This is effectively what I did when I discovered some relatively minor rust starting to form under my trim on my '00 which has only been a summer car for the last 10 years. Removed trim, cleaned up the area and touched up the worst of the rust spots, then loaded the rubber with Fluid Film and pressed it back into place. Since the car will no longer be driven in the rain under my ownership I figure this will stop any new rust from forming and keep what is there at bay. Will inspect and re-coat annually as needed.

Does anyone know where to buy new rubber strips? Mine were cut when the dealer installed side strakes back in 2000. Strakes are long gone and I would like the full strip back.

 

74430-SM4-A00 Protector, Rear Wheel Arch $19.92

When I bought these they were too long and I had to trim them. Has anyone else had to do this? I figure it would be a direct replacement without any modifications needed.

 

Thank you for the replies. What I think I will do is remove the paint (I have to do this anyway because of other issues), try to apply seam sealer to make the pinch weld water-tight (Yes people will say this might cause rust, but the OEM trim has sealant built in! See earlier posts!), trim down the seam sealer, apply POR15 (3 or more coats), apply top coat, and at that point decide on whether or not to keep the old trim.

 

I'd like to add one thing that hasn't been mentioned and that is to also check behind your mud flaps. They are two screws and easy to remove. Even though I had zero rust or problems with my arches and this is a California/Arizona car, behind the mud flaps there were a few small beginnings of rust spots on the surface.

I was surprised at how much debris was in there, and to clean it up, I used a dremel type tool with a steel wire brush to get all the rust out, spray painted it with that gray automotive primer and rust inhibitor, then used the 3M black goop I described earlier to seal it all up.

tl/dr: remove mud flaps and inspect for rust.

 

I'll second this advice. Had my rubber flaps off this fall, and there was a fair amount of crap behind them. Cleaned everything up, sprayed some Corrosion Free undercoating, and reinstalled the flaps.

 

Wouldn't it make more sense to apply por15 first? Its intended to go onto bare metal. Painting on top of seam sealer seems to be the wrong way around.

I would further that since por15 is rather think, it will do a decent job of sealing the pinch welded seam between inner and outer fender. Just goop it in there with a brush that will get it into the nooks in the seam. Lay it on kinda thick.

Then if it seems like it could help, apply seam sealer on top of that, along with the restof your well considered plan.