cleaning plastic stone guards
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Track Day
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 23
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From: dayton, ohio
cleaning plastic stone guards
The plastic rear stone guards on my car are needing a good cleanup. They are scratched and a little pitted. No doubt they are doing their job. I know they can be easily replaced, but would like to clean them up a bit. I used to use meguires plastic polish on my miata rear window with pretty good results. Any suggestions about what to use? thanks
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Upstate NY
Pierre,
Your Meguires should work fine. Any plastic cleaner or polish will help "doll up" the rear fender stone guards.
I use Plexus (spray) and Permatex Plastic cleaner for all things clear plastic or plexi on the airplane and 993. Both work well - the Permatex polishes and will fill and remove some swirl marks and scratches. I buy both from Aircraft Spruce in GA.
The Plexus is their p/n 09-29710, the Permatex is their p/n 403D. Aircraft Spruce is at 877-4-SPRUCE or they have an on-line ordering site.
As you said, the rear stone guards are doing their job by getting beat up. If your car has 15,000 miles or more on it, you may want to just peel off and replace them. You won't get rid of the big scratches and pitting any other way.
Invincashield sells the replacement rear fender guards as part of their kit #3611 (1995 to 1998 narrow body) for $76 per set. It is item #12 of their kit. These are good quality and easy to install. They actually cover a slightly larger area than the Porsche fender guards.
Your Meguires should work fine. Any plastic cleaner or polish will help "doll up" the rear fender stone guards.
I use Plexus (spray) and Permatex Plastic cleaner for all things clear plastic or plexi on the airplane and 993. Both work well - the Permatex polishes and will fill and remove some swirl marks and scratches. I buy both from Aircraft Spruce in GA.
The Plexus is their p/n 09-29710, the Permatex is their p/n 403D. Aircraft Spruce is at 877-4-SPRUCE or they have an on-line ordering site.
As you said, the rear stone guards are doing their job by getting beat up. If your car has 15,000 miles or more on it, you may want to just peel off and replace them. You won't get rid of the big scratches and pitting any other way.
Invincashield sells the replacement rear fender guards as part of their kit #3611 (1995 to 1998 narrow body) for $76 per set. It is item #12 of their kit. These are good quality and easy to install. They actually cover a slightly larger area than the Porsche fender guards.
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From: Atlanta
If you decide to peel off the old stone guards, what is the recommended method for putting on new ones? I haven't been very successful when it comes to applying adhesive backed products to my car.
Hank
Hank
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Hank,
I removed mine during a hot summer day, first spraying with Wurth Degreaser, let the degreaser set for about 30minutes, and caught edge and peeled it back in a 45 degree angle very slowly.
I clean with Zebra spray and than wax with P21.
I removed mine during a hot summer day, first spraying with Wurth Degreaser, let the degreaser set for about 30minutes, and caught edge and peeled it back in a 45 degree angle very slowly.
I clean with Zebra spray and than wax with P21.
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From: Milwaukee, WI
You can't really remove the pitting and make them look new. Like someone else said, after a few 10's of Kmiles you're ready for a new set, particularly in a dark colored car.
Heat them up with halogen ligths or heat gun (low setting); you just want to get them as hot as they would under full sun in a hot day, not melt them. The following is difficult to explain: pull them as if you were trying to have it slide off in the direction of pull, not doubling over itself and back. Not sure if you can visualize what I'm describing. In this way less adhesive remains (which is a PITA to remove)
Heat them up with halogen ligths or heat gun (low setting); you just want to get them as hot as they would under full sun in a hot day, not melt them. The following is difficult to explain: pull them as if you were trying to have it slide off in the direction of pull, not doubling over itself and back. Not sure if you can visualize what I'm describing. In this way less adhesive remains (which is a PITA to remove)
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Upstate NY
Hank,
The Invincashield product really does not have an "adhesive". You lay the piece on with a soapy water solution and squeege the solution out. I think they may have a demo video at their website, www.invinca-shield.com.
I've installed many of their pieces and the rear fender RH and LH was the easiest of all. Invincashield will supply everthing you need and a installation video if you are a first time installer. Just follow their video and written instructions. It really is very easy to do.
One comment that others have made is that Invincashiled supplies a plastic squeege that tends to leave marks on the plastic film. Ask them for a rubber edge squeege instead.
The Invincashield product really does not have an "adhesive". You lay the piece on with a soapy water solution and squeege the solution out. I think they may have a demo video at their website, www.invinca-shield.com.
I've installed many of their pieces and the rear fender RH and LH was the easiest of all. Invincashield will supply everthing you need and a installation video if you are a first time installer. Just follow their video and written instructions. It really is very easy to do.
One comment that others have made is that Invincashiled supplies a plastic squeege that tends to leave marks on the plastic film. Ask them for a rubber edge squeege instead.
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