I keep seeing people talk about fixing faded flares and bumpers with Mother's Back to Black, but to my understanding, the color only lasts a month or two.

Would my best bet be to tape around the handles and just buy some rustoleum black?

 

I don't think so... I still think you should tape it off but I prefer the stain over paint. I'm using a stuff called Black 3200. The guy I bought my XJ from had it and its killer. He did the trim on mine two years ago and I've just recently thought about redoing it. Hell I even needed another side molding for my drivers door and brought a chalky gray one, from the JY, back to life. DON'T PAINT IT!

 

Got any pics? All the topics I can find on faded things have to do with 97-01 trim, flares, and bumper ends. I don't know if my handles will react the same way to the chemicals. They aren't even as worn out as most of the topics on here show, but they are very uneven and sloppy looking

 

back to black worked for me.

 

for a month or two, or longer?

EDIT: Shoot man, nice GT! My dad's got a 427R. In terms of SUVs, i'm an XJ guy. But when it comes to speed, mustangs all the way!

 

I'm not sure if the handles are the same as all the trim, but a heat gun works for flares and bumper caps. Unlike stuff in a bottle, there's nothing to wear off or reapply. Even if it doesn't work on the handles, it's free to try if you already have a heat gun.

 

I don't have a heat gun, but I heard that fix only lasts about a month, as well. :\

 

Bondo restore black. I put it on last March, and everything is still black. You have to tape off the paint, and wear gloves. It is a gel, and you put on a couple of coats. I got it at Kmart, but Ace Hardware has it too. It soaks in, so I like it better than paint.

 

Here is mine Chad.

OP I second the Bondo. Don't forget gloves tho.

TylerL. 94 ZJ 3" lift. My DD.

 

Sweet ride, love the wheels. That can't be a stock hood from a GT though, correct? Looks as if it's from a Cobra

 

a torch also works if you dont have a heat gun. if you dont have a torch i would recomend getting one anyways just for those stubborn bolts. the torch doesnt take nearly as long as painting or any thing no gloves. all you have to do is wait for it to cool down. even if it only last a month it only takes 3 minutes to do it for all your handles...

 

It's actually a GT hood with the hood scoop taken off and a functional V6 hood scoop cover put on.

TylerL. 94 ZJ 3" lift. My DD.