Removing fender flares.

Need to begin planning some paint repair to freshen up the truck and eliminate chipped paint.

My truck is an '06 TRD Sport with the 17" wheels and fender flares. Over the years, the flares have taken a good share of parking lot dings. Otherwise the paint on this 16 yo truck is in good condition.

I'd like to remove the flares, then set up for a strip and paint.

How do these things come off? I've poked around some but unable to find the fastening method.

 

I removed mine by driving up a thickly overgrown trail, reaching a point where I could no longer progress forward, and backing out. The flares that were not pulled off by that, I just grabbed and yanked them off. Most of the clips broke - you may want to hold out for a better recommendation.

 

The only way I know is to grab them and pull off. You will break the plastic tabs in the process. You could probably use a plastic pry bar or something to help.

 

Rear Fender Flare:


Front Fender Flare:


Front Bumper Flare:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/05-11-front-bumper-removal.211867/

 

Gees, guys........ I want to put them back on the truck with little or NO damage.

The truck is 15 years old..... I'm not real confident in the strength of 15 yo plastic. I do expect to replace any clips or fasteners.

Thanks for the vid. I did see the fasteners in the wheel well, but I didn't think those were the only ones.

 

Remove flaps, screws, then gently pull. Make note of which color clips go where. Some clips will break so order a bag of clips of Amazon:

$9 Allmost for Compatible with 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma Fender Flare Retainer Clip 75495-35010 75397-35010 (Pack of 38)

https://www.amazon.com/ALLMOST-2005-2015-Retainer-75495-35010-75397-35010/dp/B07K6QYLCW?crid=3ALBWRQFGPL3R&keywords=tacoma+fender+flare+clips&qid=1636758314&sprefix=tacoma+fender+%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-3

 

I too have an 06 and when I pulled one of my flares off, some of the standoffs that hold the clips broke off instead of the clips popping out. If this happens to you, just use some jb weld to put the stand offs back in place. They've survived a montana winter and a california summer so far, so I'm confident they'll hold.

 

Update us how it goes I’m thinking of doing the same thing with mine as my clear coat has chipped off on my flares

 

One thing to be aware of is the textured surfaces of the fender flares and front bumper. These can be tricky when sanding down their surfaces for repaint as some/all of the texture could be removed which would alter the finished appearance of the paint compared to how it looked originally (especially if you're only repainting the fender flares and not the bumper).

 

The bumpers will possibly be done at another time.

I'm not too sure on the "texture" on the flares. To my touch, they are smooth like the truck body. Yes, on the rear flare there is a beat up piece of plastic, I think its a chip guard. Anyhow, not too concerned about the texture.

I know plastic won't look the same as a metal panel when painted.

Thanks for the tips on the different colored clips. I'll take a picture to document the locations. I won't use JBWeld to repair broken clips. I will purchase enough clips to replace all. No sense in reusing 15 yo plastic clips. The expense of the clips will be minor compared to the paint cost.

 

It wasnt the clips that broke. It was the stand offs that the clips sit in. The 15 year old clips didn't want to let go, so the supports inside the flare broke off. It was repair the flare or overpay for another one and get it painted. If you're lucky, it'll just be the replaceable clips that break.

 

Perhaps a better way for me to remove the flares is to pull the fender liner, release the clips from inside fender. Once the flare is off the truck, I can remove the clips while working on a bench.

Thanks for the tip and clarifying.

 

@Knute check out this video (starting at 3:10) which illustrates the broken stand-off condition that @Jojee117 is referring to.

 

Speaking from actual experience painting these, the flares and bumper are indeed textured. The texture is subtle and not very pronounced like you are probably envisioning, so trying to simply identify it via touch will probably be much more difficult than by viewing it at the surface level with your eyes. Making matters even more difficult here is on the earlier 2nd gens (although I see this even on the later ones, including 3rd Gens) there were numerous issues/complaints from folks about the flares having a dull finish compared to the rest of the truck. There was a TSB (BO003-05) addressing this early on where Toyota recommended the flare's clear coat to be redone.

That being said, I've seen it both ways with these flares where on one hand the factory paint/clear is skimpy making for a dull finish exacerbating the textured surface, while on the other hand the flares had a healthy application of paint/clear making for a glossy & smooth finish masking the textured surface.

 

thanks for the tip. I have the same issue on my ‘11. I thought it was a broken clip but found the stand off broken.

 

Something to consider.

There are many specific adhesives in the plumbing industry to make pipe joints in PVC, ABS.....others.

If the flares are made from ABS, the ABS plumbing adhesive maybe a better choice than JBWeld.

I have a motorcycle fairing that was resurrected. Many cracks, damage, weakened mounts....etc. The fairing is made of ABS, I used ABS plumbing adhesive and some ABS sheets to make repairs. Fairing has been on/off the bike for about 9 years. All repairs remain solid.

Generally, there is a molding mark on plastic bits to identify the material. Look for that mark. Its usually a circular type mark with numbers on the perimeter and letters in the center.

 

This is a Spring project. My paint booth is an unheated garage. Although, the planning and budget begins now.

I'll post the results when complete. Nothing to post during the strip and prep stage.

 

Anyone know the best way to remove clips from the flare? Really trying not to break the little standoffs

 

the little plastic clips that hold the flares on will definitely break.

i can't remember the part number, but i recall a blue type and and orange type. you will need to buy replacements

also, the tabs on the flares that hold the clips will break too

I'm probably just going to throw my flares away at some point. epoxy putty is holding all the plastic bullshit together now anyway

 

rotate the clips 90 degrees and they will come off