Painting Sahara Fenders?

[SuspectLJ]

Hey everyone. its been a little while, i hope you're all doing well.

I've been looking for a set of decently priced/decent condition Rubicon flares since i got the jeep at the end of 2023 and still haven't had any luck.

a set of white Sahara fenders just popped up on fb marketplace for $150 about 30 minutes from me and was thinking of picking them up and painting them black at home.

does anyone have any experience doing this? or is it one of those things that doesn't really ever come out looking too good and isn't worth the hassle?

thanks in advance

 

[SSTJ]

I bet it could come out fine if you scuffed them up well, used the right adhesion promotor, and used SEM color coat paint.

But there is one aftermarket style with measurements that match the Rubicon flares. Calling @TheBoogieman for the set he found.

 

[SuspectLJ]

I bet it could come out fine if you scuffed them up well, used the right adhesion promotor, SEM color coat paint.

But there is one aftermarket style with measurements that match the Rubicon flares. Calling @TheBoogieman for the set he found.

I think the rough country ones are pretty similar in terms of measurements and are a good price.

I’ve seen some mixed reviews online, anyone here have any experience with them? I’d rather buy a fresh set of after market ones than painting the Sahara ones since I’d probably mess em up to some degree lol

 

[Hamfists]

That is what I did mine were originally silver and I repainted them in satin black ,
if you buy used rubicon fenders they probably would have to be repainted anyway

 

[Duck Doctor]

I took a silver set of flares from a rocky mountain edition and painted them black using krylon fusion. Paint held up great for 7 years.

 

[macleanflood]

I have a set of white ones for sale in Oregon.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1004889395048945/?mibextid=dXMIcH

-Mac

 

[SuspectLJ]

That is what I did mine were originally silver and I repainted them in satin black ,
if you buy used rubicon fenders they probably would have to be repainted anyway
View attachment 629882

man those look incredible! would you mind sharing how you got them looking so nice?

 

[SuspectLJ]

I have a set of white ones for sale in Oregon.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1004889395048945/?mibextid=dXMIcH

-Mac

i wish you were closer as i would much rather purchase them from a forum member but I'm on the other side of the country unfortunately

 

[SuspectLJ]

I took a silver set of flares from a rocky mountain edition and painted them black using krylon fusion. Paint held up great for 7 years.

did you just sand and paint or was there more to it?

 

[SuspectLJ]

picked them up today, they're in pretty good shape but not perfect. They look like they may have been touched up a bit in some spots with white spray paint maybe. Anyone got any tips on how to get these looking like rubicon flares?

 

[Jamison C]

picked them up today, they're in pretty good shape but not perfect. They look like they may have been touched up a bit in some spots with white spray paint maybe. Anyone got any tips on how to get these looking like rubicon flares?

View attachment 631656

This was my process for repainting my Rubi flares. I went with black vs. the “light” black they came with stock. They’ve held up fine thus far, even in areas where I’ve scraped on rocks.

Post in thread '2005 Rubicon; A Rubi Brother'
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/2005-rubicon-a-rubi-brother.55498/post-1204537

 

[Hamfists]

man those look incredible! would you mind sharing how you got them looking so nice?

First clean with a degreaser like simple green then isopropyl alcohol to remove the old wax
I used 400 grit sandpaper with a DA to scuff the clear on the Sahara fenders. Sprayed it with rattle can filler primer, sanded once more with 400 grit and wet sanded them by hand
Then sprayed with SEM landau black paint

 

[SSTJ]

If you go with SEM, I'd recommend reading the site info about which adhesion promoter to use. Especially this part:

"Tech tip: If the type of plastic is unknown, place a drop of acetone on the back of the plastic and rub it with your finger. If the plastic smears and melts, use Sand Free. If acetone does not have an effect on the plastic, use Plastic Adhesion Promoter or XXX Adhesion Promoter."

 

[Hamfists]

If you go with SEM, I'd recommend reading the site info about which adhesion promoter to use. Especially this part:

"Tech tip: If the type of plastic is unknown, place a drop of acetone on the back of the plastic and rub it with your finger. If the plastic smears and melts, use Sand Free. If acetone does not have an effect on the plastic, use Plastic Adhesion Promoter or XXX Adhesion Promoter."

The adhesion promoter is for painting directly to plastic or vinyl, the Sahara fenders are painted and clear coated, so it needs to bond to the paint not directly to the plastic

 

[SSTJ]

The adhesion promoter is for painting directly to plastic or vinyl, the Sahara fenders are painted and clear coated, so it needs to bond to the paint not directly to the plastic

Agreed. I thought he was stripping the paint first. Shouldn't have assumed.

 

[mrblaine]

First clean with a degreaser like simple green then isopropyl alcohol to remove the old wax
I used 400 grit sandpaper with a DA to scuff the clear on the Sahara fenders. Sprayed it with rattle can filler primer, sanded once more with 400 grit and wet sanded them by hand
Then sprayed with SEM landau black paint

For flares, I like a few top coats of SEM Low Luster clear done within the recoat window.