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DIY fender replacement and alignment(with pics)


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Ok so somehow, you and your legacy have gotten into some kind of battle with any random object and the object won! Mine was a dang trash can. Yikes! :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1136.jpg

 

Well, it looks like it’s time to call your friendly neighborhood dealer ( HA! Yea right!) salvage yard, body shop, etc. and source your parts! In this specific instance, I was extremely lucky and will just need to replace my fender! I sourced a pre-painted fender off of a salvaged vehicle from www.car-parts.com for $180 shipped. This job is a lot easier then it initially looks, given you have the tools and patience!

 

TOOLS: I used 2 medium sized flat head screw drivers, 1 small Phillips, 10mm socket, and a 6 pack of Colorado's finest alcoholic elixir.

 

Let’s begin.

First, crack open beer. Sip until first wave of thirst is quenched.

Next, pop the hood and disconnect battery (safety first.) Now the fun begins. Located in the fender well, three plastic trim rivets need to be removed.(start on the damaged fender side of the car first and then move to the un-damaged side) They are located near the door sill side of the fender.(see picture) The best way I found without an exact tool to get these pesky things out was to take two flat head screwdrivers to the inside part. Pull toward you using even pressure and it should release the inner section. Make sure the inner section is completely removed before pulling the outer section from the trim. They do take some finesse because dirt likes to settle on the inside and make them a PITA to separate! While you are down there, remove the first 3-4 rivets in the side skirt molding on the damaged side only!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1140.jpg

 

Next, move around the lower perimeter of the bumper removing 5 rivets along the front. They are easy to see and you shouldn't need to jack the car up in the air. When you get to the opposite side fender well of the car, you don’t need to remove any of the rivets. Then pat yourself on the back; you've made it 1/4th of the way through the project!

Crack next beer and re-hydrate.

Also note, pic is of the rivets on the side skirt but you get the idea of what is happening underneath the front bumper.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1141.jpg

 

Now move your attention to the engine bay of the car. Remove the plastic trim rivets located on each side of the grille. Next, use the 10mm Socket to remove the two bolts on the grille. Then take a small screw driver/pen and release the snap clips along the top of the grille(4). grille then should pull forward, then up and out! Make sure you set it somewhere safe from getting stepped on or falling off of anything. You will thank yourself later.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1132.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1133.jpg

Now, you can wiggle your bumper and see that is loose but not quite there yet. At the edge where the bumper and fender meet, there is one last trim clip hiding underneath the plastic fender liner on both sides. These were the hardest two to get at with the screw drivers but it can be done! Once removed, the bumper should come right off. Don't forget to unplug the harness from your fog lights (if you have them) before fully pulling the bumper away from the car. At this point, it is getting quite bare up front!

Crack beer, eat a sammich, do what you do.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1131.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1129.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1134.jpg

Now refreshed, get that 10mm socket handy and work clockwise around the fender removing 2 bolts from the front bracket that was originally hidden under the bumper now underneath the amber part of the turn signal in my pictures. Then 4 bolts from the top of the fender (inside the engine bay.) The 4th bolt is hidden beneath a little piece of plastic molding in the rain tray. Then, open your door to reveal one bolt up top, and two near the bottom. Remove the 3 and the fender should pop right off, just remember to go slow so as not to nick up your door.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1129.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1146.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1147.jpg

 

OK, you are a little more then halfway done! Good work so far. Take a breathe for the hardest part is over! Kinda cool peeling away the skin!

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1143.jpg

Hydrate!

 

Now, take your new fender out of its “shipping blanket” and get her ready for her new home. Usually they will have some kind of marking pen or Crud written all over it( if you buy used) but it was easily removed with a microfiber, mild soap and some warm water. (I chose to wait until the fender was installed to clean it as it is kind of a tough little bugger to get to set still.):rolleyes:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1145.jpg

 

Now upon installation, HAND TIGHTEN the bolts to get the fender held in place roughly in its final position. I found it easiest to work one line at a time when lining up the fender and chose to start with the door line. WITH THE DOOR SHUT, line up the basic curve of the door to the curve of the fender and tighten the 3 door bolts enough to hold but not completely snuggled down (you will have to open door to install bolts.) Now, move to the hood line. Grab the hood and slowly bring it down towards the latch checking the gap between the fender and the hood.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1148-1.jpg

 

Once it looks good to your eye, tighten the 4 inside bolts completely snug. Close the hood and check the line one final time.Then snug the 3 door fender bolts and the 2 forward bolts and you are done with the fender!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1149.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1150.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1151.jpg

 

Now follow disassembly instructions to re-assemble the bumper and grille!

The Job took me about 2.5 hours with plenty of breaks and breathers. I take myself to be a fairly competent mechanic so that being said; I would rate this job around a 4.5-10 on the difficulty scale. Just take your time and check then double check your work. I have very rarely dabbled with body work but I was extremely pleased with the final look and fitment of my fender.(see below pic)

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v98/fightthisfeeling/100_1160.jpg

 

Best over all advice would be to treat your new part as though it were a baby, or something extremely fragile to keep your focus on not scratching it or bumping it during your installation. Cheers and good luck to you with your projects!

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Why was there a CapriSun taped to your bumper beam?
[URL="http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/proper-flip-key-interesti-159894.html"]Flip Key Development Thread[/URL] "Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped." - E. Hubbard
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Haha 6 pack because I had to stay straight enough to drive it to the wash afterword! The caprisun believe it or not was under the bumper skin upon removal. I find all kinds of weirdness tearing things apart. I found a still full tacobell sauce packet inside my dashboard one time that had to of been old considering it didnt have the cheesy saying on it. I'm kind of hoping to take a dash apart or fuel tank and find like $100K in cash. That would be the day! :lol:
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I think it is actually crap flying up off of the road. Just my opinion though.

 

I am with you on that.

 

 

I found a Mexican hat in my old Sentra SE-R.. It was assembled in Mexico

 

Haha any pics? I am imagining a huge sombrero or something along those lines.

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