Auto Repairs how to Replace a Fender
Replacing a fenderis a relatively straightforward and simple job if you have the right tools.
If you have an old car or are very, very lucky the fender may be bolted on. If so the job is made fairly easy. First it will probably be necessary to remove the bumper before attempting to remove the fender. Next there may be a plastic or rubber stone shield inside the fender which may need to be unbolted and removed. If you need to jack the car up to reach bolts, make sure the car is secure with the park brake on and wheels in touch with the ground choked. All light fittings will need to be removed and disconnected from the car wire loom.
With the hood opened, the bolts should be visible on the edge of the fender where it meets the engine compartment. Remove all the bolts but there may be some bolts less visible on the bottom of the fender which also need to be taken out.
Replacing the fender is the reverse of removing the old one. The fender will need to be spray painted and lacquered before replacing the light fittings. Remember to reconnect the wiring and test the lights for function.
On the vast majority of modern cars the fenders are welded on. The method used is spot welding every few inches along the top edge of the fender and these are fixed with a couple of welds either side of the wheel arch. You will need to remove the weld so the fender can be taken off the car. This can be done with a stout screwdriver which can be wedged in the seam and each individual spot weld can be hammered loose. The refitting of the fender will more complicated than the above as one will need a MIG or arc welder. Do wear goggles whilst welding and make sure the car is earth properly and disconnect the car’s battery.
Welding will need to be done to an industry standard to be acceptable when the car has its annual safety test. This is because on a modern car the fender is integral to the cars structure and bad welding will make the car unsafe in a collision.
As above; the fender will need to be paint sprayed and lacquered. The lights will need to be refitted and the stone guard and bumper will need to be replaced. Once the fresh paint has settled the fender will need to be cut back with cutting paste to bring the color up to the same finish as the rest of the car.
