97 4runner limited, how do you you remove the rear wheel flare.

[rmoore]

Hi All

I have a 1997 4runner limited. I have some surface rust developing around the rear passenger door that runs under the rear wheel flare at the top and the running board at the bottom. I am trying to figure out how to remove the rear flare without breaking it. I found the couple of screws around the inside of the flare. But I think it has the snap in retainers but have really tried to pull on the flare but it will not let go. I need to know i guess is if that is the proper method to remove, If I know you just have to keep working it until it pops loose I will but wanted to make sure that was the correct removal method before snapping the flare in half by doing it wrong. I went up on a couple of Toyota parts sites and found diagrams and parts list of the clips and retainers but it does not list how many I need assuming maybe I will break them to remove the flare. I tried to remove the interior panel but that did not look like a good way to go. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks
Ray

 

[TheRealFeeny]

If you wiggle it front and back the trim piece will come off the plastic piece that is holding it on. If the makes sense. I then took a pair of pliers and just popped the pieces off, took some effort but they just popped out in the end.

 

[rmoore]

Thanks for the reply

I will give it try and see if i can get the thing off. DId you wind up having to replace any clips?

Thanks
Ray

 

[TheRealFeeny]

Well i took them all off and left them off. But i think only one of them ended up breaking.

 

[BrianSD_42]

In your avatar picture you don't have limited flares. I assume this is on a different 4Runner?

Yes those clips are a pain in the @ss.