One problem with cars that is difficult to remedy at home without a lot of skill is rust. Also, a good repair will never be cheap, and for good reason. To remediate rust requires some top notch prep work, cutting, welding, filling, painting, etc. A high degree of specialization and experience is needed to complete each of these processes correctly. You may be tempted to cover up the rust because you think it would be simpler and cheaper, but should you?
You should know a few things before using fender flares to hide corrosion. In the first place, you can’t prevent rust from spreading by covering it up. Also, fender flares can speed up the oxidation process. Finally, good fenders aren’t exactly cheap, either. Therefore, fenders are not a good option to hide corrosion.
Why it’s a bad idea to cover rust with fenders
Rust is just one example of why ignoring problems is a bad idea. It’s crucial to realize that rust behaves similar to a rash or cancer. Meaning that once it manifests, it won’t stop spreading until the damaged area is removed and the surrounding material is protected. And with that, it becomes apparent that adding fender flares to hide the rust would do nothing.
Also, rust on the fenders grows fast; in just one year, it may have expanded beyond the cracks. Once that happens, there’s little you can do to prevent it from happening again, and fixing it will also cost you a lot more money. Not to mention, fender flares aren’t cheap, so you’ll be wasting money as well. So it’s best to wait a few months to save €100-€200 on the cost of fenders and do it the right way, even if you don’t have the funds to treat the rust properly.
The fender flares will probably speed up corrosion on top of that. This is because to attach them the fender usually requires drilling. And even with proper preparation, holes in metalwork often cause rust.
Also, there’s a good chance your fender flares will collect dirt, snow, water, and road grime. A buildup of these causes healthy metal to rust quickly, and an already rusted piece will deteriorate in months.
As a result, you will have spent €150 on fender flares that no longer hide rust in a couple of months. In addition, the price of correctly repairing the fenders has increased from 200-300 euros to 500-600 euros. Therefore, it is not worth disguising rust with fender flares in any way.
If you still choose to use fender flares to cover up the rust
Still, there are certain techniques to reduce the chance of using fender flares to do more damage. And the way to achieve this is to prepare the area before installing them. The good news is that you don’t need a lot of experience to do this at home.
You must sand away the paint surrounding the rust to access the healthy metal. Then remove the rusty parts and paint everything with primer or other corrosion protection after removing the rusty parts.
Even better would be to weld a new piece of metal onto the rusty cutout; alternatively you can get someone to do it as it shouldn’t be too expensive. Of course, later, safeguard the metal.
This is a compromise between the two options, although it’s still not the ideal answer and comes very close to replacing the fender correctly. You won’t spend a lot of money and you won’t be in danger of rust, and it should last you a few years. But be careful to let prospective buyers know if you are selling the car.
When is it okay to use fender flares to cover up rust?
Never use fender flares as a replacement for proper fender corrosion repair. However, fender flares are a great temporary remedy, assuming the rust patches aren’t too large and you intend to replace them later.
Install fender flares only if you want to keep them or if you intend to replace the entire fender. This is because most high-quality flares need to be drilled, and even bonded ones will likely cause permanent damage to the paint over time.
Another consideration with fenders though is that you probably need larger wheels or at the very least spacers. Otherwise the vehicle will not be as attractive as before. Even if smaller flares are available, they probably won’t be enough to hide the rust.
You will also need to paint the flares on your truck to keep it in stock, adding to the overall cost. So in the end it will cost you almost as much to install the fenders correctly as it will to cure the rust.
Cost to repair rusty fenders
Depending on where you live and how much rust there is, the cost to replace corroded fenders varies greatly. However, most customers get quotes on a fender between €300 and €500. While it may sound like a lot, it requires at least six hours of hard work. However, if your rear fenders are rusty I would advise against this as you would have to rebuild the entire bed of the truck and they are not easy to repair.
But buying front fenders from junkyards or even on eBay is a much better option. Fender flares for a 2018-2020 pickup that is in good condition are €200-€300. All that’s left is to replace them, and you need to make sure you get them in the same shade as your vehicles.
You’ve solved your problem so effectively for $200. Also, you can repair the fender and save tons of labor costs if you have any mechanical skills. As? keep reading
How to replace a front fender
Several minor parts will be removed while a front fender is being repaired. It is preferable that you locate the entire process for your particular vehicle since pretty much everything gets in the way, but this is the entire process.
Check the inside of the fender to see if anything is attached to it by opening the hood. That could be a battery, washer tank, intake, headlight, etc. Remove each of them first. On all cars, it’s pretty easy and the bolts that hold them on are pretty obvious.
After that, you need to remove the front grill and bumper if they are still attached to the fender. You can find plenty of videos showing how to do it, regardless of the type of vehicle you drive. It could be a bit difficult.
The wheel well lining must then be removed. If the truck is high, you can turn the wheels to the side, jack up the car, or remove the wheel. The inner lining is secured with plastic bolts and pins, making removal a breeze.
Now check the attachment of the hood to the fender, as this is usually where the hinge is attached. Pull it out, then firmly hold that side of the hood.
Now it’s time to remove the fender. When you open the doors, you’ll see latches under the A-pillars. Along the edges of the engine compartment, too. Also, one or two bolts may be in the front behind the bumper and under the vehicle.
Once all the bolts have been removed, the fender will simply come off. It remains to do the reinstallation of a new one in the reverse sequence.
What is the point of fender flares?
Improving appearance is the main goal of fender flares. However, most states require fenders to fully or partially enclose the tire. So fender flares can help cover larger or offset wheels to maintain your car’s compliance.
Is the Fender Flare installation difficult?
No, it’s pretty simple to add fender flares. However, you must be careful to avoid drilling holes where it shouldn’t be or applying the glue incorrectly. Therefore, it is essential to watch various DIY tutorials to learn how to properly fit them and determine what type of surface preparation is required.
How legal are Fender flares?
Fender flares are legit, yes. Several states have passed laws requiring the installation of flares on the fenders of automobiles. Fender flares can only be considered illegal if they do not cover the tires; however, that depends more on the wheel and tire combination. Fender flares may also be banned in Europe without the required certification due to the various rules governing car modifications.
Do Fender Flares require holes to be drilled?
Depending on the type of car and the fenders, you may or may not need to drill holes for them. Smaller fender flares often stick together. Also, if your car already has fenders installed from the factory, you can buy aftermarket ones that bolt into the same holes. This eliminates the need for drilling. Bolt-on fender flares are still available though, so it’s crucial to do your research before you buy.
What types of fenders are there?
Fender flares come in various designs such as OEM type, street style, bolt-on flares, and extended fender flares. The smaller flares are OEM style flares, which are essentially little plastic trims. Street style flares, just slightly wider, look just like OEM. Bolt-style flares are available in various sizes and feature obvious bolt holes. Finally, the flares in the expanded design range are 5 to 7 inches wide.
Should you use Fender flares?
If your fenders are in excellent shape and free of corrosion, then fender flares are a good choice. To undo the procedure if you decide to sell the car, make sure the fender flares are removable and don’t leave extra holes. Other than that though, fenders are inexpensive, give any car a considerably more aggressive look, and allow for larger wheels and tires.
How long does it take to install Fender Flares?
Installation of the four fender flares typically takes three to four hours. But it depends on the type of car and the flares. Installing the flare bolts will take longer on a car without factory holes and shorter on a vehicle with such holes. Finally, installing fender flares with glue will take at least a couple of hours, as they need some extra preparation.
How do I choose fender flares?
You must first determine how you want your car to look when selecting fender flares. That is, first choose a look that you like. After that, model-specific flares are preferable to generic ones. Finally, choose flares that either screw into existing fender holes or just glue the flares on.
Conclusion
In the end, covering the rust with anything, including fender flares, is never a good idea. While rust repair is expensive, it’s not much more expensive than high-quality fender flares. Also, it is preferable to replace the entire fender with a used one of the same color if only the front fenders are corroded.
You should not use fender flares to hide rust that will not be effective for more than a year, as rust grows over time. That defeats your entire objective in this case. But you can get away with it as a stopgap measure.
