Fender Flares (OEM) scratched

[JT01]

Looks like someone parked too close at 4th of July pary :-(. The jerk also scratched front edge of my (plastic) bumper. Glad these aren't painted.

Would you lightly sand w/ steel wool? Better to just try to buy a new/used one?

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[flip]

I think sanding may make it worse. Do you have a heat gun or small propane torch? If so, lightly hit it with the flame and see if they melt away (obviously take the flare off first). Nothing to lose if you're thinking about replacing anyway. The heat works on the interior plastic, just have to be careful you don't burn the plastic while melting the scratches back in. Sounds nuts but I've done it several times and works well depending on how deep the scratch is. Works best on superficial scuffs, not so much on deep gouges.

 

[5GENIDN]

Flip is right about the torch... Personally I would find some spare plastic (but it needs to be a similar material and scuff it and practice a bit first. I have always had a tendency to over heat it and it ends up glossing over. Then it looks just as bad if not worse. If you do it slowly and have a lot of patience you can repair it.

 

[Heckler]

Sand them all and repaint with bedliner. That way you can always touch up in the future.

 

[Area51BS]

Insurance claim. What’s your deductible? Low enough to make it worth it?

 

[scotman623]

Both can be replaced for about 250 dollars on Ford parts online.. Sucks, but not really worth making insurance claim if your deductible isn’t 0 dollars…

 

[BostonSasquatch]

Sand them all and repaint with bedliner. That way you can always touch up in the future.

Sounds sensible. Have you done that?

 

[flip]

Sounds sensible. Have you done that?

We had one of our sales demo flares done with Line-X after getting scuffed up and they're holding up great.

 

[jonwithanelcamino]

I’d try something like this first before replacing.

https://adamspolishes.com/collections/paint-protection/products/adams-vrt-with-2-block-applicators

 

[BostonSasquatch]

We had one of our sales demo flares done with Line-X after getting scuffed up and they're holding up great.

Thanks for the specifics. I took iAG's steps (Sasquatch rail mount) on what I thought was a low-obstacle trail and banged them a bit, knocking off their first-generation powder coat. Now aIG has been superb with customer follow-up and replacements, but I felt this was on me, and am not asking for a replacement (although they have replaced a few fittings, gratis).
So I just got some Rustoleum bed-liner, and gave them two coats. So far, so good--a nice, even black surface with a very slight knobby texture, handling the wear fine after four months. But I take them off when I'm going off road!
And thanks for the tip on Line-X.

 

[Heckler]

Sounds sensible. Have you done that?

My flares are still in good shape so I havent had the need to but I have used this stuff on non-Bronco related plastic parts and it bonds very well if you get it nice and clean (I use acetone but test a small area first to make sure the plastic wont melt from it or use alcohol). The nice thing is if you get a scuff or scratch in it it covers it up really well when touching it up.

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