Side bar refurb.......

Hamlet · Jan 5, 2015

I'm thinking of doing a job on my sidebars, they're the originals in the original colour, overall good condition but a little paint wear at the drivers door.

First question, anyone know what they're made of???

Aluminium???

If so has anyone tried cleaning them down and polishing them, then perhaps a coat or 2 of lacquer???

Or has anyone repainted them, I'm thinking of going silver!!!
(I'm sure someone posted pics of this, and roof bars, recently but can't find them)

It's a black D40 with chrome A bar and standard rear bumper....

All suggestions considered and welcomed...........

Hamlet · Jan 5, 2015

Hamlet said:
I'm sure someone posted pics of this, and roof bars, recently but can't find themquote]

And by recently I mean 4 and a half years ago........

Just found this......

http://www.nissan-navara.net/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=11478&hilit=primed

gfromleeds · Jan 5, 2015

Mine are repainted body colour black
I didn't do it, it was like that when I bought it, (them and the roof bars)
But they seem to be wereing well!

Hamlet · Jan 6, 2015

Thanks G......

Anyone know what they're make from???

Aluminium???

Hamlet · Jan 10, 2015

So it turns out the bars are aluminium!!!

I've decided to strip them and have a go at polishing them!!!

This is what a section looked like after about 5 mins sanding and a quick go with a polisher and just rubbing compound!!!

I'll strip them and have a go at polishing them with maybe metal polish or aluminium polishing compound and my polisher!!!

A cheaper option then a new set of chrome or stainless steel bars!!!

Happy with the results so far.......

Hamlet · Jan 10, 2015

Another one......

gfromleeds · Jan 10, 2015

Think bare aluminium need lacquer other wise it will dull

Hamlet · Jan 10, 2015

gfromleeds said:
Think bare aluminium need lacquer other wise it will dull

I think you're right, just seeing what kind of a finish I can get first. Might leave them for a while then to see how long they last between polishes but I'm expecting to have to give them a few coats!!!

tadhgocuilleain · Jan 11, 2015

Unprotected aluminium will tarnish very quickly, especially in this weather with salt etc on the roads. Even give them a coat of good wax to seal them from the elements if you don't feel like lacquering them.

Mathewh09 · Jan 11, 2015

gfromleeds said:
Mine are repainted body colour black
I didn't do it, it was like that when I bought it, (them and the roof bars)
But they seem to be wereing well!

Hi mate, you got any pics of your truck? Was thinking of doing this but wasn't sure how it would look.

Thanks

gfromleeds · Jan 11, 2015

I can do but she's filthy at the moment lol

gfromleeds · Jan 11, 2015

Hamlet · Jan 18, 2015

So after stripping one of the bars, sanding and polishing, this is the result ready to be fitted!!!

Pretty happy with the results and the finish.
The bar is slightly mottled in places so takes a bit of sanding to smooth it out but overall a good result!!!

I haven't treated it in any way yet, just going to throw it back on and see how long the finish lasts, maybe a coat of wax polish but am expecting to have to give it a few coats of lacquer to protect it!!!

A cheap conversion to a chrome look!!!

carlstoke · Jan 18, 2015

What you polishing them with mate I find autosol does a good job I did my alloy under the bonnet of my Scooby :thumbright:

Hamlet · Jan 18, 2015

carlstoke said:
What you polishing them with mate I find autosol does a good job I did my alloy under the bonnet of my Scooby :thumbright:

I have these fitted to an angle grinder and two types of polishing bars!!!

gfromleeds · Jan 18, 2015

Looks good but I'm betting it's gone gray within a month without protection!
Could look good on the roof bars too?

Hamlet · Jan 18, 2015

gfromleeds said:
Looks good but I'm betting it's gone gray within a month without protection!
Could look good on the roof bars too?

Ya, if I had roof bars.....

If the bars were made of aluminium I'd definitely be going down that road too, I think they probably are!!!

Hamlet · Jan 24, 2015

And fitted.......

lookskyward1 · Jan 24, 2015

Very nice 8) 8)

Hamlet · Jan 24, 2015

lookskyward1 said:
Very nice 8) 8)

Thanks.......

I hadn't seen it done before, was actually surprised they were aluminium, I'm really happy with the results, came up really well but no doubt they will dull and will need a few coats of lacquer, a bit of work involved but well worth if for the look......

gfromleeds · Jan 25, 2015

If you take them to a body shop I bet they'll clear coat them for not alot

Markyt1984 · Feb 11, 2015

Hamlet said:
So after stripping one of the bars, sanding and polishing, this is the result ready to be fitted!!!

Pretty happy with the results and the finish.
The bar is slightly mottled in places so takes a bit of sanding to smooth it out but overall a good result!!!

I haven't treated it in any way yet, just going to throw it back on and see how long the finish lasts, maybe a coat of wax polish but am expecting to have to give it a few coats of lacquer to protect it!!!

A cheap conversion to a chrome look!!!

Is this the result of the standard bar!! :awesomework I'm well impressed, what did you use to sand it back to that finish?

Hamlet · Feb 11, 2015

Hi Mark, ya, these are the standard bars. I just stripped them back with a sanding pad on a small angle grinder or sander and an orbital sander working down to a very fine 2500 grit wet and dry and then used the polishing pads and polish on page 2.

Word of warning if you're doing this, go easy when removing the initial paint, the metal is aluminium so obviously a bit soft so try not to mark it too much as scratched will be visible when you polish it after.

When you initially remove the paint you may find the metal is slightly dimpled underneath and will take a bit of work to get rid of all the black dimples or spots and get it down to a smooth clean surface.

As with anything like this it's all about the preparation and will take a bit of time and work going all the way down to a very fine sand paper before polishing, but worth it in the end.

Here's a video that might help, cheers.......

[youtube:22qxe7hp]gyOodLNI4BQ[/youtube:22qxe7hp]

Garagedood · Feb 11, 2015

I have a silver D40 and painted the side steps and roof rails with rattle can alloy wheel silver from halfords with a couple of coats of lacquer on top, very happy with the result. Looks the same as the car body colour. The reason for the refurb was a scraped step on the drivers side ( swapped the sides over so the scrape was on the inside ) and peeling powder coat on the snugtop rails.

13en · Feb 11, 2015

looks good :awesomework i done loads of polishing on my cosworth and my wifes bike

takes a while but with some hard work and time you get a great result, i wouldn't lacquer them as the lacquer make them look dull.

Hamlet · Feb 12, 2015

13en said:
looks good :awesomework i done loads of polishing on my cosworth and my wifes bike

takes a while but with some hard work and time you get a great result, i wouldn't lacquer them as the lacquer make them look dull.

I haven't lacquered my bars yet, not sure if I'm going to bother. As you say it might make them look dull and then they would have to be completely stripped to re do them, I'd also be worried that it may start to peel and would look ****.

Obviously they're pretty exposed to the elements but I think a quick go with the buffer every now and then will keep them right........

Side bar refurb.......

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