Does anyone know how to remove this?

Does anyone know what this grey brownish thing on the fender is and how to remove them without needing to go to a body shop? Is it even possible to remove it yourself?

 

It's just a clear bra, essentially a small clear wrap to help protect against stone chips. Dirt got in behind them you can take a hair dryer and warm them up some and that'll help them peel off. Sometimes you can just pull them off without heat just get a corner to lift up. You may have some of the adhesive residue left behind you'll need to clean off. No big deal to do this and no need to take it to a body shop.

 

Heat gun

 

Heat and peel. Prepare to spend some time removing the adhesive residue.

I did mine a month or 2 ago. Wasn’t terrible but took some time and elbow grease to clean everything up.

 

LOTS of elbow grease and Goof-Off.

 

goo gone. lots of it.

 

I've never used Goo Gone on paint. Seems like others have so maybe it's OK. But i have used the Turtle Wax Bug & Tar remover to get road tar splatter off. That might be safer as a first try.

You can also you small amounts of paint thinner but put it on rag then rub on and I'd soap and water it off after.

 

i used goo gone when i debadged and it worked great. but i’ve never used good off or paint thinner.

 

I removed mine years ago. Forget if I used heat or not. Yes it took some effort to remove the left over adhesive residue.

Go slow and carefully. If there are stone nicks, the paint may lift slightly in those spots.

Are you planning to replace them or have some other form of saving that area from damage from stuff kicked up by the tires.

No mudflaps on my truck and the BAMF Sliders protect these areas.

 

Heat gun

I’m an avid detailer and recommend against using any chemical adhesive removers.
Park the truck out in the sun one day, use a hair dryer or heat gun to loosen the adhesive and gently remove.
Wipe the area to remove further adhesive and use a clay bar to help pull up the gunk. If necessary get a microfiber pad and some polish (NOT cutting compound its too Abrasive) and buff off what is remaining.

You use chemical adhesive removers, fingernails, plastic blades, or “scrub” the area you will fuck up your paint.

 

For residual adhesive, I usually have better luck with much less effort using the 3M adhesive rubber wheel drill attachment . Finish it with Meguire's ultimate polish.

 

THIS

 

Use a heat gun on low,and very gently pull it off as you heat it.

 

I will bet that no matter what you use you will end up with visible “ghosting” of the shape in the clear coat.

 

Funny to see this now, just took mine off yesterday and it was a bitch. Used a heat gun and a plastic razor blade to scrape behind it. Mine looked exactly like yours, dirty as hell and cracked up. It would not peel off in one sheet, all the little cracked pieces came off individually is what made it a project. Used WD40 to help soften the residue left behind. Mine is a 2006 i bought used so assuming they've been on there since new, there's surprisingly very little difference in the paint fade in the area after removing.

Edit: Be careful on the fender flare section with the heat and if you use any tools to scrape. The heat will soften the plastic flare and its easy to dig into the paint, even with your fingernails.

 

Be patient, the heat gun works but if you get too close it will take your paint with it.

 

I dont plan to replace it at the moment, i do plan on redoing the paint on the entire truck maybe a year or two from now. But is the coating something i need to replace immediately or can it wait?

 

I can stay off as long as you like. It’s just an extra layer of paint protection against stone chips.

 

Its that safe for the paint of the fender because a few friends recommended me that but didnt seem safe to me.

 

Never had an issue with paint or clearcoat. Personally, I've tried goof off, tar remover, wd-40, etc.. in the past but the wheel works the best and fastest for removing adhesive.residue.