Well. You just paint them. I washed them, and then rubbed them down with alcohol and made sure they were dry. I did not sand them, which I think if I were to do it again, I probably would take the time to run a light sanding over them.

I went a bit over board on protection. I taped them off, then placed card stock paper between the flare and the jeep, and then used plastic.

I used Rustoleum direct to plastic paint. No primer necessary. I used black gloss. Others like Krylon Satin. To each his own.

Anyways....a couple of pics..

Prep work was the longest time suckage.

Front Prep

Rear Drivers

Done.

 

how to paint plastic fenders

We are curious to know how long ago this was done? Does the weather or washing affect the finish?

 

I just posted a reply to my method of painting flares a few posts up (it was a post about painting bumpers.) I have had excellent results using SEM paint and adhesion promoter. I did my YJ flares 6 years ago and my Dad's TJ flares 3 years ago and they both still look great. I wheel my YJ rather hard and have scrapped my flares several times and I have never had any chipping or flaking. They still get scratched but a quick touch up fixes that. Just make sure you prep well with a good wax and grease remover and scuff the flares with some scotchbrite to smooth any imperfections and give the new paint some tooth.

I have a few buddies that tried the Krylon fusion and the results were less then spectacular. They looked great until they hit the flare and it flexed causing the paint to flake. Yes, the SEM is spendy and is only available at a auto paint shop (around $11 a can for the color and $14 a can for the adhesion promoter locally) but, it is worth the cost.

 

you can always remove the fenders to paint them also... a lil time consuming but guarantees no overspray and you can paint them all at once a lil easier. I'm finishing my last fender today. Your obviously gonna need some tools... no torx bits necessary. and you will need to remove the rear wheels to get the rear fenders off due to plastic wheel well covers above the tires. The outermost bolts that hold the fenders on are held in place with stamped in nuts through the sheet metal which if rusted tend to spin in place making it difficult to remove the fenders... so your gonna need vice grips to keep them steady. I was not able to remove one fender due to the fact that some of those stamped in nuts in the rear wheel well are surrounded by sheet metal and impossible to get to... so i just taped it off and painted the fender on the vehicle for that one.

 

since im doing my last fender today maybe ill post some pics of the process... but its pretty straight forward

 

If you leave them on to paint them, how long do you need to wait before driving the Jeep again?

 

depends on the paint you use man... as soon a s its dry really... just as long as its totally dry... mine dried in 15m

 

I've got the Krylon fusion so I may paint them some time this weekend. So I'd be fine to drive maybe 4 hours later?

 

easily... it only takes like 15 minds to dry each coat... just do each piece in light coats... the last piece i did came out the best... i did four light coats to make sure it came out even and covered completely... i didnt do my last piece yesterday.. doing it today... so ill take some pics... r u gonna do it on the Jeep or off??? if ur not taking them off i wont bother putting up pics

 

I'm not gonna take them off, for the fact that I've read its a huge pain to get them off. I was planning on just taping everything off and painting them while on there. Is it hard to remove them?

 

Its not difficult... just time consuming... i didnt end up taking pics... but you dont need them if ur gonna paint them on the vehicle... you just have to make sure that you put something between the palsic and the metal... theres paint and sheet metal behind that plastic and if it runs and you deside to change the fender later it might show

 

heres before and after pics... i just took the after pic in the rain outside so quality is ehhh