Painting the flares - issues

[Bradley]

I guess I'm finally going to get my Bronco in a few days. Yea for me.

I wanted to have the flares painted - as some have done here, apparently - and when I took it to Ford, the body shop manager (40 years repairing Fords) said, No way, ain't gonna do it.

Why?

Here's the deal: he said even if you sand the flares to remove the texture, it will leave "practically invisible hair-like" fibers on the surface. The problem is that these fibers are not molded into the plastic but rather a product of the sanding and will sit on top of the flare. Over time they will "sweat" and he promises will crack the paint. (Additionally, he said the flares are too thin and any rocks kicked up into them will also force cracks into the paint.)

Shit.

So, I await a paintable flare that doesn't look like shit. Probably a year or so, I hope.

Good luck with your's guys... I'm out.

B

PS: Here's a last pic of the wheels and lift with 35s, which look practically tiny. Need the SAS flares given the offset and the convertible top.

PPS: Yes, for those paying attention, those are "OJ wheels". Brushed metal is the best.

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[RHeinz]

My Daughters Outer Banks came with factory painted flares. They must be made of a different material. They are not textured at all.

 

[Dez]

My body guy said the same and wouldn’t do it. I got some cyber orange OBX flares and got them painted white.

Love the wheels by the way.

 

[GaryB2220]

there are aftermarket flares you can paint. These arent exactly a direct replacement, but you get the idea. https://www.advfiberglass.com/colle...21-ford-bronco-fenders?variant=39643989377126

 

[ATLBronco75]

Just get OBX flares.

 

[JoshuaPrieto]

I guess I'm finally going to get my Bronco in a few days. Yea for me.

I wanted to have the flares painted - as some have done here, apparently - and when I took it to Ford, the body shop manager (40 years repairing Fords) he said, No way, ain't gonna do it.

Why?

Here's the deal: he said even if you sand the flares to remove the texture, it will leave "practically invisible hair-like" fibers on the surface. The problem is that these fibers are not molded into the plastic but rather a product of the sanding and will sit on top of the flare. Over time they will "sweat" and he promises will crack the paint. (Additionally, he said the flares are too thin and any rocks kicked up into them will also force cracks into the paint.)

Shit.

So, I await a paintable flare that doesn't look like shit. Probably a year or so, I hope.

Good luck with your's guys... I'm out.

B

PS: Here's a last pic of the wheels and lift with 35s, which look practically tiny. Need the SAS flares given the offset and the convertible top.

PPS: Yes, for those paying attention, those are "OJ wheels". Brushed metal is the best.

you cannot paint those, you've never been able to paint those textured pieces, on any make/model. This isn't towards you OP, but there was a person going around on these forums screaming you could. You will waste your money and be sad after a year

Maybe, AdvFiber will come out with some, they already have the Carbon Fiber style for Sasquatch or you could always wrap them

 

[Bradley]

there are aftermarket flares you can paint. These arent exactly a direct replacement, but you get the idea. https://www.advfiberglass.com/colle...21-ford-bronco-fenders?variant=39643989377126

Are you running 12.5s? I want the flares to (generally) cover the tire given the offset. My wheels have an 18 offset, which I assume yours does too?

Yours line up from what I can see. Is the angle misleading? The wheels look like 12.5. The angle mjust make them look like they cover but they really don't? Here, that's a no-no.

SAS flares are ~5". Non-SAS flares are ~3.5". What length are your OBX flares? I'm gonna guess they are short...."?

B

 

[flip]

We tried painting them and had no luck. Ended up getting the paint to match set even though they aren't the wider SAS. Had LineX coat the other set because they were screwed anyway. Turned out OK but they need to come out with a factory PTM SAS set.

 

[Slick85]

We tried painting them and had no luck. Ended up getting the paint to match set even though they aren't the wider SAS. Had LineX coat the other set because they were screwed anyway. Turned out OK but they need to come out with a factory PTM SAS set.

You got them from Ford? How much was the cost?

 

[AK SNO RIDER]

A number of people here have painted the sasquatch flares. Not saying they won't have issues over time, but I haven't seen anyone post up that they've failed yet.

 

[flip]

You got them from Ford? How much was the cost?

 

[tjnoffy]

My Daughters Outer Banks came with factory painted flares. They must be made of a different material. They are not textured at all.

Then her OBX wasn't with the Sasquatch package. Sasquatch OBX models, like mine, come with the wider, black, plastic fender flares.

 

[Blackcat]

@Bradley, I'm going to need some details on those wheels, please and thank you.

 

[Bradley]

@Bradley, I'm going to need some details on those wheels, please and thank you.

My wheels are American Racing. Outlaw II. Didn't want painted and chrome is too much for this vehicle I think. Machined never fails. +18mm offset so I went with SAS flares and the 315s and they are just perfect. So close to flush you can't tell.

Have another pic.

 

[Bradley]

PS. Centre caps on the way...

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