6th Gen ('00-'05): Fender question
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 63
Fender question
My 04 has the typical rust at the rear of each front fender between the door and wheel. Both sides the fender is loose toward the bottom and is occasionally flexing enough so that the door opening is catching the fender. Does anyone know if there is a failure point there that I need to reattach somehow to fix this? Thank you for your advice.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 63
It doesn't look that bad, I will have to look in to it further and see what is going on, was hoping may be an easy fix .
Monte Of The Month -- April 2015
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,052
From: Brockville Ontario
If it is the front fender, you probably need new door pins and bushings, they often break in our cars as the doors are heavy and cause the lower part of the door to pinch, or catch the fender. You can get them on rockauto fairly cheaply, I had to put them on my monte this year as it was catching and caused some of the paint to chip off, I was able to touch it up so it's not as noticeable but once the paint is wrecked it is only a matter of time before the rust sets in
a quick fix until you get new pins and bushings is to pry the bottom of the fender out a bit, the door catching it would have cause it to bend in towards the car anyways, this will help prevent it from catching for a short while, but this is not a permanent fix, only short term
a quick fix until you get new pins and bushings is to pry the bottom of the fender out a bit, the door catching it would have cause it to bend in towards the car anyways, this will help prevent it from catching for a short while, but this is not a permanent fix, only short term
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 63
If it is the front fender, you probably need new door pins and bushings, they often break in our cars as the doors are heavy and cause the lower part of the door to pinch, or catch the fender. You can get them on rockauto fairly cheaply, I had to put them on my monte this year as it was catching and caused some of the paint to chip off, I was able to touch it up so it's not as noticeable but once the paint is wrecked it is only a matter of time before the rust sets in
a quick fix until you get new pins and bushings is to pry the bottom of the fender out a bit, the door catching it would have cause it to bend in towards the car anyways, this will help prevent it from catching for a short while, but this is not a permanent fix, only short term
a quick fix until you get new pins and bushings is to pry the bottom of the fender out a bit, the door catching it would have cause it to bend in towards the car anyways, this will help prevent it from catching for a short while, but this is not a permanent fix, only short term
Monte Of The Month -- April 2015
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,052
From: Brockville Ontario
Here is a step by step on how to remove the fender
1. remove the wheel of the corisponding fender (makes life easier if the bumper is still attached to the car.
2. Remove the screws holding the splash guard (all are 7mm) remove it completely it makes life a bit easier, also remove the headlight.
3. Pop the hood open, there are three 10mm bolts holding it, loosen these up but don't remove all the way yet.
4. There are two 12mm bolts holding it at the hinge to the hood, loosen these but don't remove them completely.At the end you will need to remove the bolts all the way but remember it will make it a bit challenging to reinstall as you need to lift the hood with one hand and screw with another, if it's your original fender it will have a spot weld under that hinge, you will have to wiggle it till it breaks the weld.
5. Remove the two nuts holding the bumper to the fender (either a 10 or 11mm/ 7/16" nuts)
6. Remove the side support screws attaching it to the wheel-wel area (10mm) of you are doing the passabger fender you will need to remove the window washer fluid tank to access all the screws properly, the washer tank is also held in place by three 10mm screws.
7. Under the car (if it hasn't rusted all out yet, there will be two 10mm bolts holding the fender to the frame) carefully remove these.
8. Use either a flat head screw driver or needle nose plairs to squeeze the trim clip holding the fender to the side trim piece on bottom. Try your best and be patient with this clip. Don't break it, getting a replacement might take a few days.
9. Once all screws are removed on the lower side of the fender refer back to step (3) and fully remove theses bolts now, and see if it will slide out from under the hinge bolts (refer to step 4) if it doesn't side out because the tap weld, then remove hinge bolts and lift the hinge and forcefully break the weld. Smooth out the weld hole of needed after that.
10. By now your fender should be completely loose and ready to come off!
Putting new fender on... Start by reversing these steps in this order: step 4, step 3, step 6, step 7, step 8, step 5. (Keep all the bolts loose, this will give you about an eight of and inch play to adjust the fender gap to the door, make sure your door opens up freely before tightening everything. Once adjusted and all previous steps screws are tight, reverse step 2 and reinstal your splash guard, reinstal your headlight And don't forget to tighten the screws in step 5.
1. remove the wheel of the corisponding fender (makes life easier if the bumper is still attached to the car.
2. Remove the screws holding the splash guard (all are 7mm) remove it completely it makes life a bit easier, also remove the headlight.
3. Pop the hood open, there are three 10mm bolts holding it, loosen these up but don't remove all the way yet.
4. There are two 12mm bolts holding it at the hinge to the hood, loosen these but don't remove them completely.At the end you will need to remove the bolts all the way but remember it will make it a bit challenging to reinstall as you need to lift the hood with one hand and screw with another, if it's your original fender it will have a spot weld under that hinge, you will have to wiggle it till it breaks the weld.
5. Remove the two nuts holding the bumper to the fender (either a 10 or 11mm/ 7/16" nuts)
6. Remove the side support screws attaching it to the wheel-wel area (10mm) of you are doing the passabger fender you will need to remove the window washer fluid tank to access all the screws properly, the washer tank is also held in place by three 10mm screws.
7. Under the car (if it hasn't rusted all out yet, there will be two 10mm bolts holding the fender to the frame) carefully remove these.
8. Use either a flat head screw driver or needle nose plairs to squeeze the trim clip holding the fender to the side trim piece on bottom. Try your best and be patient with this clip. Don't break it, getting a replacement might take a few days.
9. Once all screws are removed on the lower side of the fender refer back to step (3) and fully remove theses bolts now, and see if it will slide out from under the hinge bolts (refer to step 4) if it doesn't side out because the tap weld, then remove hinge bolts and lift the hinge and forcefully break the weld. Smooth out the weld hole of needed after that.
10. By now your fender should be completely loose and ready to come off!
Putting new fender on... Start by reversing these steps in this order: step 4, step 3, step 6, step 7, step 8, step 5. (Keep all the bolts loose, this will give you about an eight of and inch play to adjust the fender gap to the door, make sure your door opens up freely before tightening everything. Once adjusted and all previous steps screws are tight, reverse step 2 and reinstal your splash guard, reinstal your headlight And don't forget to tighten the screws in step 5.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 63
Well i have looked at it and what seems to be happening is the two bolts that mount the lower fender to the pinch welds have had the heads snapped off. So looks like a couple new bolts and getting the old ones out will fix my issue. Fingers crossed.
