GU flares

Hi Junior,

Don't know about after market gear, but how much are the genuine ones?

Thanks,

Aaron.

When I was quoted approx $900 per wheel after ripping one set off on the first weekend out in the scrub. Second set got wiped off by Skippy. I just fixed them.

I went to Nissan and bought all new clips (2 types) and then set to work on the flares. Here's the trick. Line up the busted bits that the clips slot into with the corresponding flare.

Get a soldering iron and throroghly 'scallop' the inside surfaces so it has a sort of rough fish scale pattern. Now put it together and 'weld' the two outer bits together by smearing the molten plastic from one side to the other using the soldering iron again.

Once you have an assembled unit, get a fresh tube of Liquid Nails and fill the inside of the fittings, always being careful not to get air pockets. This will partially adhere the two bit together and will also 'key' into the fish scales and set. There you go.

I have done two sets of flares this way and found them to be stronger than the puny original clips (which are paper thin in places). This method changes nothing in terms of attachment, just makes the brackets / clips as strong as they should have been from the factory.

People will tell you it wont work.........it will.

Good luck!

A friend just fitted a fibreglass set from TJM.They were approx.$750 and seem to look OK.-Steve

Junior,

Firstly I have to say I like V8Diesels "fix" especially since the flare is busted anyway so nothing to lose by having a go. The flare over the drivers side passenger door on our GU has been broken for awhile (at the clip) but as you say price of genuine replacement is absurd so we simply haven't bothered. Anyway, last week I had a little disagreement with a sign post and the Nissan came off second best. The drivers side rear bumper was busted and adjacent flare deeply gauged so both being replaced under insurance. I asked the panel beater to check the other broken flare whilst he was at it. He said they have a glue/putty type stuff similiar to that black stuff used in windscreen fitments which they can use on the broken flare. If nothing else it will stop it flapping about. Other than that, to replace altogether he reckoned about $150-$200 much cheaper than Nissan quoted so it may be worth your while getting some quotes through panel beaters rather than Nissan. If the glue thing doesn't work I might give V8's idea a go.

:o) Melissa