Light scratches on OEM black flares

Does anyone know how to clean up light scratches on flares? I watches a youtube video and saw the heats guns can do the trick. Got some very light scratches from driving off road and brushing up against scotch broom

 

I have researched what I could find for myself and they are not going to come out. Buy replacements. It’s an easy swap.

 

Replacements OEM is quite costly plus cleaning up the old adhesive and replacing is quite the task Done it once before and didnt come out as nice as what you get from factory. going to try the head gun method from a good distance on one of the scratches as I saw online. If I F it up I think I will mask off and spray with bedliner from Rustoleum lol

 

Let us see how it turns out plz!

 

Also interested in seeing how it turned out... Had my TRD Pro for a week and a half and already loaded with scratches from trails. The scratches on the paint shouldnt be bad to buff out but the fender flares may be a bit tougher to get rid of...

 

You can just about scratch those flares with your finger nail lol... I would prefer hard plastic on those or painted. I was quoted $700 to paint

 

I had an old set sprayed with bed liner on my tundra, may have the stock sprayed on this, it worked out really well.

 

I just figured that is what they are there for. Over time, Back to Black may help shine them up and protect them, but I know I'm just going to go scratch them again.

 

I'm sure they are designed like this so that we have to replace them more often lol

 

Line-X would be a pretty durable option. All of the plastic parts on the third gen scratch extremely easy.

 

Ideally take them off to spray but would much rather keep them on the truck and tape everything off. We'll see...

 

I'm pretty much in line with this. I was under the impression the OR and TRD Pro are not painted because the paint would chip or scratch more during off road conditions.

My light scratches are welcome to stay. If they get obscene, I'll revisit this thread.

 

That's the point of them, to get scratched without ruining paint.

 

May be the point, but what's to stop anyone from trying to keep their truck looking good. Ever see a cherry original 80's or 90's 4x4 Yota and say damn, that's really clean, I'd love to have that!?!
That's because someone tried to take care of it.
On the flip side, ever see the same year Yotas that have been rock crawling, mudding or doing ranch work for years, yes & you probably say to yourself, cool old truck but I wouldn't buy it..
It's just 2 lines of thought, use it like a truck and replace it with another when you're done with it (or) I love this thing & I hope one day my son or even grandson will drive it..

Sorry to rant, haha

 

Then don't do truck stuff if you are worried about scratches on your truck...

 

Well I have a Porsche 911 as well and would like to drive it like it was intended but can't unless its track day lol. With the truck I like to keep cherry and the off-road capabilities are there if I need them. I just like knowing its there if I need but I don't go looking for mud pits I guess you can call it a garage queen....

 

That's fair enough. I think many of us forget that when it comes to appearance and upkeep, it's the owner's preference that matters, not our own opinions.

Every time I come on this site, I struggle to understand why people spend so much money modding up these trucks - then I remember, it's none of my damn business how another man or woman spends their money or time! Keep it cherry, OP.

 

Yep. They came unpainted on the OR models because they were expecting scratches.

 

The hard plastic ones seem to withstand scratches. I bought an after market set for a tundra awhile back. It was hard plastic and durable. The 3rd gen tacos one will scratch with your finger nail lol

 

The next owner can scratch mine up, I'm a vehicle lover & I work too hard to tear my stuff up.
If I get in a bind and bend or scratch something, than I tried to keep it nice but shit happens and I can accept that but I'm not going down any trails in my truck that I can walk.
One of 1st vehicles was a 1998 Jetta and that thing took me to more camping, biking & surfing than any other vehicle, still looked black & beautiful when I sold it to my brother.