I searched and read the the FAQ's but couldn't find an answer.

I've got a 1998 4Runner SR5 with factory chrome/rubber wheel arch mouldings and running boards. Are they holding up the inner fenders or anything like that? Can I remove them without screwing something else up or leaving holes in the body?

This isn't my truck but those are the wheel arch mouldings I've got.

 

IMO, you have the best looking trim option (the chrome fender lining) for taking off the running boards. I would take the R/Bs off and leave the fender trim on like the one pictured if it was mine. Most if not all the time, the paint and/or clear coat is scratched under the moldings anyways and it looks like crap unless you re-paint it. But yes, you can take the molding off w/o screwing up your wheel well liners.

 

If anything, just paint the chrome part or Rhinoline it.

OT: brian2sun - That's a funny quote!

 

i took mine off looks much better now there well be holes but i just put the screws i took off back in

 

Thanks for the input guys.

Do you mean that there are holes in the painted sheet metal, or just in the underside of the wheel opening?

 

just under side of the wheel openings

 

I reused these holes to mount some mudflaps.

 

The mudflaps from Toyota are spendy. I searched around for used ones and couldn't find much. There are after market-and really with all the damage to my 4runner...do I care?

I do care because on occasion, a rock will whack the door loud enough to make me wince.

 

I'd like to swap out the black plastic moulding that came on my 96 for the chrome bits, so if you want to get rid of yours, let me know (assuming it would just bolt on to mine, which I figure they must).

 

I'm going to take off the running boards this weekend and I'll take a look to see if I like them any better then.

 

My 95 didn't have the R/B but I did have the chrome strips. I had to remove them because the tires got a hold of them and started removing them for me on the last run. I took off the factory mud flaps before we went to play because they would have been removed on the trail and they were also holding mud and gunk and started to rust the fenders and the quarters. She's got a bit of cancer and the pretty's helped make the mess so off with the pretty's.

 

Just my opinion, but your rig would probably look the best with the chrome strips on and with the running boards removed. All T4Rs look much better without the boards.

The only downside to not having them is that extra crap accumulates on the side of the truck.