Rear Fenders

Starboard M

NAXJA Member
NAXJA Member
Location
Lafayette, CA
I was all ready to trim my rear fenders, but I realized that I didn't know how to attatch the flares back up. I was going to fold the metal over the pinch seam. But then I have no where to reattatch the flare. I was thinking about just not putting them, but the cops think my Jeep is illigal as is. So, who has done this? Would you post up pics.
 
If you cut the fenders at all, you aren't gonna be able to use stock flares, but you could still get some Rusty's or Bushwackers. What I did was...

1. cut up the fender between the spot welds in the fender (you will see them when you take the flare and brackets off) up to the inner fender. You should still have a little lip off of the body.

2. Now you have little tabs cut out that you can just beat under with a hammer. Really easy. Tape off the 'lip' from the rest of the body and spray a whole can of black rustoleum on the tabs and 'lip' so it doesn't rust.

3. ditch the stock flares and throw on some 33's!

For the front, just rip out the inner fender lining, and cut the fender out using the 'lip' as a template. Repeat step 3.
 
I have already cut the front. It looks like I can fit 35's on 4.5 inchs of lift. I was hoping that I could stick with the stock flares. $350 seems like a lot for flares. And they take away some clearance.
 
Sequoia, I was trying to find this, but couldn't. I was thinking about this, but that is where I want to trim. I was thinking of sheet metal srews, but I don't think that they will hold.
 
Starboard M said:
Sequoia, I was trying to find this, but couldn't. I was thinking about this, but that is where I want to trim. I was thinking of sheet metal srews, but I don't think that they will hold.
You mean sheet metal screws to hold the flares on? I've thought of that (actually self drilling hex heads), just remember to use a washer and it *should* be okay. The flares will come off easier of course, but you can always re-attach them. One of the things I like about running OEM flares is that if I kill them I can pick up replacements cheap and easy, and with the trimming of the flare it opens them up nicely.

Sequoia
 
Starboard M said:
I have already cut the front. It looks like I can fit 35's on 4.5 inchs of lift. I was hoping that I could stick with the stock flares. $350 seems like a lot for flares. And they take away some clearance.

You could always use Wrangler flares,

most people run TJ flares which run around $100-125 a set of 4 used

I picked up a set of YJ flares for $35 shipped.

with either option, the rears dont look out of place at all, but you need to be prepared to hack the crap out of the frontfenders to make them look right on the front end. Hex head self-tapping bolts were used where i couldnt access the back side to use a nut and bolt.

if trimmed enough either wrangler flars setup will allow you to run 35's on 4.5 with rubbing only under extreme flex.

cut away!
 
just bought a set of TJ flares off E-Bay for $ 50.00.
GSeqoia, instead of cutting up to the pinch seam welds it looks as though you folded the whole seam up. Is this correct?
 
Correct, all I did was those two releif cuts and folded it up so that I wouldn't have to deal with having the pinch seam welded back up.
 
GSequoia said:
You mean sheet metal screws to hold the flares on? I've thought of that (actually self drilling hex heads), just remember to use a washer and it *should* be okay. The flares will come off easier of course, but you can always re-attach them.
That's EXACTLY how my flares are attached (minus the washers)

I've had them tear off numerous times, but all I do is pull the screws out and put 'em back through the same holes, It does take some effort to get them to tear off (they never came off without the metal behind them getting dented up)
 
Just sheetmetal, hold the flares in place and mark the holes, drill small pilot holes and mount them up as described.
 
I just moved the stock flares up, cut them short where they previously jutted out to conform to the body, drilled small holes and used bolts, nuts, and washers. They're not going anywhere. It was a hassle to remove the interior panel to get the nuts on, but like I said, they're definitely not going anywhere and I've never ripped them off. On the outside I used the original metal pieces but the bolts were slightly rusted and stripped, so I cut them off, drilled new holes to put new bolts through, and welded the new bolts to those metal pieces so it's all held in place nicely. I used some silicone to make sure all the holes were sealed up nicely even though it probably wasn't necessary.
 
PETEY, how did you attatch the wrangler flares? This is driving me crazy!! I can't figure out how to attatch them

I have not cut the fenders or put them on yet. for the fronts I can still see the out lines of where the original hardware was. I figure I'll just cut some metal similar to them or just use big washers and bolts.
For the back I'll have to cut and fold, put the fender where I want it, mark and cut the fender in half. (Four door, so part of the fender will attached to the door). As far as fastening, I don't know yet as I haven't got around to it yet. Probably use some kind of self tapping screws and washers.
 
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