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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Prevention
of throwing away mud, rocks, dust, liquids and debris in the air, while
driving.
- Hiding
damaged or rusted parts on the fenders and wheel well.
- Enhancing
the overall look of the vehicle.
- 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.
- Heavy test mono-filament fishing line
- Screwdriver
- Plastic scraper
- Adhesive remover
- Clean rag
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:
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Reinstalling Fender Screws - Using a screwdriver, reinstall the removed screws from the bottom of the fender near the wheel well and tighten them properly.
- Installing Plastic Fasteners onto the Flares - If the
flare hardware has fasteners, it is advisable to install them properly at the
right location