are FX4 fender flares removable?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
everything is removable... just depends on how you want the truck to look afterward!
The plastic fender flares on the 2004 (my truck) are held on with those plastic Christmas-tree clips. They are pretty much impossible to get out without destroying so you'd have to get new clips. I'm not sure what the paint will look like under the flare... on a 3+ year old truck you might see a difference in color.
The plastic fender flares on the 2004 (my truck) are held on with those plastic Christmas-tree clips. They are pretty much impossible to get out without destroying so you'd have to get new clips. I'm not sure what the paint will look like under the flare... on a 3+ year old truck you might see a difference in color.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 2
From: NJ
Id probably do it only to swap them out for new ones, a friend of mine tried to remove his and sand/dirt definatly gets all in there and leaves marks..You will be able to notice they were removed and the wheel well holes to of course. If it aint broke dont fix it..
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Groveport, OH
I just did this to paint my gloss black on my DSG and its simple, easy, cost effective and not bad at all. Actually the Xmas tree plug holders are only 1 of the 3 ways these are held on.
You need like 3 packets of those from autozone/advanced etc. I think its acutally less but have extras. Then under the flares there are plug holders that go into your body(would leave holes if removed) that then clip into the flare. these do not usually break, but I broke 1 and left it off isntead of getting a new one. Then the front 2 have 2 screws in the flares going through the fender and held on by nuts. Pretty basic really so here goes.
1) you need to get out all the Xmas tree plugs, needle nose pliers and flathead, they will break dont worry, get extras.
2) remove the nuts from the front flares behind the front corner of the fender, right in the tip
3) this gets tricky, the plastic clips that go through your body panels do not come out of the body easily but it makes it easier if they will. Use the flathead screwdriver and take your time not to scratch the paint. Then you just have to pull up and away from the body with them. You ll have to look to see what Im talkinga bout. I broke 1 of these and just really used elbow grease to get them off.
Take your time tho. And yes there looks like an apoxy was applied around the edges of the flares, but it can be removed with a light buff of compound. I waxed behind the flares, painted them, cleared them, and reinstalled them. Looks 10000000 times better. Also remove the pieces like behind the front and rear wheels too that are plastic if you remove the other.
Like I said this will leave holes, so new flares, replacements, or bodywork is a must.
Hope that helps, PM me if you need anything else.
You need like 3 packets of those from autozone/advanced etc. I think its acutally less but have extras. Then under the flares there are plug holders that go into your body(would leave holes if removed) that then clip into the flare. these do not usually break, but I broke 1 and left it off isntead of getting a new one. Then the front 2 have 2 screws in the flares going through the fender and held on by nuts. Pretty basic really so here goes.
1) you need to get out all the Xmas tree plugs, needle nose pliers and flathead, they will break dont worry, get extras.
2) remove the nuts from the front flares behind the front corner of the fender, right in the tip
3) this gets tricky, the plastic clips that go through your body panels do not come out of the body easily but it makes it easier if they will. Use the flathead screwdriver and take your time not to scratch the paint. Then you just have to pull up and away from the body with them. You ll have to look to see what Im talkinga bout. I broke 1 of these and just really used elbow grease to get them off.
Take your time tho. And yes there looks like an apoxy was applied around the edges of the flares, but it can be removed with a light buff of compound. I waxed behind the flares, painted them, cleared them, and reinstalled them. Looks 10000000 times better. Also remove the pieces like behind the front and rear wheels too that are plastic if you remove the other.
Like I said this will leave holes, so new flares, replacements, or bodywork is a must.
Hope that helps, PM me if you need anything else.