How to repair fender flares.

This is just my method. Not tested or endorsed by anyone.

I learned to work with carbon fiber during my former career in the cycling industry. Worked with it in many forms and applications for 20years. It’s a very simple and easy to use once you understand how it gets it’s strength.

my passenger front was hit right on the hub by an illegal teen in a Pontiac. That’s another story... anyway. Shattered the fender flare into about 40 pieces, however as the tens to do, it held its shape as a lot of the fractures didn’t go all the way through. I ride around like that with it on the truck for 7 years! Anyway, here is the process.

Pre. CLEAN IT ALL REALLY WELL. I use simple green concentrate straight and then alcohol.

1. get some cheap super glue from the dollar store. Carefully glue and bond the cracks from the front side painted surface. Make sure they are as flush as possible and you don’t have major ridges. If you have minor variations, that’s okay, you sand those out later.

2. once you have it all back together holding its original shape and the glue has dried, tape up the front with some good tape, like black gorilla tape.

4. Clean the inside again, and wash your hands dummy.

next. Repeat step PRE on the inside.

your ready to apply carbon fiber reinforcement to the inside of your flare. Buy a cheap roll of carbon fiber from eBay or Amazon. just go for the cheap stuff for this, like 3k.

open your amazon box, realize you bought carbon fiber vinyl wrap. Save that... your gonna have to put that on your dash, post pictures and keep it on there for 227 days.

Buy epoxy resin, if you built a bar top or a river table and have left over epoxy. Use that, it’s fine, don’t post here asking if you can use it, just use it. If your gonna buy some buy this from AmazonWest System 105 Epoxy Resin (1 qt) w/207 Special Clear Epoxy Hardener (.66 pt) + Mini Epoxy Metering Pump Set

$127 WEST SYSTEM 105A Epoxy Resin (32 fl oz) Bundle with 207SA Special Clear Epoxy Hardener (10.6 fl oz) and 300 Mini Pumps Epoxy Metering 3-Pack Pump Set (3 Items)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JWB983K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_DicZ8Y38FMHYB

yes it’s expensive, but your gonna use it for years to fix all finds of stuff once you realize how easy it is. Plus it’s a PUMP system. One pump of each, stir, apply. If you measure it yourself, you will fuck it up. Don’t argue with me, you will buy the pumps. Plus that’s good epoxy.


Go to your local bike shop with a six pack of good beer. Find the guy with the greasiest hands and some tools in his pocket and ask him for a broken carbon anything. Ideally a wheel. It should be free. Give him the beer. Ignore the guy with shaved legs and patagonia hat.

now watch some u-tube on how to fix carbon fiber Stuff. Not the fancy ones, find some dude in his shed doing it.

now practice on said bike part and see if you can fix it. Take it back to the shop with another six pack and see “the guy” again.

now go fix your fender flare.... you are ready.

Lots of 6-8” thick long ones. Use lots of lube. Lube it up before you apply your 6”-8”, then really soak it agin when your done. Go both directions as well, variety is good. Overlap as often as possible.

what’s everyone laughing about?

here are pictures of mine. When your done sand the face smooth to get rid of any ridges. Gonna need maybe a skim coat of filler (I did not) or lots of primer to fill any cracks. I don’t know. My body work sucks.

Ps- prob won’t work.

 

Thought I would post a photo of the repaired painted and mounted fender flare.

 

Looks fantastic!

Whats the material of the fender flare? Id recommend plastic welding if it's plastic.

 

the fender is fiberglass. Plastic welding is a great suggestion. Thanks.

 

ahh no wonder it shattered. your body work is so good you can't even tell there was a repair