Anyone have any experience with painting the urethane ground fx peices?? Here's the problem...i've had the wings west front and rear ground fx peices for awhile now, and when i first got them, i had a shop paint them before I installed them. But they did a crappy job and after a short time, the paint started flaking off. So, i go out and get some automotive paint & primer from carparts, sanded pretty much the whole thing down, primed it and painted it. It was my first time painting anything, but it turned out pretty good. I did the wet sanding and clear coated that thing a bunch of times. However, it only lasted for like 2 weeks!!! And the sad part its, i only drove it one of those weeks...it was just sitting at home for the second. THe paint just flaked off...all the way down to the black urethane. So this time i took it to the bodyshop that painted my rksport side skirts when i first bought the car, the paint has never chipped off the side skirts after that shop painted them (they are also urethane correct?) . But their paint job only lasted 2-3 months before the paint started cracking and chipping again. And it always seems to start in the same area...around that inlet/openening on the passenger side...so it's not really from bottoming out (i've long since mastered the art of the angles when going up inclines...and if they are too steep I don't even attempt it) Also the rear peice chips in the center, between where the 2 exahust tips are. Is there some special primer or way to prep urethane before you paint it so it stays on?? Am i the only person that's having this chronic problem with the WW front ground fx?? Thanx in advance for any help.

 

Painting these parts is not difficult but does require specific cleaners, primers, and paints.
Of particular importance is the "flex agent" or plasticizer that is added to the paint. This keeps the paint flexable so it does not crack or flake off. There is also a special cleaner for prepping the polyurethane.

Call, write, or fax WW have have complete instruction on doing this plus recommended products.

 

thanx for your help...i'll email ww to see what they have to say. I just found it strange that the bodyshop that painted my sideskirts (which have never chipped/flaked) couldn't do the same for the front and rear. From what i've read from other ppl, most ppl don't have problems with the paint coming off the ground fx. I had no idea before this and the search that there was a special prepping agent and a flexing agent to add to it...the bodyshop that did the a$$ paint job originally, said that these "rubber peices always flex and the paint is bound to chip and flake off..." It sounded like BS to me, but it only cost me $100, and I didn't think it would come off so soon. Anyways thanx again for the reply

 

Yeah, the shop needs to use an adhesive promoter/flex agent/tie coat in the paint, the product we use in my shop is called Bulldog, works great. We prep those pieces as follows: wipe thourgly with wax and grease remover, scuff with grey scotchbrite pad and comet cleanser, wash, apply adhesive promoter, followed by paint with some of the flex agent in each batch, never have any problems, unless they hit something, like a car, deer, curb, etc.

 

That 's why all the Camaro's you've seen are like that,..right??
Also the cleaning agent need to have silicate remover in it.

 

lownslocamaro,
Where can I get a hold of these products? (such as Bulldog?) So Bulldog is both an adhesive promoter and flex agent in one? And is it also the same stuff that you mix in with the paint on each coat? I don't know if I want to attempt this on my own, due the lack in equipment & experience, but i'll talk to the bodyshop guy.

BTW: This is off topic, but how are the C5 tail panels coming along? (maybe i'll just post this in that thread later)

Anyways, thanks for all your help

 

Bulldog is an adhesion promoter, flex agent, and a tie coat. Its often thought of as a clear primer. You can spray it right on your flexible part, and mix it in both your color and your clear to maintain flexablity. It works great. Do not attempt this if you have no experience. You can buy these products at your local paint store, if they will sell to you, these products are for "professional use only." Any decent body shop will have this and use it regularly on flexible parts.

The C5 panel, well, ask me this weekend, I MIGHT have something to show you guys.

Patrick