clear rock guards gone bad over time

These clear rock guard decals have gotten awful over the years, and I see the same thing on other Tacoma's of the same age as mine. A body shop nearby says he has had bad luck with them and when they are fragmented like mine (looks like a broken egg shell), there is no way to effectively get them off, and I would be in for a lot of frustration. He suggested I find a vinyl shop and have them wrap over them.

Has anyone found an effective way to either remove them or resolve the fouled look?

 

Those are beyond resurrecting. Steamer and adhesive remover with plastic razer blades. Lots of elbow grease.

 

heat gun and a plastic scraper...

look into Xpel protection film... covered my headlights/foglights with it 14 years ago and it still looks new.

 

And a lot of patience. About halfway into this project I began to regret even starting. With the old ones off and with the new "stone guards" on I was glad I tackled the job.



Got mine here.
https://toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota....meT0yMDA3JnQ9cHJlLXJ1bm5lciZlPTQtMGwtdjYtZ2Fz

 

OK get a heat gun put it on low setting or get the wife’s hair dryer and put it on high setting get yourself a plastic razor and go to town it took me 20 minutes to takeoff those

 

You can also try one of these

$14 Wonder Wheel 4" Decal Remover Eraser Wheel Toolkit, Remove Car Decals, Vinyl & Stickers in Minutes, Adhesive Remover Rubber Wheel, Emblem Removal Tool, Sticker Remover for Cars, Drill Adapter Supplied

Amazon.com: Wonder Wheel 4" Decal Remover Eraser Wheel Toolkit, Remove Car Decals, Vinyl & Stickers in Minutes, Adhesive Remover Rubber Wheel, Emblem Removal Tool, Adhesive Eraser, Drill Adapter Supplied : Tools & Home Improvement

 

Any sign shop should be able to do that easy. After all they do re-lettering jobs all the time and have to get the old crap off first. And will likely have newer scratch guard products and much better than the older stuff and put it on as well. EZPZ

 

Thanks for this, glad to see someone who has done it right. From what my body shop guys said it sounded like an impossible task.

Great to hear, thank you.

Actually I already bought one of those to do this task, I just didn't want to get halfway in and find out it was impossible, the way it was all fragmented. I will use a plastic puddy knife like Geeves77 said and this as well. I do have a heat gun. Well I have a small torch, and also a steamer. both maybe just as good. Have you tried this Wonder Wheel on something like this?

 

Applying it is simular to putting on window tint or a good size decal. I use water with small, small amount of baby shampoo and a squeegee. If it was me, I'd stay away from using the small torch. The steamer would be much (safer) better. I use a hair dryer that is left over from the late '70's. I throw nothing away...

Follow up with the end results.

 

Be careful to not melt the rubber moulding between the flare and fender with the heat gun like I did.

 

Definitely doable. I removed mines from my truck. Just takes some time to remove and scrape off. I used GooGone.

 

I will follow up with some pics. By the way, yours looks great. Nice job.

 

Mine are getting pretty bad as well. I'm thinking about changing them out for some other black fender flares.

 

Be very careful with an eraser wheel on plastic parts like bumpers or flares, it can melt them really quickly.

 

I did this on two Tacomas. As said, heat gun and plastic scraper or an old credit card. You'll need some Goo Gone to clean up the remaining glue.

 

I hope to tackle this later in the week, after I replace the drive shaft u-joints. I also have to detail my wife’s car and then my truck. I will use my steamer and if that doesnt work there is a heat gun at Harbor Freight for $17

 

Sorry for reviving an old post, but that should fit the 2012-2015 TRDs right? Looking for replacements, for the 2012 TRD sport but the listing shows 2005-2011

Also found these https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2...Right--Front-BLACK/63045674/5382704010C0.html but have no idea what those images are

 

like many have said heat gun in your warm garage. plastic scraper. Don't go at it like the kid who owned my 90 Toyota before me and removed the "splash" decals with a regular razor blade and sandpaper!

and eraser wheel if you are willing to pay lots of attention to the paint.

 

The clear protectors are vehicle specific. I called and gave them the VIN of my truck to verify what parts I wanted. That's what I suggest you do as well.

The other part goes on the lower corner of the bed. I'll see if I can find a picture of it on my truck.