Restoring color to fender flares
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 75
Likes: 2
From: SE Iowa
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Power Tech Inline-6 High Output
x2 on Krylon Fusion. If you are looking for an inexpensive solution with very permanent results this would be the way to go. Their satin finish paint looks very good on fender flares, but if you are really looking to make them shine, their gloss finish comes out great as well. And it applies well and dries fast. Very good stuff! 

Guess not
I have realized a major issue in this discussion though. At least on my 1998 there is a fair amount of plastic pieces that if not painted along with the fender flares would stand out horribly. Kinda diminishes my enthusiasm for this project but I will follow though nonetheless. My plan of attack is to check out the screws/blots that are holding on the trim and see how rusty they are and whether or not I could get them off without going crazy or breaking them. If they are workable and not too rusty I'll taken them off to paint. If not I'll have to tape it up.
I have realized a major issue in this discussion though. At least on my 1998 there is a fair amount of plastic pieces that if not painted along with the fender flares would stand out horribly. Kinda diminishes my enthusiasm for this project but I will follow though nonetheless. My plan of attack is to check out the screws/blots that are holding on the trim and see how rusty they are and whether or not I could get them off without going crazy or breaking them. If they are workable and not too rusty I'll taken them off to paint. If not I'll have to tape it up.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 1
From: palm desert,ca
Year: 1987
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0
plastic? trim? paint? look better? man i dont need no stinking trim

i beat my jeep up on trails and rocks, so what trim i have left looks great compaired to all the dents and scratches


i beat my jeep up on trails and rocks, so what trim i have left looks great compaired to all the dents and scratches
i used the back to black on my jeep, it lasted for about 3-4 weeks, then it rained and it all washed off... i dont feel like doin it every month so i just stopped applying it, but it looks really good when its on there
Duplicolor trim paint by dupont works and stays where you put it, and looks like the oem color. Works great on trim,bumpers,mirrors. I did my hardtop with it and it looked like factory.
It has the flex agent in it for painting plastic .
It is in a green spray can at your local parts house
Dont use fusion it looks awful and looks like a painted trim
It has the flex agent in it for painting plastic .
It is in a green spray can at your local parts house
Dont use fusion it looks awful and looks like a painted trim
Without a doubt, use the Krylon Fusion. I used the satin finish.
I tried every other product I could find before I decided to bite the bullet and paint them. Back to Black and other stuff would look great...for a few weeks. Mine have been painted for about 6 months now and still look great.
90% of your results come from prep. I scrubbed mine with an s.o.s. type pad and regular carwash liquid. I dried them and then cleaned them really good with rubbing alcohol. You want to make sure anything that has been applied to them in the past is off.
I tried every other product I could find before I decided to bite the bullet and paint them. Back to Black and other stuff would look great...for a few weeks. Mine have been painted for about 6 months now and still look great.
90% of your results come from prep. I scrubbed mine with an s.o.s. type pad and regular carwash liquid. I dried them and then cleaned them really good with rubbing alcohol. You want to make sure anything that has been applied to them in the past is off.
Mother's Back to Black. Cost about 10.00 . It holds up pretty well. You'll be very pleased with it. It lasts for a good long while. The more coats you rub in over time the better it looks and the more permanent it holds the color. I bought it at Advance. I would imagine Autozone carries it as well. It took me 5 years to finally find something that works.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 12
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
The clearcoat is coming off the flares on my '92 Laredo. I am going to scuff them with 400 grit, tape off the rest of the body, and base/clear the flares back to the original silver gray. Will probably paint the bumpers and rubber trim all at the same time.
the best way to restore colored plastic pieces interior or exterior is to use a heat gun.... it takes a lil bit of time but it lasts alot longer than paint... also if you have a cracked or bent piece you can use the heat gun to bend it back and restore it to get it in shape properly....
X3^^^^ Krylon fusion is the way to go man. easy application and very little prep. I used it on my old blazer and it soaked right into the plastic and lasted a good amount of time. Just do that. couple cans and your good.
I used the Krylon Fusion paint, masking off the body around and 1.5 years later, they still look great. And that is with not the greatest prep, I think I washed them off, but no sanding or other prep...that paint works great for plastics! I used multiple very light coats IIRC


