QUOTE(barefoot @ Feb 16 2021, 08:39 AM)
QUOTE(Superhawk996 @ Feb 15 2021, 08:54 AM)
Now the other question is whether fiberglas flares flex and cause paint cracking (over time) . . . . that is most certainly a YES. I have fiberglass flares on my chassis and I can see the evidence of the flexing on one side. I will eventually migrate to steel flares when I completely strip the body to go back to OEM color. I hate red cars but that will be a while before I get to a repaint.
I expect seeing evidence of cracked paint at the glass to steel joint is mainly due to differential thermal expansion & not to structural flexure.
The coefficient of thermal expansion of glass filled polyester is several times higher than carbon steel. Cars parked in southern sun get pretty warm !
I agree that the thermal expansion delta between steel and fiberglass is a long term issue.
However, I also see light cracking / checking on one side that is entirely over the fiberglass portion.
Maybe from people leaning on it during maintenace while hanging into engine compartment? It's definately not paint adhesion issue. Also see a light hairline paint crack up at the transitoion to the sail panel (at the rear) that I belive might be from the mass of the flare being shaken back and forth cross car from road impacts. Nothing major, but I don't belive any of this would occur with steel flares.
I can try to get some pictures, but suspect they won't photo well, they are very small and depend on the lighting as to whether they are visible or not.