Fender flare problem

dodge man · Oct 2, 2012

I have fender flares on my 2004 Ram. I wish they weren't on the truck, but they have roughed up the paint in a couple of spots underneath, so I can't really take them off. They have developed a gap at the top, and it seems like a good way to create problems if they let a bunch of crap accumulate under them. I think over time they have tipped out at the top and kind of stretched. I've tried some some rubber-caulk like windshield gasket material, but that isn't really helping that much. I planned on just remounting them and drilling new holes to tighten them up. Any better ideas?

crashz · Oct 2, 2012

I like the way they look on your truck, but they do trap dirt and road salt. Even factory equipped ones do that. The bolts on the sides are only decorative right? Can you remove them and have the paint fixed?

dodge man · Oct 2, 2012

If I can get them sealed up well, they don't really trap stuff. The bolts are just for looks, they are held on by screws in the wheel lip.

scrappy isb67 · Oct 2, 2012

dodge man said:
If I can get them sealed up well, they don't really trap stuff. The bolts are just for looks, they are held on by screws in the wheel lip.

they should have double stick foam tape on the outer edges, pull them off and replace the tape.
3m makes a tape for this that works great, I almost ruined the steel fender trying to pull one of my flares off!

IkeRoberts · Oct 2, 2012

You can use RTV (room temperature vulcanization). This product dries to a tough rubber. Take the flares off, fill the edge with RTV and replace. The excess will ooze out. Use a wet finger to smooth the edge and let it cure (about 24 hours).

dodge man · Oct 3, 2012

They have a rubber gasket on the edge of the flare now where it seals to the sides of the truck, but its pretty thin and smashed down. The double stick tape or RTV might work well.