I want to remove are replace fender flares because of salt. What is the best thing i can do?

I live where they put salt on the road. I have 2010. Should i remove my current fender flares or buy different ones like bush wacker? I just dont want any rust starting. Any info would be helpfull.

 

Is there rust starting around the inside of the wheel arches? If not, stop worrying and go for a drive.

 

when I removed my stock flares,there was a crap-load of dirt and schmutz behind them,the clips that hold the stock flares are "semi-delicate",so you'll have to be carefull...they're color coded if I remember correctly,so take a picture in case you get in a hurry or break some,the bushwackers won't offer any more protection than the stockers,but they're easy to remove,i live in the south...salt is not a problem(until we get a 2 inch blizzard).

 

Thanks for the info. What would it look like if i just took them off and left them off. I do have big tires. I just dont want fender to rust from underneath. We have alot of salt in the winter time.

 

What do fender look like without flares. Is there holes? Are the fenders finished? I just dont want rust starting. My old truck had flares and the rust ate it from inside out. I thought about just taking flares off and leave them off,but i have big tires that stick out. Just not sure what would be best.

 

yes there are holes

 

Why the tape? Would my truck look bad if i took them off?

 

He's about to cut his fenders for 35's. Just a pic to show you the holes underneath that the clips go in. There are several trucks that run without flares.

 

just another pic

 

If you remove them you'll have more salt on the sides of the body

 

Take your flares off and see what you find. They only trap stuff back there, it doesn't prevent anything from getting in there.

 

I have tried to find more pictures of no flares. Im not real worried about the sides. I wash and wax. I just worry about salt getting in behind flares and rusting behind flare. I started spraying fuild film on the frame. What ever stuff the put on the roads here in the moutains of nc is nasty stuff. My old dodge i replaced part of the frame and within 3 years it was rusted almost into. Frame has huge holes. I had a car before that and the frame rusted into. Maybe i need to move to some where warm.

 

I wouldn't be concerned about this. I live in Ma, and i can't recall ever seeing a 2nd gen tacoma with any body rust.

 

Ok thanks. I started spraying frame with fluid film. So far so good.

 

This was true with 1st gens as well - frame fails structurally while the body looks pristine after ten years. Example:

 

Wow, that was a bad day!

 

Articulation mod. I like it.

 

He now has a vehicle tying up his lift while he waits for a replacement frame to arrive? Size of service bay and red-white-gray color scheme suggest Toyota dealer.

 

Exhibit 2. Note the distinct lack of fender rust:

 

He'll likely never get high centered

Approach angles maybe need to be rethought