched it up. Last fall I repainted them with krylon fusion paint. I didn't take the flares off because some of the bolts were stripped, but it came out really well. This time around I used duplicolor aerosol truck bed coating. I sanded them all down and the truck bed coating came out great. I then went over them with a duplicolor clear coat to give them a permanent shine. This way they allways look nice and shiny. I gotta tell you, I came out fantastic. I"ll try and take some pics and post it for you.

[zeitlerusmc]

normally your right but i'm here on base and i'm exempt from cali laws and base has no fender laws.   so i'm good plaus they  look baaaaaaaaad aaaasssss!!!!!! not to  mention constructed from thick metal!!!!

[Jeffy]

normally your right but i'm here on base and i'm exempt from cali laws and base has no fender laws.   so i'm good plaus they  look baaaaaaaaad aaaasssss!!!!!! not to  mention constructed from thick metal!!!!

Watch out for some areas in Socal.  (Ramona is one.) I have had several friends get ticketed for flares.  Now they run around with assless chaps (mud flaps) which look really lame.  Most officers won't ticket you unless it's really noticable.  Although fix-it tickets still suck and you can only get 3 chances before they really make you fix it.  I was pulled over once with a warning in CA.  I've been pulled over once in HI also and had to get it fixed.  Most officers look at rear flares but the law is open so it can be interperated for both front and rear.

Here's the law.

27600. No person shall operate any motor vehicle having three or more wheels, any trailer, or semitrailer unless equipped with fenders, covers, or devices, including flaps or splash aprons, or unless the body of the vehicle or attachments thereto afford adequate protection to effectively minimize the spray or splash of water or mud to the rear of the vehicle and all such equipment or such body or attachments thereto shall be at least as wide as the tire tread. This section does not apply to those vehicles exempt from registration, trailers and semitrailers having an unladen weight of under 1,500 pounds, or any vehicles manufactured and first registered prior to January 1, 1971, having an unladen weight of under 1,500 pounds.

I've hear PA is a real stickler.  I think WA is sometimes also.  In PA they only allow flares up to 3" wide.  Well stock flares are 3.5" wide so any extended flares can be considered illegal.

[KS98TJ]

I'll second the Krylon Fusion option.  I was too chicken to try it until I saw it in person on a rig that got wheeled a lot.  I did it myself a couple of years ago and it's held up well.  It's even resistant to gas spills, a key concern if you drip a little when filling up on a TJ.