Fender flare trimming

So mainly the front. But how much and what techniques are you guys with bigger tires trimming your front flairs and inner fender lining? I know you guys with the 35's have to be rubbing,or do you just deal with it and let it self clearance?
I'd like to keep as much of both the fender and liner as possible to help keep as much crap from egressing into these areas.
Pictures and suggestions would be great and appreciated.

 

I dont think its possible to have 35's without major trimming, I had to do that even with 33's. Unless you lift it a ridiculous amount, introducing all kinds of other issues.

 

Start with this

 

I understand stand the need to trim but I've seen people who are running larger tires and still have there flairs and I'm curious as to how they went about it. Like will a heat gun make the plastic soft enough to be payable to be bent or was cutting the only way?

I had to trim my actual fender and eat the cra0 out of my firewall to get my tires to fully cycle without the flat and liner. But I like the way the flairs look and the liner helps to keep crap out of the doors and engine bay.

 

So a heat gun makes semi quick work of the Inner fender and flair. I did make 2 cuts on flair. I'll post pics later.

 

Before. We'll the passenger side that I haven't done yet.

And the driver's side that I butchered.

 

Thats with 35s?

 

No 33's ish that stick out pretty far.
I was hoping to hear from the guys with 35's. I don't think they keep the inner liner.

 

I would find an alternative fastener, unless those screws are just temporary. Maybe rivets or something that looks a bit cleaner.

 

I had to cut and bash a lot to clear my 295's.
Here's what it looked like after clearancing and seam sealing
I removed the bump stops and shock and clearanced so that I had proper clearance from full lock in either direction & at full stuff

This was with the cams on the LCA's maxed out too.

 

Don't think that inner liner is saved but if the question deals with 35s, @Fernando is who I would ask.

If you stick with 33s, take a look at this for tips with the liner -
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...d-and-adventures.484602/page-17#post-16606588

I'm running 255/85/16s (good ol' pizza cutters lol) on a stock T4R wheel with 4.6 backspacing. Did not have to touch the pinch weld or the liner (I did replace the fender flare bolts like Dan did though). Mind you, I'm not stuffing the front end either. I have the SPCs set at "D" and an awesome alignment tech. Only rubbing I have had is at full lock.





^ This is why I went with SPC vs Total Chaos.

My most recent alignment report -


Oh and for what its worth, can't recall who but someone once said to me --- "Everyone running larger than stock rubs, most just don't want to talk about it or care to admit it". Something along those lines... lol

 

Thoes spc definitely help. I've been thinking about getting the solo arms to help push the tires forward.
Thanks for the link I'll check it out.

 

Nice thanks. I like how you cut the flairs. So you used the seam sealer to help keep the liner down?

 

I also had to cut into the fender itself some too. Keep in mind this is with a 3.5" BS 17x9 wheel. No spacers.
The seam sealer was just to make sure that there was no chance of water getting into the cab or in places where it shouldn't be since I took a grinder to the pinchweld area pretty aggressively.

I got the solo arms after doing this clearancing and it definitely helped me. I wouldn't have had to be so aggressive if I had them from the start

 

I have the similar back spacing and rim size. I had to be really aggressive with the submission stick to clear at full stuff without rubbing. Go to know about the solo arms.
I saw your fender cut. I think I'll probably have to do something similar.

 

I ripped mine out and tossed them in the trash. Lol. Not sure if cory kept his . or rob

@cbechtold
@Robmonster117

 

Heres what I did to keep my flairs. They are still hanging in there, (havent managed to tear them off on a tree yet)
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/robmonster117s-little-monster-build-thread.437656/page-2#post-12731188

the fender liners had to be ditched. I had to smash the engine tray “underside fenders” up for enough up travel and I still rub when I’m on the trails

 

Im 5 lug but i couldnt use any of my plastics and had to bash a bunch and trim to fit 30s stock. I just undercoated the wheel wells for protection and trimmed my flare to reuse for covering the intake tube. As an idea.


(And i still am rubbing as u see haha)

 

that's a good idea to just keep the top.
Love your truck man!!

 

Appreciate it, same to you! lots of work so far and much more to come!