Painting/Replacing Cladding on Jeep (best, buying, replace, Cherokee)

[Berrie143]

Hi! So my husband and I own an '03 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo in the Bright Sliver Metallic color with dark grey plastic cladding. The side cladding is in good shape but the back bumper cladding has started to peel and flake away. We'd like to either replace it all or paint it all to freshen it up. Where would we be able to get a good deal on buying new cladding? Or, if we choose to paint it, what's the best way to go about it? TIA!

[Electrician4you]

Since its plastic the paint will need a special flex agent. The plastic will need a adhesion promoter. A body shop should be able to take care of it for 150-200 bucks.

[eddiehaskell]

I would paint it. Just spend a few hours masking off the paint. A place that sells automotive paint could tell you everything you need to know. You'll probably just take a fine grit sandpaper and sand everything down. Then clean it good with a grease/wax remover. Since it's plastic, spray on an adhesion promotor (without this the paint could crack and peel off if the plastic ever bends) then prime it (flexible primer) and paint it with 3 or 4 coats and a few coats of clear. The paint store will be able to match the factory color with a spray paint. The main thing is getting everything prepped so the paint will stick. It shouldn't take more than 4 hours to do everything (waiting 10-15 minutes between coats or paint).