Everything You Need To Know Fender Liners

The fender liner acts as a shield between the water, mud, dust and debris and the vehicle’s wheel well. It is situated between the fenders and wheels and is also known as inner fender which is made of plastic or metal. The outer fender helps is preventing the mud/sand or debris to fly away from spinning tires.

The inner fender also separates the outer fender and the engine and is attached to the outer fender by clips so that it remains in proper position. The fender liner always remains exposed to nature and thus is prone to a lot of wear and tear over prolonged time. So, keep a regular check on the fender liner for replacement.

The type and material of fender liner used may depend highly on the make and model of the vehicle and also the utility. Some use them to enhance the aesthetics of the vehicle, while others are concerned with the functionality. Since fender liners protect the wheel well and many internal components of the engine bay, that may get damaged from corrosion and lead to many costly repairs.

• The fender liner is the protective layer that is invisible to naked eye and can only be seen after removing the tire. After removing the wheel, one can see a curved and protective disc, also known as inner fender panel. This protects the wheel well and the engine bay from dust, mud, dirt and debris when the car is running and prevents damage to many costly components.
• The fender liners can be of many types and made of many different materials based on the make, model and different manufacturers. Usually, the latest fender liners are made of a non-corrosive and flexible material to avoid any breakage or damage, such as thermoplastic. In older vehicles, the fender liners were made of metal, which had a higher risk of corrosion and rust and thus, was replaced by a much better, cheaper and lighter material which was easier to install too.
• Although, the newer fender liners are made of a durable, non-corrosive material, it can still get damaged or weak over time and harsh climatic conditions. Other than the climate, other things that can damage the fender liners are small rocks and debris that can hit while driving and can even puncture the liner. Even a small hole in the liner can cause moisture and foreign materials to enter the engine bay and damage the components.
• The base material layer is made by the process called thermoforming and is made using thermoplastic fibres, resins and large quantity of matrix fibres.

Although the fender liner itself doesn’t do any mechanical or electrical work but acts like a shield to many important components and protects them from dirt, mud, debris and corrosion. Thus, it is important to understand the importance of fender liner and its functionality. All the different layers of the liner work as a team to protect and support the engine bay of the car.

• The fender liner constitutes of different layers. The breathable base material layer is produced by forming a fibre assembly in the shape along the wheel house. The other protective layer in made up of a waterproof material. The base layer has a superimposed protective layer on the top opposite to the side facing the wheel house. The protective layer has small holes that allow air to flow through for it to make contact with the base layer.
• The upper side of the tire is covered by the fender liner attached to the motor vehicle wheel house. One might notice increased noise generated from the space between the tires and the road surface, or the noise of small rocks and debris hitting the inner fender. To avoid such a situation, a fibre-based fender liner is used and is attached to the wheel house.
• Although, fibre-based liners reduce sound, but fall short in water and ice conditions as the anti-icing performance is very poor. This may result in ice formation on fenders and tires, causing difficulty in driving. Thus, the geographical terrain and climatic conditions need to be considered before installing any new fender liner.
• Usually the inner fender liners are replaced by factory plastic to provide better engine protection. To make the liner rust-free, anodised aluminium in used in the inner lining to make it strong and lightweight too. Further, the carbide black powder coat it used as finishing coat to maximize corrosion resistance.

Since the fender liners protect various electrical components and parts of the engine bay in the front wheel well, all these are prone to malfunction if the liner fails. Moisture can hamper parts like the windshield washer pump, fog lights, headlight bulbs, fuse, relay box, horn and radiator fan. The most significant effect of moisture and corrosion can be of the headlight assembly hampering the wiring and connectors adversely. It can also cause the engine and transmission pan to rust. Thus, a loose liner shield must be tightened and if the fender liner is cracked of broken, it must be replaced immediately.

There are a number of skilled auto mechanics who have a goal of opening their own car repair shop at some point in their career. But let’s face it; if you want to put up an efficient as well as profit-making shop, then you might need much more than mechanical skills. There are a number of tools which you might need to perform the car repairs quickly as well as reliable. Auto repair equipment that you will need to repair your Fender Linermay include.

• 3/16” Allen
• Paint Pen
• 17/32” Drill
• Drill Motor
• Wheel Chocks

Fender liners are the ultimate shield against nature's impact on the wheel well and the engine bay & transmission system. Following are the major brands selling the most popular and reliable fender liners:

There can be a number of factors due to which the failure in the Fender Liner might be caused like poor car maintenance, some accident due to which the Fender Liner might get damaged or there might be some flaws during the quality control check at the factory where the car was manufactured or sometimes it might happen because of not changing the Fender Liner on time. Whatever the cause might be, the replacement of the Fender Liner is not at all an easy process and if you want to achieve success, then it’s essential to have the correct tools. This is the reason why you should leave the replacement/repair procedure to the skilled mechanics who have the tools and expertise to successfully complete the task.

Thinking about fender liner replacement cost? I got a quote from a local shop that I trust on repairing, and repainting the fender. It looks like it is going to be $1200-1600. $1600 being on the high side, and I was told that is from the painter and they are trying to get it reduced down to $1200.

Following are the advantages and disadvantages of having the fender liner on the vehicle:

Advantages

• Fenders protect the vehicle body and the vehicle from unnecessary scratches.
• They act as bodyguards for the engine bay and the wheel well. They reduce the impact from rocks and debris, protect the engine bay and components from moisture and rust and also avoids the debris from flying off from running tires, avoiding damages.

Disadvantages

• Sometimes, the fender liner may not match the car body aesthetically. So, the parts might look uncoordinated.
• Fender installation can reduce the height of site, affecting the car’s passing, affecting the overall performance.
• The debris stuck on fender liner may cause increased noise while taking further trips, without cleaning it properly.

In off-road conditions, the fender can scrape the ground and get damaged. If can also increase the cabin noise and affect the aerodynamics of the car at high speeds.

If the fender liner is faulty, one must know how to replace inner fender liner as it may cause corrosion in the engine bay, thus affecting various components, leading to drivability issues. Following are the steps to replace a broken, cracked or malfunctioned fender liner with a new one.

• Completely turn the wheel in one direction by rotating the steering wheel, so that you can get a better look and access to the fender liner.
• After you have a proper access to the fender liner, remove the accessible clips and screws properly.
• Turn the wheel as per requirement to get access to the remaining clips and screws, until all the clips and screws are removed.
• Now, get the new fender liner and test fit the liner so that it is in proper line with the mounting holes.

After confirming the proper fender liner placement, reinstall the pins and screws that will hold the liner in place. Again, change the wheel orientation to place the remaining screws in place, to ensure the best fit for the liners.