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Fender flare replacement

Fender Flare Replacement

Part #:

Well after a few years, I managed to pretty much mangle, crack, gouge, scrape, etc my stock flares. Now since I don’t have to put the larger flares on my Jeep, I kept an eye out for a set of stock flares in good condition and I finally scored a set of them for a good price. Now to just put them on.

Additional Parts:
Tools Needed:
5/16" Ratcheting Box End
Pliers

Installation Rear Fender Flare:
1. I did the rear first. Remove the wheel well liner to access the nuts on for the fender.
 
2. Remove the 7 push retainers holding the wheel well liner to the body.
 
3. Pull the bottom of the liner out away from the frame and the top will follow, once the liner is free, just pull the top out past the wheel and set aside. The liner has two tabs on the top that go into the body, these may hang up the liner.
 
4. Now remove the bolts from the flare. You will need a 5/16” ratcheting box end for this, otherwise it’s really slow going. The center set of bolts have a plastic nut on the back side, that you can normally spin with your hand once you get them loose. These bolts have a coarse thread on them so keep them matched up with the plastic nuts.
inner fender well
5. The bolts towards both ends of the flare are inserted into well nuts on the body so do not have a plastic nut behind them. These bolts are different than the others so be careful when reinstalling them.
well nuts
6. Remove the flare. It has 2 prongs that go into holes on the body, that may require a little tug to get free.
 
7. Clean the area behind the flare. You might want to touch up any paint damage and/or apply a coat of wax to this area.
 
8. Install the flare in reverse order from above. Don’t forget the difference between the bolts.
 
 
Installation Front Fender Flare:
1. The front is a little simpler to do than the rear.
 
2. Disconnect the front side marker light by rotating and pulling out the light socket from the backside.
parking light
3. Now remove the bolts from the flare. You will need a 5/16” ratcheting box end for this, otherwise it’s really slow going. The center set of bolts have a plastic nut on the back side, that you can normally spin with your hand once you get them loose. These bolts have a coarse thread on them so keep them matched up with the plastic nuts.
bolt heads
more bolt heads
4. The bolts towards the bottom end of the flare are inserted into well nuts on the body so do not have a plastic nut behind them. These bolts are different than the others so be careful when reinstalling them.
different screws
5. Remove the flare. It has 2 prongs that go into holes on the body, that may require a little tug to get free.
flare removed
6. Clean the area behind the flare. You might want to touch up any paint damage and/or apply a coat of wax to this area. I needed to do a little bodywork to my mounting point where I had bent it up. The tab on the front does point out at an slight angle, so if yours looks bent, just note that. Of course, my flare was crinkled on this side.
touch up paint slight body bend
7. Remove side marker light from fender flare. Remove the nut from the backside and pull the marker light out of the flare. The nut requires a 1/2" Combo wrench. (I had to remove my light guards first to get the marker light out)
reconnect parking light
8. Install side marker light in new flare.  
9. Install the flare in reverse order from above. Don’t forget the difference between the bolts.  

This page last updated: 16-Apr-2008

Content and Design © 2002-present WanderingTrail,  Ronald Seegert
Common Sense and Safety should always be observed when working on your vehicle or doing modifications. Jackstands, wheel blocks, disconnecting the battery are a few of the basic safety precautions that should be used and may not be mentioned in the write ups on this site. You are responsible for your own installation, these write ups are a helpful guideline and should not be taken as an official installation instruction. My write up may be different from the kits currently out there, so alwasy double check the manufacturers installation instructions when installing anything. I try to keep the site up to date with changes that have occured as I discover them, but may not have the latest unless someone lets me know. If you feel that an install is above your capabilities after reading my write ups, I recommend getting together with a club and getting some help. Only a few times have I needed to employe some actual help from a shop to get something done. Usually welding or A/C work. While I have spent many years working on mechanical systems, I am not an expert, nor do I pretend to be one. I hope these write ups have been useful to you.
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