Can Flexible Plastic Jeep Fender Flares Be Repaired

How to Repair a Broken Plastic Fender

by Chris Stevenson

black atv image by Dumitrescu Ciprian from Fotolia.com

Plastic fenders on ATVs, motorcycles and automobiles can endure any number of damages, specially impact damage from abuse or collisions. Depending upon the textile makeup of the plastic, it can exist repaired in a number of ways by using unlike products and applications. The play a trick on is to repair the crevice or split with a production and technique that offers the best reinforcement and force. Kits are available that ensure proper bonding and belongings strengths that can continue the crack from reopening. The average vehicle possessor tin can follow a few elementary techniques and utilize some basic tools to repair his ain damaged fender.

Step one

Remove the fender from the vehicle with the appropriate socket or end wrench. Set a plastic tarp on the basis and place the fender on information technology. Use a drill motor and a very small bit (1/8-inch) to drill holes around the perimeter of the crack or separate. Space the holes about 1/eight-inch apart, surrounding the crack on all sides. Widen the fissure opening by using the drill to cut a channel. Do this past drilling a hole in the end of the crack and slowly drag the bit downward its length. Wipe away the residual with some booze.

Step ii

Use heavy 60-grit sandpaper to sand the inside and exterior of the fender. Sand one inch by the exterior of the patch area. Use a crosshatch sanding pattern, sanding at xc-degree angles. Crude up the plastic surface with deep grooves. Wipe the fender downwardly with the plastic cleaner (from kit) or apply alcohol. Let the fender air dry out.

Stride three

Cut a slice of fiberglass mat that volition encompass the crack and overlap the drill holes by at least one/two inch. Prepare the adhesive according to directions and pour enough of the contents into a cup to fill the entire crack, with an extra corporeality to utilise for buildup. Soak the fiberglass mat in the adhesive mixture and lay it flat over the cleft on the underside of the fender. Use some blue masking record to secure it tightly against the fender, simply do not cover the fiberglass mat entirely with tape–only the outside edges. Let dry.

Step 4

Turn the fender over and fill up in the cleft gap with repair plastic. Polish it out with a putty knife, shoving down hard to remove all air bubbling. Build upwards an extra layer of repair plastic across the height of the fender surface. Allow dry according to instructions.

Step five

Flip the fender over, behind upwardly. Remove the bluish tape. Cover the fiberglass mat with a thick coat of repair plastic, smoothing it down with the putty pocketknife. Go out a thick buildup area of extra plastic putty. Let air dry.

Plow the fender face upwardly. Use a flat file or sanding block with 60-grit sandpaper to sand the surface down until you accomplish merely higher up the fender tiptop. Use fine sandpaper (400-dust) to finish sanding the surface downwardly until information technology becomes even with the fender surface and contour. Paint to match your fender's color, every bit needed.

References

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