3M Adhesive Remover. You can get it at most auto body supply stores and sometimes I see it at my local Lowe's. At the BMW shop I work at we use it for removing the adhesive left by decals on the race cars and have good luck with the product not damaging the clear on customers cars. The main thing is using a soft rag as to not scratch the clear as you wipe off the adhesive.

 

How did you remove the fender flares? Mine are faded and when I went put looking for this truck (just bought my truck this week) I saw one with out the flares and it does look sweet!!!

 

Good ideas/jobs! But I am just going to Rhino Line my fender flares. Much more durable. Maybe do the top of the hood too in case I get some roof lights in the future. I for sure dont want the light from the roof lights reflecting off my silver hood and blinding me!

 

I've repainted my arches about three times in seven years. Just as seen in the pictures except I used Rustoleum w/the textured finish. I was just about to paint them a fourth time when Disco Fever told me to used Kiwi Shoe polish. I was skeptical at first. How durable would it be and how dark and consistent would the finish turn out?

Today I went the Kiwi route. It took about three coats. The nice thing about it is the applicator. It's wedged and is easy to apply tight to the fender. I'm sure Disco Fever can give his insight too. I remember him saying it lasted about 18 months? The nice thing about it is that it dries with a hard finish. The water repels and beads off. I imagine it would since it has a wax type of consistency.

The best part was the time it took to do it. Minutes. I prepped it w/alcohol and went at it that included Beck's Light too. Therefore there were two types of alcohol w/this latest mod.

 

Painted mine nearly 2 years ago and it is really the best way to solve the fading issue, I know its time consuming but it beats Back to Black or anything in that line!

 

To properly paint them you have to remove them and it takes an incredible amount of prep work. Like Zonk said, this literally takes minutes and you don't have to take them off of the truck. You just apply the kiwi polish liberally and then you come along behind it and any excess wipes right off of the painted fender.

I last did mine more than 18 months ago. They're only now starting to need it again. I'm not trying to say my way is better than anyone else's, but it's all about sharing our experiences of what has worked and what hasn't. This forum seems to frequently rally around a single way of doing things and then all other notions are dismissed as inferior. But, I digress.

To each their own!

 

I'll throw an alternate out there too, though I admit that I haven't done it to mine... yet.

WD-40. Sounds crazy, I know. But, over in Saabland, that was pretty much the consensus. Cheap, everyone has some laying around (or should) and very easy to apply. Of course, it's not going to obscure any pitting but it took an old faded Saab bumper to like new colour and depth.

I'll post up after I hit mine.

 

i did exactly what you did, as in newspaper and painters tape, sanded them down real good, and degreased them. but i used Duplicoloir bedliner in a can, i LOVE how they turned out.

i tried satin black trim paint first, even though i sanded them down real good, you could still see where they were faded and pitted, so i used the duplicolor bedliner, love it!

 

Wow man, it looks great!!! thanks for the input.

 

Did my flares and bumpers 3 months ago with the Duplicolor bumper coat recommended here. 2" wide strip of masking tape,..(slip it BETWEEN the flare and the body....goes much faster) Sanded, cleaned them with Acetone, sprayed them with the Duplicolor plastic prep/primer which pretty much turned them all black,. 3-4 coats of Satin Bumper coat,....removed the tape, then removed any overspray with a soft microfiber cloth and laquer thinner...............this eliminates adding all that newspaper for overspray. Laquer thinner wont touch modern catalyzed automotive paints, so wipe away, but do use a soft cloth.

Brian in Cedar Park