How To Repair And Replace A Fender

1 Should I Replace Or Repair My Fender?

With the right set of tools and enough dedication, you can repair the dented fender on your car. However, before you roll up your sleeves, it is important to understand the type of damage your fender has sustained. This will help you realize how much work is required plus the costs involved and whether it would be cheaper to repair or replace your fender. 

Minor Fender Damage:Minor damage can occur due to small accidents caused by daily driving, while parking the vehicle, thrown up pebbles, rocks while driving, dings from shopping carts, etc. These damages are easy to repair and do not require a complete paint job.

Moderate Fender Damage: Dents can be considered as moderate damage which can arise because of a collision with a car or a roadside object. Fender bender, which implies an accident, can also leave your fender damaged and dented and can be repaired followed by a paint job to restore it to its original condition.

Serious Fender Damage: Serious damage can be caused by a major road accident that can make your fender irreparable and can also compromise the frame alignment, the bumper, and the fender assembly. In such a case, the situation calls for a complete replacement of the fender. In case the accident was serious, the damage to your vehicle may be beyond just the fender, so make sure to analyze the frame, engine, and other crucial components as well.

2 How To Fix A Fender Scratch?

Depending on how deep the scratches are, there is also the serious possibility for rust on metal body parts. While surface rust is harmless and easily treatable, ignoring deep scratches can lead to structural damage that can spread from one body part to the other. So fixing those pesky scratches on your fender now may save you big bucks in the future. Here’s all you need to get you going:

Tools Required:

Sandpaper

Body Filler

Automotive Paint

Automotive Primer

Automotive Clear Coat

Cleaning Towel

Wax And Grease Remover

Sanding Equipment

• The first step is to wash the scratched area and clean it with a dry cloth. Allow it to dry.
• Identify the scratches and apply masking tape to the adjoining areas.
• Sand the scratched area using 180-grit sandpaper to remove the scratches and rust, leaving a shining bare metal surface.
• Wipe the surface using a cleaning towel and with a wax and grease remover.
• Mix the body filler and prepare it for application according to the instructions on the filler container.
• Apply a thin coat of body filler making sure to fill any holes or fissures using a  scraper or squeegee. Remove any excess material before it dries. Allow it to dry and become hard.
• Sand it using 80-grit sandpaper followed by 180-grit sandpaper. This will level out the body filler with the fender surface.
• Now sand the surface again using 800-grit sandpaper with water. This will remove the leftover scratches by the sanding done in the above step and give it a smooth finish.
• Rinse the area with water and allow it to dry.
• The next step is to apply body primer. Apply 3 coats of primer with an interval of a few minutes between each coat. This will prevent the primer from dripping. Allow it to dry for an hour.
• Sand the surface with 2000-grit wet sandpaper until the area is smooth.
• Now apply the body paint matching the factory color or your desired choice until the primer is completely covered and not visible.
• Follow up by applying a clear coat to finish the process.

3 How To Repair A Dented Metal Fender?

There are several ways to repair your damaged fender. Without using special tools or extensive training, you can repair fender dents at home easily. The best way to carry out the following repair methods is to remove the fender. Remove the fender by locating all the fasteners and fender braces that hold it in place, to make the repair process easy. Read on and follow these simple methods below.

Tools Required:

Sandpaper

Hammer

Dolly

Ratchet

Socket Set

Radius Gauge

Body Filler

Automotive Paint

Automotive Primer

Automotive Clear Coat

Using A Hammer And Dolly

• Use a ratchet and socket set to loosen the bolts that hold the fender in place and carefully take the fender out.
• Place the fender with the dented side up and grab a radius gauge. Use the radius gauge to measure the curvature of the fender. This is necessary because the dent has to be pulled out to the original radius and profile.
• Grab a hammer and dolly. Hammer the dented surface from the inside of the fender until the dent is pushed out and comparatively less visible. The surface now will not be smooth and with lots of undulations.
• Place the dolly below the dent and gently hammer the areas around the edges of the dent. You can also place the dolly on the fender and hammer it from the inside. Be careful with the hammer strikes because a heavy blow can drive the dent out too much, creating a high spot on the opposite side of the panel.
• Keep hammering all over the dent and leftover high and low points to level the surface out as much as possible.
• Meanwhile, keep checking the curvature of your fender with the help of the radius gauge to check for undulations. Keep placing the dolly under leftover dents and hammering on top of it. Little by little, the minor low spots and dents will also come out.
• This method will take out almost 80 to 90 percent of the dent with very minor imperfections and leftover marks from the hammer and dolly.
• Mask the areas around the dented portion, and take a 200-grit sandpaper and rub the treated surface to smoothen the surface out. You can skip the masking if you wish to paint the entire bumper.
• Use a body filler to fill minor grooves and cracks left after sanding.
• Now sand the fender using 2000-grit sandpaper. The goal is to get a smooth surface all across the fender for a uniform coat.
• Apply multiple layers of primer followed by a paint job. Paint your fender according to the original color of your vehicle or in the desired choice

4 How To Remove A Dent On Thermoplastic Or Fiberglass Fender?

Fenders are usually made from metal like steel or aluminum, but depending on the make of the car, they can also be made from fiberglass or thermoplastics. Some newer vehicles use fewer steel body panels and are equipped with plastic composites that weigh less. It is very easy to repair thermoplastic and fiberglass fenders. These materials soften at high temperatures and harden when they cool down. This allows us to repair dents easily.

1. Repair Your Fender Using Hot Water

• • The first step is to boil a few liters of water.Carefully pour the water on the dented portion of the fender. Wear gloves and take precautions because boiling water can burn your hands in the process. The heat from the boiling water softens the thermoplastic at high temperatures, making them malleable and easy to work on.Now, use a suction cup or a plunger to hold the hot dented surface and pull it out.Let the bumper cool and view it from various angles to see if the dent is leveled out.If the dent is still there, repeat the process by pouring hot water and pulling it using a plunger. You might also have to reach behind the dented fender and push it from the inside. You can also do it by using a long reach tool.

2. Using Heat Gun Or Hairdryer

• With the vehicle parked securely, identify the dented portion of the fender and clean it with a towel or a rug.
• Use a heat gun or a hairdryer and point it at the dent to warm it up. This will make the dent flexible so it can be pushed out easily.
• Take precautions and keep the heat gun at a distance or it will melt the fender.
• After the dented section is heated enough, blow cool compressed air on the heated surface. This change in temperature of the dented fender will pop the dent out into its original shape.
• If the dent isn’t removed, repeat the process by heating and blowing cool air on the dent. Meanwhile, you can tap around the dented surface to pop the dent back into its shape.
• Don’t be surprised if the dents reappear and disappear with changing weather conditions. This happens because fenders expand in hot weather, which can undo the dent removed by this method.

5 How To Replace Your Car Fender?

If the damage is beyond repair, you have to replace your vehicle’s fender. Replacing a fender is a very easy job to perform and all you need is a couple of tools and a few hours to yourself. Avoid regular visits to your local workshop and replace your damaged fender at home so you can keep your vehicle looking good and get it back on the road as quickly as possible.

Tools Required:

Screwdriver

Ratchet

Socket Set

Jacks

Jack Stands

• Park the vehicle securely and open the hood.
• Locate the bolts, pins, and fasteners that hold the fender in place. Some vehicles have a trim under the hood that covers the bolts that secure the fender in place.
• Remove the screws and plastic push pins under the wheel well. To do this, you can use a flat-head screwdriver or a clip removal tool.
• You might also have to remove a couple of pins and screws from the side skirt if the fender is tucked behind it. Slightly pull the side skirt out to create the room for the fender so it can be removed.
• Loosen the fender bolts at the back of the front bumper and under the hood.
• Remove the electrical wiring and the turn signal light if your fender has one.
• With all bolts and connections out, remove the old fender and attach the new one. Fasten all the bolts and pins in place and reattach the electrical connections to finish the task.
• If you cannot access the indicator lights or the brackets and bolts are out of your reach, you can lift your vehicle on jack stands and pull the wheel out. This will give you more room and access while carrying out the replacement.

Always start your repair session by inspecting the damage on the fender, its depth, degree, and if it can be repaired or not. Repairing your damaged fender by yourself allows you to know what your fender is made of and gets you acquainted with different DIY techniques. Some DIY repair techniques work best with certain materials. For example, the hot water process is less effective on metal fenders due to high heat tolerance but works like a charm on plastic fenders. Knowing what method to use is really helpful and saves you a lot of time and effort. Follow the instructions properly given in this simple guide to repair your fender at home and save a fortune on costly body repair.

These repair methods are provided for informational purposes only. Any damage or injury incurred in the practice of these methods is not the responsibility of PartsAvatar Canada. Many factors such as location, material, and the size of the damage play an important role in deciding how your fender material will react to heating-cooling cycles. We always encourage you to consult a professional if you cannot perform the repairs yourself.