2006 100 - flares removed... scratches remain

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Manhattan

Manhattan

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Joined
Jun 22, 2005
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182
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3,014
Location
Atlanta
Website
www.prequel.agency
No question, the 100 looks much better with the flares removed. But once the flares were removed, the scratches were plainly visible - they follow the outline of the outer edge of the flare. My efforts failed, e.g. compound, etc. Next stop, the dealer's body shop. The dealer's shop is run by a very cool guy. He spent quite a bit of time on the truck himself. He buffed, wet sanded (I think he said 2000 grit) and when all the dust settled... the scratches remain.

So, short of repainting the truck, any suggestions on options? I really don't want to put the damn flares back on - especially since they need to be cleaned up, repaired. And I REALLY don't want to repaint the truck - it's in great shape otherwise. This is the point - with previous trucks, e.g. FJ Cruiser, Grand Cherokee - I'd start looking into Bushwackers, etc. But man what a can-o-worms that opens... 'cause ya gotta fill those flares or it looks pretty bad.

Thoughts?
 
Take some pictures. ;)
 
you can get touch-up paint put into a spray can for very low cost. if it were me, I'd probably spray it and then buff it for fade and level. it might not look perfect at 2 ft, but it will look great at 8 ft.
 
I had the exact same experience when I removed the flares on my 05 last year. Body shop was no help. My advice is to just ignore them. I obsessed over the scratches at first and now I hardly ever notice them. Of course, it helps if you never wash the truck.
 
First, what color do you have?

If either white or black, then you're in luck and a complete repaint will NOT be necessary. If it's a metallic color, then you're not going to like it...
 
alatlc said:
I had the exact same experience when I removed the flares on my 05 last year. Body shop was no help. My advice is to just ignore them. I obsessed over the scratches at first and now I hardly ever notice them. Of course, it helps if you never wash the truck.
Click to expand...

I think this is where I'll end up. Oooh, I know - I'll pin stripe over the scratches 80s style!
 
Manhattan - I like that Demello front bumper you were running on the FJ... The only aftermarket fender flares i've seen on 100's are on the Arctic expedition trucks... Someone was talking about making some on here awhile back though... I don't think many people are interested in running wider tires however...
 
Same problem here. Tried touch up paint, etc, with no luck. The scratches are too deep. At some point I may go the Line-X route and have the lower panels and the area where the flare was done.
 
Just removed the rear flares and now time for some elbow grease.
Before starting to clean, I'm heading up to the store to buy a torx head to get the front flares removed.
IMGP5130.webp
IMGP5129.webp
 
jgray said:
Manhattan - I like that Demello front bumper you were running on the FJ...
Click to expand...

Thanks. Jason was great - let me alter his design a bit to get the look I wanted. Now, if he'd only make a bumper for the 100.
 
I've got the same problem. Scratches all the way down to the primer underneath my flares. Also rub scratches all the way through the body molding on about 4 different sections. I don't hate my fender flares as much as I hate that they aren't color matched to the body. The combo of the white truck with grey bumpers, fender flares body molding and pin stripe is too much for me. I'm eventually going to get rid of the bumpers so not an issue but I think I am going to pull my fender flares and possibly the body molding and paint them white to match the body. Already messed around with the scheme in photoshop and it looks way better. The paint on my truck is in pristine condition otherwise so the huge scratches around the wheel arches would look like s*** to me.
 
Ignore my crappy photoshop job but you get the idea. Also ignore the lame pinstripe, that thing is gone as well.

Here's what it might look like with the flares painted white.


and white the flares white and body molding white.
WhiteFlaresNoPin.webp
WhiteFlaresTrim.webp
 
Bingo, looks so much better. Gonna get a quote this week on getting all that stuff painted. Thinking it might not be too bad if I pull everything off, prep and put everything back on. I really don't like my flares but my paint job would look really jacked if I took them off at this point...100k. Someone needs to tell the Southwestern Toyota distributors to stop putting the flares and the pin-striping on these trucks. At least the two tone scheme on the LC's isn't as bad as the one on the 4 runner a few years back, those huge grey plastic sides were
terrible.
 
All three of my fenders cleaned up real nice with the 3M adhesive cleaner (pricey, but good stuff). Upon removing the driver's rear fender flare, I discovered this yellow shady body work from the PO (not picked up on the CarFax). I am going to try the 3M wheel tonight, but does anyone know if you can use the wheel on the plastic bumper part. The yellow crap is making any ugly half moon.
IMGP5151 (800x531).webp
IMGP5149 (800x531).webp
 
my 100 had flares on it up until 2009. 2011 you can still see the outline. I have never gotten the scratches off... probably never will considering I have added a couple hundred more.


if you look close enough you can still see the half moon. Only picture I have of this area:

237ef30a.jpg
 
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