Refitting wheel arch flares

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

One of my rear flares had a bit of a knock and is hanging off a bit. How hard/easy is it to remove and re-fit? My local panel shop was kind enough to polish out the scratch marks on it for nix but just said the guard was OK the way it was; it looks a bit ugly to me though so would rather fix it properly.

[Derb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Derb]

Hi Fido. Get a book - I have an Elleries workshop manual. I wish I had it when I re-aligned my rear arch's. Is easy to break the clips and clip towers. A tip - when you have them off, use some epoxy resin or similar and reinforce the clip towers - they are really weak. Get a clip pack from Toyota before you take them off. Good luck Boss.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Thanks Derb. I think I have stretched or broken some of the clips (well not me it was my partner who did the damage) because the arch is hanging off at the end near the rear passenger door. I was able to push some of it back on but the last bit won't go back.

[K & M McF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close K & M McF]

You may be able to use some cable ties, I did for some part of one that came free as the clips I purchased also broke. They are not real strong.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

How the heck did you get the cable ties done up?

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

If the clips/clip-mounts on the panel are broken, replacing the entire flare is about the only way of doing it. Although I like K & M McF's idea. You could possibly tie the cable ties by pulling off the inside trim to gain access to the inside of the body panel. I'm not sure it will work, but there's only one way to find out.

http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_G_200...6151_7552.html

A new panel costs $365 according to Toyodiy, so expect to pay in excess of $500 from a dealer me thinks.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

The flare hasn't been ripped right off and I can see the clips are still there behind the loose bit, not sure if the mounts on the flare are damaged though. Only way to be sure is to remove it I guess but I won't go near that till I've checked out a service manual me thinks.

[Derb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Derb]

Hey Fido. A couple of my clip towers were broken off by the painter who did the last touch up before I brought the wagon. I sanded back the area and the towers well, Laid the flare flat and then made up a bit of boxing with some insulation tape and after setting up the towers in their correct orientation, poured in the two pot and left them in the sun for a couple of days. Been over a year now and they havent fallen off yet. From what I remember, there was also some double sided tape in the fitting mix somewhere. All a bit of a haze now though. Not a job I would care to do again given the option. Cheers.

[jcas24 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close jcas24]

I used two small counter sunk metal screws and screwed them into the metal lip of the guard. holds it nice and tight and it never came loose again.

[wickednz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wickednz]

same problem here.. mud guards keep getting pushed up snapping off the flare clips. I've epoxyed the clips once but looking for a more permanent solution.

Are there some aftermarket mud flaps available?

[toycrusier90's Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close toycrusier90's]

hey all just a quick one. Does anyone know of anyone who has made some extra wide fiberglass gaurds for the 2002 prado. Im looking at widening the front wheel track a couple of inches and need to find some gaurds to cover the wheels. I heard of a place that makes fiberglass replacements gaurds for the fj40 series if no luck on here i will give them a ring thanks

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&q=rubber+wheel+arches
(it's a lot cheaper and what most people do)