Damaged Skidz flare

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:43 pm

Am I the first to crack a flare?

I am not sure how it happened-

There must have been some stress at that screw.

It was not hit, unless by a rock in the tire tread.

Justin, If you run some flares I would appreciate a left rear replacement being produced. At your convenience of course. I am not in a bind. PM me when you come up with one. Don't bust a set and screw up a full set being sold.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:04 pm

Brule,

It is hard to tell where this is at. Maybe a description of passenger/driver side, front/rear and an arrow?

Reed

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:30 pm

Bottom back inside left rear flare.

bubaloo1983 · Post by **bubaloo1983** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:18 pm

wierd,

i havent seen it, i smack my flare sall the time when im wheeling and havent cracked it. interesting. yah i can drop you a flare in a bit.

bubaloo1983 · Post by **bubaloo1983** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:22 pm

once i have the last 2 sets sold im thinking of keeping a set for spares so you can have that one

the guy on ebay who bought a set never paid so im back to 3 sets left.

04crewvt · Post by **04crewvt** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:41 pm

I had the chance to try out the disconnected sway bar. The flip forward and capped hooks storage worked great. Easy and simple. The truck did feel a little "mushy" on the highway, but nothing scary. Offroad it floated nicely over the terrain. It definitely allows the suspension to move more than it would have connected. I actually rubbed a front tire on the flare. I was going a little fast over a hard twist and just bumped the flare. This was a first since the cut-outs. I may have had the wheel turned slightly when it rubbed?

Any chance this was your problem?

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:08 pm

04crewvt wrote:
... I actually rubbed a front tire on the flare...
Any chance this was your problem?

Nope. Not only was it already this way before that trip, but it was a front flare that rubbed in that case, and they are fine.
There is no way that the tire could touch the flare at this point on the rear.

Flexing of the body is a possibility though.

I actually found the crack while cleaning up for the trip a few weeks ago. It just took until now for things to settle down to the point I could share a photo and discuss it

Steve2003 · Post by **Steve2003** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:24 pm

I have been having problems with mine also,when going up to the mountains at about 8000 ft in the winter and about 18 dagrees, to go sking, my flares are warping and twisting....I took them off and re-installed them and put screws every two inches....it helped a little butt they are still pulling away from the fender....I have no idea why....they don't do this down the hill....I don't blame Justin but I'm thinking of taking mine off and putting on rhinoliner....they are starting to look like sh__t.

Post by **Walt** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:03 pm

Brule, judging by that crack, it looks to me like the screw might be the culprit.

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 3:45 am

I looked a little closer this time. Things are worse than I first thought.

Left front, 1 broken out:

Left rear, 2 cracking:

Right rear, 5 cracking:

I am afraid there is a problem. These are way too brittle.

Over ten years on a set of Bushwackers and never had problems like this in a set that is only a year old.

I can think of some ways to help the situation. The problem may be that the material expands and contracts too much. Mine may have been just a bad piece of material and became too brittle, but we can still take steps to prevent this in other installations.

It may be a good idea to add double stick adhesive foam emblem tape between the flare and body metal to allow for expansion and contraction, drill the holes for the screws oversized , add rubber , nylon or foam washers and reinstall.

I have pulled my references to the install as well as the mod page temporarily. Those who have yet to install I would suggest waiting until some issues can be resolved. Those who have already installed, I would suggest a close inspection and consider some steps to prevent problems in the future.

Stay tuned for more information.

Steve2003 · Post by **Steve2003** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:15 am

OH sh##!

I better have a close look at mine....they flex quite a bit when I go up the mountains to go sking!

bubaloo1983 · Post by **bubaloo1983** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:26 am

although this could be a bad batch as henrys are original non production parts i recomend less screws. henryJ may disagree with me on this but my flares only have 5 screws on the fronts and 6 on the backs. HJ has double that. although this does not justify anything that has gone wrong with his set it could be a way to prevent something like this from happening to another as mine are the oldest set and i have no issues. again lessen the screw count and widen the holes and use the washer comb HJ has stated. I have talked to my supplier about the material and cant get anything out of them rigt now as they just call it impact and not material issues. Again as i move on from this it sucks that this is happening, but hopefully its a one of because i dont have the machinery ect to do these anymore. With that said lower your screw count instal them tighter to the body ( have a friend hold the up so they dont pull away from the fender) and you should be fine

Steve2003 · Post by **Steve2003** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:50 am

I just checked mine and they all look fine!

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:15 am

HenryJ wrote:It may be a good idea to add double stick adhesive foam emblem tape between the flare and body metal to allow for expansion and contraction, drill the holes for the screws oversized , add rubber , nylon or foam washers and reinstall.

These are all excellent ideas which should help prevent others from running into the same problem. I have 3 years experience molding plastic from a previous job and IMO there are only 2 possibilities besides the screws that could cause this problem. The first is very obvious (inferior material), and the second is the (molding temperature) which may have been too high.

Steve

bubaloo1983 · Post by **bubaloo1983** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:00 am

so im hoping that the first set was bad and the rest are fine

anyway...

Post by **Walt** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:06 am

bubaloo1983 wrote:so im hoping that the first set was bad and the rest are fine

anyway...

Any update on a resolution to this?

bubaloo1983 · Post by **bubaloo1983** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:31 pm

i sent him replacements that i had made for him and its pretty much been determined that his set were faultly parts bad forming and are one of a kind.

Post by **Walt** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:33 pm

bubaloo1983 wrote:i sent him replacements that i had made for him and its pretty much been determined that his set were faultly parts bad forming and are one of a kind.

Whew....that makes me feel better. That Brule's were lemons and that you took care of a customer

You da man Justin.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:48 pm

They are not being replaced free of charge. The supplier denies any responsibility. Right now Justin and his supplier are blaming me for the defective installation. I will no longer be offering my expertise and assistance. The product has a problem. That is evident to me.

If yours are not cracking yet, I would suggest removal, add double stick foam tape between the flare and body metal to allow for expansion and contraction, drill the holes oversized , add rubber , nylon or foam washers and reinstall.

You may not want to listen to me though since Justin believes that five screws per flare are all that should be used, and my installation using more was the reason the flares cracked.

Use your best judgement.

I am glad that I will be able to purchase a pair for the rear. The front flare will have to go as long as it can since the flare Justin has is damaged.

I am still playing wait and see. I will have more information when I have the defective flares off and can inspect them closer, as well as make a change or two in the installation to better compensate for the expansion and contraction these seem to have or to act as preemptive measures should they be brittle.

Post by **Walt** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:02 pm

HenryJ wrote:They are not being replaced free of charge. The supplier denies any responsibility.

Ouch...

Post by **HenryJ** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 1:53 pm

Replacements arrived today. I paypal'd Justin the cost of the flares as per our agreement.

I don't remember the inner part of the flare being this thin? I'll have more thoughts when I get a chance to make the swap.

bubaloo1983 · Post by **bubaloo1983** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:29 am

my material supplier is kinda being a "bad word". They are not taking my claim for the material being bad. its really annoying im still fighting with them.

Steve2003 · Post by **Steve2003** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:46 am

It must be the material....when I go sking I'm at an altitude of 7500ft.... and mine expand and contract or (flex) about 2 inches....so I put screws every two inches and that helped alot and I don't have any cracks at all so far. (cross my fingers).

Post by **Walt** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:47 am

Steve, can you get some pics next time you go? I'm really curious to see what happens.

Steve2003 · Post by **Steve2003** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:55 am

They really don't do it to much since I put more screws in....also I was wandering if the cold had anything to do with the flexing.... This coming winter I will take some pics.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Fri May 11, 2007 3:59 pm

So, what is the verdict on your second install with your modifications? I am going on a year now with a little larger gaps appearing but, are holding up ok.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri May 11, 2007 4:06 pm

f9k9 wrote:So, what is the verdict on your second install with your modifications?

I haven't done the install yet. The cracks have reached the outside now. They are not to the point of flopping around yet though.
Other tasks have taken priority thus far.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Fri May 11, 2007 5:34 pm

HenryJ wrote:................Other tasks have taken priority thus far.

Understood

Thanks for the update, Brule

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:31 am

Would I install Skidz flares again or buy another set?

There are some problems to consider. If you have a ZR5, or the stock faux flares on the back. You will have a rubbed line visible that the Skidz flares will not cover.
If they crack or get damaged you will not be able to get replacements.

Mine are cracked bad. They are not falling off and not that noticeable to the top side yet.

There is no way I could run a 33" tire without the cuts made to install the flares and there is no going back afterward. If there are no flares available as replacements, I can run without them. I would probably bedliner the area around where the flares were and the rockers, to run without.

Would I buy a set again? Yes.

Mine have been the only set that I know of to crack. Being an early set they may have been overheated or bad material, who knows. As with any modification there are risks. Are you willing to live with the consequences if it goes bad?