The aftermarket splitter on my car has several rock chips and a few scuff marks that a simple touch up won't fix. I've taken it to a couple reputable body shops and it's simply not cost effective to have them fix it.

Since I have nothing to lose by fixing it myself, what is the best approach to repainting a fiberglass splitter? Can I sand it down to the fiberglass or would it require using chemical strippers? If sanding is possible, what grit is recommended?

 

It depends to what level of quality you want to take this repair.

I can only assume that it can be sanded...but a lot of that depends on how thick the paint is and how many coats may be on it.

Are you planning on using aerosol paint on it???

The grits used can vary and that is all due to what is going on that I can not see or need you to describe.

DUB

 

To put it in perspective, it was $600 painted new. Two reputable shops quoted between 450 and 600 to strip and paint. So I'm willing to give it a shot with aerosol as I had decent success with other parts in the past.

I was thinking of getting the primer, base and clear from automotivetouchup.com.

 

Thanks for the photos....they were MUCH needed.

From what I can see..those chips look pretty deep...meaning the paint is rather thick.

Am I correct???

IF they are deep...keep this in mind.

when 'feathering out' a chip and the paint and primer is thick...the feathering will have to be taken back away from the chip quite a ways so when you feel it...hopefully you can not feel where you feathered it back. If this is not done correctly...then a divot will be able to be seen.

NOW...when the feathering is taken back...then there is a chance that the layers of material that you feathered back are now very wide. Much like a topographical map.

And these exposed layers can come back and be seen in time due to how they will react differently ( in many cases) to the product that is applied to it in time.

On the edges it will not be so noticeable...but a chip in the middle of a large flat area...THAT is where this REALLY comes into play. And often times it is better to fill that chip with a catalyzed glazing putty instead of trying to feather out the paint. The same hold true to really small chips.

It is so hard to tell you what to actually do...sometimes I stop and figure in what it will take to sand and fill areas ...versus stripping it all the way down and priming it again.

DUB

 

I was thinking about completely striping it it. I assume that means chemical for that much area instead of sanding.

 

It all depends. Maybe chemical will work..and then again it may not.

DUB