{"product_id":"diamond-plate-fender-covers-copy","title":"Diamond Plate Fender Covers Black Cerakote","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiamond plate\/checker plate fender covers for the Ineos Grenadier — custom made right here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. These add a great look, increase fender strength, and provide a non-slip surface. Available in Graphite Black Cerakote ceramic coating to match the vehicle’s aesthetic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWe Paused Production — And Brought It Back Better\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe stopped making these for a period of time because this is a surprisingly difficult part to manufacture correctly. When we brought them back, we made meaningful upgrades to the process. There is no cutting corners on something that goes on your vehicle. That means a lot of scrap material, extra processes, and extra time are now required to make these fender plates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe diamond plate aluminum has a tendency to warp during fabrication, and any plate that doesn’t meet our standards gets scrapped. Surface defects are common on this material so any cut plates with defects get scrapped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery laser-cut plate now goes through our CNC mill where we clean up the edges with a 45-degree chamfer to soften and refine them. The result is a much cleaner, more finished part.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe now Cerakote instead of powder coat because it provides a more durable finish with superior UV stability, scratch-resistance, solvent-resistance, and better paint adhesion to the metal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe hope you love the improved product. We are constantly striving to make functional upgrades for your car, not just esthetic ones. As materials and processes improve, so do our products. Unfortunately that sometimes comes with cost increases which is the case for this product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy We Switched to Cerakote\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur original powder coat finish needed to be improved — adhesion and durability on a complex textured surface like diamond plate is genuinely difficult to get right. We made the decision to switch to a Graphite Black Cerakote ceramic coating. Cerakote is significantly more durable than powder coat and is used in demanding applications including firearms and aerospace components.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Cerakote process requires more labor-intensive surface prep, high materials costs, and carries a higher cost to apply, but we felt it was the right call. These fender covers are a permanent part of your vehicle. We wanted a great finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eMaterial \u0026amp; Fitment\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade from 0.125\" aluminum alloy — negligibly thicker than the 0.11\" alloy Ineos uses on their factory fender covers. Ineos rates their uncovered fenders at 198 lbs spread load, increasing to 330 lbs with their covers installed. Our covers are comparable in thickness and should offer a similar load increase, though we have not conducted independent weight testing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eInstallation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an achievable DIY upgrade but does require care and technical attention. We recommend adhering the covers using 3M 5952 VHB (Very High Bond) tape in 3\/4\" or 1\" width. VHB tape is designed for permanent bonding applications — when applied correctly to clean paint, these plates are not going anywhere. We do not supply the VHB tape for warranty reasons; it is available online or at most auto parts stores.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Note on Adhesion \u0026amp; Riveting:\u003c\/strong\u003e We have never had a customer report one of our covers coming loose. However, we have heard anecdotally that some Grenadier owners — using VHB tape on fender plates of unknown origin — have experienced adhesion issues. We don’t know what panels were involved or how they were installed, but we want to make you aware. If you’d like added peace of mind, placing a few 1\/8\" (3mm) rivets at key points around the perimeter is a reasonable precaution that many customers choose. We supply the panels only — installation method is entirely up to you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA Word on Pricing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou asked us to bring these back, and we wanted to do it right. The honest truth is that between the higher scrap rate, lower yield, increased aluminum costs, CNC machining, Cerakote prep and materials, and everything else that goes into making these properly — they cost significantly more to produce than before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you think the price is high, we agree with you. If you decide it’s more than you want to spend, we completely understand — no hard feelings. But we weren’t willing to bring them back and cut corners to hit a lower price point. If the demand isn’t there at this price, we’ll stop making them again. Simple as that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e*No warranty or guarantee is provided for this part or the customer’s installation. We strongly recommend professional installation.*\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Grenadier USA","offers":[{"title":"Satin Black","offer_id":51925286355160,"sku":"GR-DIAM-FENDER-CK","price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0683\/8442\/4152\/files\/Untitled_design_33.png?v=1784316514","url":"https:\/\/grenadierusa.com\/products\/diamond-plate-fender-covers-copy","provider":"Grenadier USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}