Rear Fender/Rocker Maintenance:
By: NorCalBorn

Ok, so most of us who have second gen 4Runners know almost all the quirks of our vehicles.

This was a recommended upkeep item on my list, so I figured,
“Why not shoot pictures and post it up for others to use?”

Materials:
~Short/Stubby #2 Phillips ScrewDriver
~1” wide Putty Knife
~Toyota (or equivalent sealant) FIPG
~Spray Washer~If Available
~Wash Bucket
~Scrub Brush
~Simple Green
~Rubbing Alcohol
~Painter’s Tape
~Terrycloth Towel, NOT A SHOP RAG as Rubbing Alcohol causes ‘em to bleed on you and your rig.

Time Needed:
Aproximately an hour if the bodywork’s good, but a day for the FIPG to cure.

Difficulty:
Mid-Range, only because of the possibiity a novice/rookie
could break the plastic trim piece or plastic body mounts.
They’re inexpensive though.

Now, onto the fun part!!!

~First thing, get out and wash your rig as best possible.
*A spray washer helps immensely.

~OK, take out the 3 stainless steel screws holding the plastic trim panel in place.

~Now, if you’re lucky/unlucky enough, all of your 3-M tape’s gone bad.

BEFORE PULLING DOWN...

Carefully use a plastic putty knife, preferably the smaller 1” blade style,
and break loose the 3-M tape, you won’t be reusing it.

~Once the tapes loose, CAREFULLY, while pressing lightly inwards, press down,
and the panel should pop free of the two plastic body clips.

If you look closely, at the top, you can see where the 3-M tape’s
falling off the bodypanel, as it’s all clean after the wash.

This is why this needs to be done, you can see I already started on the one below’s cleaning.
You don’t wanna see the pile of sludge that fell on the ground.

~Clean up both the trim panel, and the rocker/fender.
~Clean off the 3-M tape from the body using rubbing alcohol.
~Put on some wax so as to keep it all clean.

Here’s where you find out if you’ve body work to attend to, luckily I didn’t.
It’s a pretty clean rig. :)

OK, now that it’s all cleaned up, use the putty knife to remove any remains
of the 3-M tape and prep the piece and the body w/ rubbing alcohol.

~Lay about a 1/8” high bead of FIPG on both areas you’ve prepped, trying
to stay about 1/4” in from the edges to prevent any excess from getting all over.

~Place the panel on in the reverse motion used to remove.
~Secure the screws.
~Remove excess FIPG using a rag and a light amount of rubbing alcohol.
~Allow to flash dry.
~Secure panel for setting using the painter’s tape.

Smile at yourself in the nearest passenger window, knowing you’ve prevented all the dirt/muck from becoming rust.

Happy Trails!! Enjoy!!