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Everything You Need To Know About Car Fender Flare

What is Fender Flare?

Fender flares are mostly used in various trucks and SUVs as accessories as an extension to the vehicle. It is usually fitted above the wheels and matches the vehicle body structure. It is available in many colors and shapes to suit and best fit any make and model. Fender flares not only improve the look of the vehicle but is also a legally important part for vehicles with large tires.

Types of Fender Flare

Following are the types of fender flares available in the market for various makes and models:

 

  1. OE - OE fender flares are used by customers to enhance the look of the vehicle or to hide any small damages or rust on the body. Usually the flares are not retailed by the dealer and are an aftermarket purchase to enhance the styling. An important point to remember before going for OE flares is that they may not fit using standard factory holes and might require new holes to drill.
  2. Street - Street flares have a slightly lower profile than the OE flares and provide more sleek and subtle look at the same time providing protection to fenders and wheel well. These provide a different look to the vehicle as majority owners install OE flares.
  3. Pocket/Bolt Style - These fender flares make you the boss on the road. They not only give protection but also provide a rugged and tough look to the truck. These vehicles usually stand out in the crowd. These flares have various pockets and have bolts to give a great look.
  4. Extended Style - These flares are for the ones who don’t want to go extreme with the look. They work perfectly to provide protection and a good look, without going over the top. Thus, it gets the job done without the bolted flare look.

Material Used to Make Fender Flares

Usually, the flares are made of plastic, but can also be of various types and composition, including ABS and PU (polyurethane). Before any purchase, make sure that the flares are UV resistant or protected. If not so, the plastic flare can dry rot over time and can reduce the lifespan of the flare with early wear outs.

Size Considerations of Fender Flare

It is important to decide the utility of the flare for an individual before buying the flare. If you want the fender flare to provide a cosmetic look, then any size may fit and word. However, if you are looking for form and functionality, then the flare must be bigger that the lip of the fender to protect it from the rocks and debris and must be specific to that make and model.

 

For example, the Jeep fender flares extend four to five inches out to protect the complete tire from damages.

Color Concerns of Fender Flare

Most of the time, we see that the flares are black in colour. However, most companies must provide you with paintable flares or options to order in OEM colours. Avoid buying flares that don’t say that they are paintable or you can simply install them in black, if you want.

 

Once you have decided which type and colour of fender flare you want, you can easily order them and get them installed. While some fender flares are merely for looks, others can actually protect the vehicle tires from damage in off-road environments.

Benefits of Fender Flares

There are many benefits in installing fender flares to your vehicle.

 

  1. Prevention of throwing away mud, rocks, dust, liquids and debris in the air, while driving.
  2. Hiding damaged or rusted parts on the fenders and wheel well.
  3. Enhancing the overall look of the vehicle.
  4. Protecting the tires and fenders from damage while driving.

Important Features of Fender Flare

Fender flares are an important accessory for many car parts dealers and owners as they help to provide a unique look to the car. When the flares are installed, they form the same body line as the vehicle and also protect the vehicle. Not all vehicles come with fender flares or need its installation. It completely depends upon the owner to decide if they want to install the fender flares or not.

Purpose of Fender Flare

The main function of the fender flare is to prevent the tires from throwing mud, rocks, liquids and other debris into the air while driving. It is also used to improve the aesthetics of the cars and customize the look of the vehicle. Fender flares are also useful if you want to install bigger tires and lift kits. They are also used to hide any small damages on the fenders and rust.

Tools Needed for Fender Flare

Do you like repairing your car on your own? Thinking of opening up your own car body shop? It is a great business opportunity if you love cars and possess a good work ethic. Now if you want your shop to be successful, then you will require a combination of effort as well as car mechanic training. And of course, the correct equipment which would upgrade your speed as well as make your repair work easy. If you have the right tools, then you can easily meet the demands of today’s car body structures. Here are some of the most essential tools which you might need to repair your Fender Flare.

 

Top Brands of Fender Flare

If customers trust a brand, then it would make them loyal, and if they are loyal, then they will surely buy more. We are well aware that customers want comfort, cheerfulness as well as satisfaction in their lives and that’s the reason why we offer top quality auto parts brands to our customers. We make sure to provide a positive experience to our consumers from the brands which we are offering so that they can form an opinion that a particular auto parts brand is trustworthy and would give them peace of mind while they are purchasing it for their car. Here we have listed out some top brands for Fender Flare:


Bushwacker Fender Flare

EGR Fender Flare

Rugged Ridge Fender Flare

Lund Fender Flare

Stampede Fender Flare

Related Parts of Fender Flare

The brighter you are, the more you have to learn! That’s why we are here to provide you more knowledge about the related parts of the car Fender Flare. They are mentioned below as follows: -

 

How to Install Fender Flares?

Following are the steps to install the fender flares onto the vehicles:

  1. Removing Existing Flares - In case your vehicle already has old fender flares, the first step will be to remove them. To do this, unscrew the bolts attaching the flares to the vehicle body. Usually, these bolts are present at the backside of the fenders. After the bolts are removed, peel off the flare starting from the foremost to the rear of the vehicle.
  2. Purchase Fender Flare Specific to Your Make/Model - It is advisable to refer the manufacturer’s listing to see which type of fender flare to install on your vehicle. One must always align the flares against the fenders before installing them.
  3. Attaching Flare Trim to Flare - Remove about 1-inch adhesive tape from bottom of the trim and attach it to the outer edge of the flare. Keep removing the tape and pressing the trim on the flare until it gets completely installed.
  4. Connecting Outer Bolts to Fender Flare - Check for the holes that connect the fender and the flare and insert the bolts in them. To smooth the edges of the bolts that touch the paint, place the washers on the top of the installed bolts. Next, using the Allen tool, place the nuts and tighten it over the bolts.
  5. Removing Screws from Fender Bottom - Next step is to locate the screws from the bottom of the fenders that are a part of the fender well near the wheel well. The screws can be removed using a screwdriver and turning it in counter clockwise direction.
  6. Removing Support Beam Bolts from Rear Wheel Well - The support beam bolts should be removed before installing the fender flares onto the rear fenders. Remove bolts and place the flare on the fender by reinserting the bolts holding the flare in place.

Drilling Fender Flare Holes

  1. Marking Hole Location on the Bumper - Mark the hole location by placing the flare over the fender and holding it steady. Remember to mark the point where the bottom hole on the flare aligns with the bumper.
  2. Marking Position Where Frame Hole Touches Fender Flare - Locate the frame hole touching the fender flare, holding the flare over the vehicle’s frame. Use a marker to mark the hole locations.
  3. Drilling Holes in Fender Flare Aligned with Frame Holes - Using a drill make a quarter inch hole in the fender flare in alignment with the frame holes at the marked hole spots.

Attaching Your Fender Flares

  1. Attaching the Fender Flare - Attach the hardware in the holes made in the previous step. Note that the hardware may vary from fender to fender according to different make and model.
  2. Reinstalling Fender Screws - Using a screwdriver, reinstall the removed screws from the bottom of the fender near the wheel well and tighten them properly.
  3. Installing Plastic Fasteners onto the Flares - If the flare hardware has fasteners, it is advisable to install them properly at the right location
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John Framigllia
Technical Writer
Our technical writer is known for simplifying automotive parts and services. Intuitive with various vehicles and manufacturers, he knows how to simplify complicated problems.