I currently have 2.5" spacers up front waiting till I can find some tundra coils. I put 285's on a while back and they would rub on the frame at full lock and sometimes on the pinch weld and lower plastic bumper faring while turning and compressing. Decided I was tired of rubbing the frame so I got some LC rims... fixed the frame rubbing but now the pinch weld is rubbing even worse (as I should have expected). I think I can deal with the bumper, I cut some of the faring off so its not as bad, but the pinch weld is killing me.

I have seen a lot of people recommending pounding it down with a hammer and trimming the plastic liner... Is this the best thing to do? Would it be better to grind the weld down flat instead of possibly warping something else by pounding on it with a hammer?

For the plastic trim, if I cut that, it will just spray mud and water and stuff through to where I pounded down the metal and just cause more rust issues behind there where I cant clean it out. Anything I can patch it with or replace it with? and any secret to getting those darn little plastic fasteners out? I have destroyed a couple and not sure how much they cost to replace, but they are a PITA to get out.

 

Are they the plastic rivet doohickeys? If they are, I got myself a special tool to pull mine out. It like a two pronged fork that slips under it and applies even pressure around the plastic head when you pry it up. I Purchased mine at an automotive paint store.

 

Yeah, I think it is the plastic rivet doohickey you are talking about. They look round from the outside but the part that sticks in is actually square.

 

Okay if you don't have an auto paint store with one I'm sure a auto body shop could tell you where you could get one if not let you use one of theirs for a minute. it's worth getting the right tool. It makes it sooo much easier. I wonder if a Schucks type store has one to rent?