Fender Flare Limited - Creative solutions?

[Denis_Ruso]

Hi everyone, finally reached the post count to ask you brilliant people for some help.

So I picked up my 1997 Limited 4runner a few months ago. Been doing maintenance little by little, some wheeling all over and I've come to the conclusion that I love this truck.

Now its not in the best condition cosmetically, not to mention the custom pinstripes I've been putting on.:lmao:. So I'm trying to show it some love.

When I bought the car, over my excitement I didn't notice that the front left fender flare was missing. What I also failed to notice(or even know) is that the previous owner replaced that front left fender.... with a regular 4runner fender (non-limited). Which doesn't have the holes for the limited flare!

I purchased the replacement limited fender flare on Ebay. Now my question. How do I mount this thing!? Is there a hole template available? Glue? Regular tap screws?

I would really appreciate your creative solutions and ideas. Any ideas are welcome, I am stumped and don't really want to purchase another color matched fender.

 

[Freb_mc]

Mine was also missing a front flare when I bought it. Fortunately it was laying in the back, but most of the tabs to put the clips in where broken. As a temp fix I used 3M double sided tape for body panels along the top edge, and then small black self tapping screws along the bottom around the inner fender. I did this as a temp fix because I was going to replace my fender, it still is a little wavy as I only hammer and dollied the dent out. I have been through the auto car wash with the brushes several times and its still as tight fitting as the originals 7 months later.

If you are looking for a more original mount, try waxing the fender, wait for the wax to dry, put your clips in the flare and then push it into place, that will mark in the dried wax where your holes should be, roughly, and then measure marks to double check before drilling.

 

[Denis_Ruso]

Mine was also missing a front flare when I bought it. Fortunately it was laying in the back, but most of the tabs to put the clips in where broken. As a temp fix I used 3M double sided tape for body panels along the top edge, and then small black self tapping screws along the bottom around the inner fender. I did this as a temp fix because I was going to replace my fender, it still is a little wavy as I only hammer and dollied the dent out. I have been through the auto car wash with the brushes several times and its still as tight fitting as the originals 7 months later.

If you are looking for a more original mount, try waxing the fender, wait for the wax to dry, put your clips in the flare and then push it into place, that will mark in the dried wax where your holes should be, roughly, and then measure marks to double check before drilling.

The self tapping screws might be the way to go. I

read about the wax method in another thread but I am unsure about trying to drill such small square holes to get the flare to align perfectly. Plus I would have to buy all the clips. Sounds like a huge headache for something that can be attached simpler.

Do you stil recommend the rubber gasket above flare?

 

[Freb_mc]

I would still use the gasket, it fills a gap between the flare and body, also it will match the rest of the vehicle that way. Plus it gives a little more area for the 3m tape.

 

[runnyrunnerton]

Here is a walk through I did on removing and reinstalling them. Might help. I dont have any input if you need to add holes.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/143023-limited-fender-flare-cladding-removal-re-install.html

 

[Denis_Ruso]

Here is a walk through I did on removing and reinstalling them. Might help. I dont have any input if you need to add holes.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/143023-limited-fender-flare-cladding-removal-re-install.html

Awesome write-up. I read that last week... which is what made me decide to paint the flares while they are on the truck haha. No into breaking and replacing clips.

 

[benjicon]

I have been in the same boat for a few weeks, although I have an SR5, I bought a set of Limited Flares and have been racking my brain on how I could "creatively" mount them. I know I'll have to drill the guards, but lining them up and marking where the drill holes should go is proving challenging.

I saw the fender install thread (Linked above) and I think the guy used Auto Molding clips, but I never really understood how he got them into the clip mounts behind the flare.

Things I have considered.....
1.) Drill the flares, firstly a pilot hole from the inside, then a larger hole once you have the pilot hole, this would allow you to to see from the outside through to the guard making it easier to mark for drilling. You would essentially be making an external opening to see into the clip mounts. I know this would leave your flares with a series of holes around the outer edge but you could fill them with something like this.. http://i01.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/712/992/557/557992712_873.jpg

2.) Mount with screws or ?? Options I looked at were Self tapping screws, molding clips, nut and bolt, but they all came with limitations, I think what I'm going to try is using zip ties / cable ties...

http://41ost23x2r742prnnssvmiy3.wpe...nt/uploads/2015/09/humble-zip-tie-300x216.jpg

You can get them everywhere in all sizes, the only thing you need to make sure of is that the square end on the zip tie is too big to slip through the mount hole. Once you drill the flares, you feed a zip tie from the outside opening you drilled on the flare, through the flare mount and through the hole you drilled on the guard, then use a second zip tie on the receiving end behind the guard or in the door, (feeding the lose end through the locking end) and tighten. Combined with the usual gasket and 3M tape I think it would hold really well.

I hope that made sense, like I said I haven't tried this yet, but I plan too once the rust repairs are done. In theory it should work well, its cheap, flexible, allows for a bit of wriggle room and makes marking the drill spots easier.

Food for thought!