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March 30, 2026 2 min read
Direct Answer: Aftermarket steel flares rarely match the body contour perfectly. Even quality ZG-style flares need trimming, reshaping, and repeated test-fitting. You don’t force them — you sneak up on the fit with small adjustments until the body line flows naturally.
Steel flares sound like the better option compared to fiberglass. Stronger, more durable, and easier to weld. But they still are not bolt-on.
Most aftermarket flares are stamped to a generic curve. Your quarter panel is not generic — especially on an older car like a Datsun 240Z. Years of use, repairs, slight differences in the body, and even factory tolerances mean the contour is almost always a little off.
So when you hold them up, one area fits and another does not. The top may sit close but the ends fight you. The arch may look right but the body line is off. That is normal. That is the work.
This is not one big adjustment. It is a series of small ones.
You hold the flare in place, study the gaps, mark the problem spots, trim a little, reshape a little, and test-fit it again. Then you repeat the process until the flare starts flowing with the quarter panel instead of fighting it.
If you try to force it, you can ruin the shape fast. Good fitment comes from patience, not aggression. Steel flares do not fit. You make them fit.
Related Shop Tip:
This same “sneak up on the fit” approach applies to welding. If the seam isn’t flat, square, and tight, the weld won’t fix it. The fit determines the final result.
Read: Why Butt Welds Fail (Bad Seam = Bad Weld)
https://vtwinstov8s.com/blogs/tools-and-tips/why-butt-welds-fail-bad-seam-bad-weld
Steel is not automatically easier. It is just different.
Steel flares:
Stronger and more durable
Can be welded in
Hold crisp edges better
Take more effort to reshape cleanly
Fiberglass flares:
Easier to sand and shape initially
Lighter weight
More forgiving in some areas
Less durable long-term
Both styles need fitting. Neither one should be treated like a true bolt-on part.
Aftermarket parts are a starting point, not a finished product. Steel flares are no different. They do not come out of the box ready to match your car perfectly. The difference between a clean install and a mess is patience. Trim a little, adjust a little, and sneak up on the fit until it looks like it belongs there.
Steel or fiberglass — which one has given you more trouble?
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