A fender is the curved part of your car, truck, or SUV that stretches and sits over the wheels and is considered part of your vehicle’s body. A fender is not the same as a bumper.
The fender is designed to prevent debris from being thrown around from the tires and aside from that, is generally a decorative part of your vehicle’s body. A fender does have a purpose though, as it prevents damage to the sides of the vehicle and it makes the overall driving experience safer for the driver of the vehicle and for other vehicles around the road.
The fender is a body panel with a curved shape. The size of the part is somewhat larger than the wheel that it will house.
The fender is located over the wheels of the vehicle. As such, there are four fenders on a typical vehicle: front right, front left, rear right and rear left.
The first thing that you should look for in a used fender is the condition of the body panel. You want to make sure that the fender does not have any dents, cracks, or other cosmetic damage on it. Also, you want to check for any damage to the exterior paintwork. Finally, you will want to check for any signs of rust or paint corrosion. These are the most common types of damage found on fenders.
The fender will connect to either the front corner or the rear corner of the vehicle. You may need the following parts in order to complete an installation of a fender:
Fender sealWhen you are shopping for a used fender, you should accept the fact that you will find some dents and paint wear. However, those issues can be easily fixed. The things that you have to look for in a used fender is rust and corrosion. That’s because a corroded fender is not as easy to fix and may not be worth the repair time and cost.
A fender should last about 15 to 20 years from the time that it is new. This is contingent on the fact that the fender is properly maintained and treated against rust and corrosion. Obviously, vehicles that are exposed to snow, ice, and the road salt that come with them will degrade faster than fenders on vehicles in areas with more favorable weather conditions.
You should consider replacing your vehicle’s fender if it has been in an accident and the damage is so extreme that it can not be repaired with basic body work. Also, if the fender has extensive rust and corrosion, then it should be replaced as this damage will likely continue to get worse over time. Beyond that, while a fender does help to protect from debris being cast off from your tires, it is considered a body part and generally a cosmetic versus mechanical part of your vehicle. If you’re fine with a little rust or a few dings or dents here and there, it may not be necessary for you to replace your fender.