How to install fender liners without screws

Some automakers save excessively and do not install plastic wheel arch liners on their cars. Drivers quickly get tired of listening to pebbles from the road knocking against iron fenders and decide to install these fender liners themselves. But even in this simple operation, many manage to make mistakes, for example, they use self-tapping screws to attach lockers.

Is it worth installing them at all?

There is no consensus among drivers on this matter. Some argue that installing fender liners is a waste of money, since the car was treated with everything necessary at the factory and is not afraid of any corrosion. Others claim that standard protection is not enough, and it would be nice to increase acoustic comfort when driving on dirt roads. It turns out that each driver decides for himself whether his car needs wheel arch liners or not.

Installation errors

Installing fender liners is a fairly simple operation. However, some drivers purchase the cheapest, non-standard lockers, which must be attached to the car body using self-tapping screws. Manufacturers of these products offer car enthusiasts to drill several holes in their car and screw ordinary steel screws into them. If you follow these instructions and do it as suggested, then rust will appear on the drilled areas within a few years.

It is best to purchase original fender liners that have mounting holes and a set of plastic clips. Such lockers hold just as firmly as with self-tapping screws, but at the same time they do not force holes in the body. And as extensive driving experience shows, any hole made in the body of a car will certainly be covered with rust. Especially if it is done in a place such as wheel arches, where water from the road constantly gets in.

Many owners, wanting to protect their car from corrosion, cause irreparable damage to the body. Let's consider what kind of wheel arch protection will increase the level of comfort in the cabin and will not provoke rusting of the body.

Methods

For most drivers, mud flaps are rubber flaps that are installed behind the wheels near the bottom of the front fender and rear bumper. If we are talking about a car body, then a mudguard is usually called a metal casing that connects the spar, the engine shield and the wings in the nose (the shock-absorbing strut cup is part of the mudguard). In the rear part there is a mudguard - the wheel well of the body. The protection of these body elements will be discussed.

The car owner has only 2 ways to protect wheel arches:

installation of fender liners. The plastic casing is attached to the wings and the internal cavity of the mudguards;
liquid protection. The arch is treated with a special anti-gravel material based on bitumen and anti-corrosion components. For application, use a special gun that sprays a liquid mass, or a brush. After drying, a dense, damping surface is formed on the body, which has noise and vibration insulation properties.

Sound insulation deserves special attention. Due to vibrations from driving over uneven surfaces and the rolling noise of tires, the cavities of the mudguards are quite vibration- and noise-laden areas. Water, dirt and large stones flying from under the wheels, hitting the metal part of the body, resonate, which leads to the transfer of noise into the car interior. Good noise insulation protection of the wheel arches significantly increases the level of comfort.

Which is better

If we consider plastic fender liners and liquid protection separately, it is difficult to choose the best method. If there are factory places for attaching protection, as well as corresponding plastic products, it is better to give preference to fender liners. They are more durable in use. To install rubber mud flaps, you will not need to drill into the body, which is a huge advantage.

If there are no standard places for fastening in the wings, and the owner does not want to bother installing lockers without screws, then it is better to choose liquid sound insulation. In terms of the level of transmitted noise, these methods of protection are approximately the same, but the disadvantage of liquid fender liners is their fragility. Constant impacts of stones, dirt, moisture, temperature changes and vibrations of the body lead to delamination of the material. As practice shows, even high-quality processing must be repeated every 2-3 years.

The best way is combined protection with preliminary sound insulation. After applying noise and vibration insulation, the cavity is treated with liquid mastic. And only then the fender liner is installed.

Selection of lockers, mastic, sound insulation

Guidelines when choosing fender liners:

thickness. Products that are too thin are damaged faster and are more susceptible to deformation in the hot season;
elasticity. Lockers are made of ABS or PP plastic. The latter option is more elastic and therefore often more durable. But even with the same labeling, you can feel the difference between manufacturers. You should not buy products that are too hard, as the material will become completely hard in the cold, which can cause cracking;
presence of stiffeners;
holes for standard fasteners, if provided.

The choice of manufacturers is huge (API, ASAM, SA, FLORIMEX, GORDON, KLOKKERHOLM, POLCAR, SAT and many others). You need to identify manufacturers offering fender liners for your car model, and then ask about the operating experience of other car owners. One of the main factors, which, unfortunately, can only be checked during installation, is the coincidence of the body moldings with the shape of the fender liner. This will allow protection without distortion and tightly close all cavities.

Mastic, soundproofing materials

Previously, we have already considered the application of liquid sound insulation, on top of which lockers can be installed. To form liquid fender liners, you can use Dinitrol 479. As a pre-treatment before installing the lockers, you can use anti-corrosion mastic with a noise-absorbing effect from APP, Terotex, Schwarz or other manufacturers.

The following are used as sheet insulation:

base layer of vibration-absorbing composition with a thickness of 2 mm;
soundproofing material.

There are now a huge variety of material models, as well as manufacturers (Shumoff, STP, Vikar, etc.). Therefore, when choosing, you should focus on the price, as well as the thickness of the final coating. The noise-insulating “sandwich” should not interfere with the installation of lockers. It is advisable to buy material with an adhesive layer based on mastic rather than water-soluble adhesives.

Preparation, sound insulation

Protecting the arches begins with washing the inside of the mudguard and thoroughly drying it. Then the entire surface is degreased. Option for good sound insulation of wheel arches:

A vibration-absorbing layer is glued onto the entire surface of the mudguard, covered by the locker you purchased (for example, Shumoff L3 or M3. It needs to be heated before pasting). The sheets are rolled tightly with a metal roller. In this case, the standard anti-gravel coating does not need to be removed;
Mastic is applied on top with a brush or spray. If desired, you can put it in 2-3 layers, but at the same time, allow 10-15 minutes of drying between layers. at a temperature of +20ºС;
plastic lockers are covered with noise-absorbing material (for example, Shumoff Germeton A15). Also at this stage, soundproofing sheets based on foam rubber can be used (as an option - Shumoff Comfort 6).

Correct installation of lockers

Many cars have factory mounting locations for fender liners. Special plastic “bugs” are used as fastening elements. The use of self-tapping screws is permissible when attaching lockers to plastic elements (decorative threshold trim, bumpers). If processed correctly, self-tapping screws can be used as fasteners at the bottom of the internal cavity of the mudguard.

Never use self-tapping screws to attach the fender liner to the edge of the wing. Moisture is trapped between the plastic casing and the wing. In the place where the metal is exposed, rusting will inevitably begin, which, moving upward, will destroy the paintwork.

When you can't do without self-tapping screws

If another installation method is not possible or if holes have already been drilled in the wing before you, the metal must be protected. If there are no traces of rye in the area where the paintwork is damaged, prime the area with epoxy primer and paint it with acrylic paint from a spray can. Rusted areas must first be cleaned and treated with a rust converter. After drying, treat the inner cavity of the wing and the edge adjacent to the fender liner with anti-corrosion mastic (for example, Movilya). Also soak the self-tapping screw in mastic before screwing it in.

Useful solutions

Often, protecting wheel arches with fender liners can only do harm. Vibrations from a poorly secured product damage the paintwork in the plane of contact with the wing. There are two ways to deal with this:

The edge of the locker is trimmed, and a special seal is put on it. The soft rubber coating fits tightly to the wing and does not scratch the paint;
use of body sealant. It is applied where the plastic adheres to the body. Promotes waterproofing, which is important for both paintwork and laminated sound insulation. The sealant not only performs a waterproofing function, but also acts as an additional fastener. After drying, it remains elastic and therefore does not crack.

At any time of the year, the wheel arches of a car are exposed to aggressive external factors that gradually destroy the metal. In winter they are affected by moisture, dirt and salt, which is sprinkled on the road surface; in summer - sand and small stones. Many car manufacturers coat wheel arches with special compounds or install various protective elements, but, as experience shows, they cannot completely protect the metal. The only effective way to protect this part of the car body is plastic fender liners, which car owners install themselves or at car repair shops.

Is it worth paying money to a technician to install fender liners? In fact, such work does not require special skills and knowledge and can be done by any motorist with minimal experience working with simple tools.

DIY front fender replacement

Many car enthusiasts are accustomed to thinking that replacing a fender is a labor-intensive procedure that only qualified car service professionals can undertake. In fact, the procedure for removing and installing the front wing on Kalina will not be particularly difficult. At the same time, this will allow the car owner to save a lot of money, which can later be spent on other purposes. By following the algorithm of actions proposed in this article, the car owner will be able to replace the Kalina front fender with his own hands, even in his garage. In this case, it does not matter which fender needs to be replaced: the front left fender of the Lada Kalina or the front right fender of the VAZ Kalina, in each of these cases the sequence of actions will be the same.

What you need for work

To perform this work, first of all you will need the fender liners themselves. These parts are made for a specific car model and are not difficult to find on the auto parts market. Today, the most common fender liners are made from the following materials:

Fiberglass;
ABC plastic;
Polyethylene.

A few years ago it was possible to purchase shaped products made of aluminum and zinc-coated steel, but today they are practically not found. These days, the most favorable price-quality ratio is considered to be polyethylene fender liners - they are durable, elastic and easy to repair in the same way as plastic bumpers. In addition to the fender liners themselves, we will need metal screws with a press washer and any anti-corrosion compound, for example the popular and inexpensive Movil. It is best to use galvanized self-tapping screws, which will last an order of magnitude longer than regular ones. Also, for installation, it is optional to stock up on regular silicone sealant.

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Current time: 17 Dec 2022, 10:10

Lockers.

Re: Fender liners.

maxpon » 07 Nov 2011, 09:13

Good afternoon. In general, I took the fender liners to the dealer. A whole council of 2 managers and 3 repairmen gathered, they raised Logan and began to measure. They have NEVER bet back to anyone. Here you have an off-dealer. We looked with surprise at the part numbers for the fender liners; they don’t break through. In general, they said they will deliver.

We make preparations

It is most convenient to install the fender liners when the car is on a lift and there is full access to the wheel arches. But it is not always possible to use such equipment, so a regular jack will do just fine. The sequence of preparatory work is as follows:

The wheels are removed;
Wheel arches are cleaned of dust using brushes. If possible, it is worth treating the surface with compressed air to remove even the smallest contaminants;
If pockets of corrosion are found on the metal, they must be thoroughly cleaned and coated with Movil;
The fender liners are being tried on - the plastic elements must fit perfectly into the wheel arches;
If the “trying on” showed some discrepancies in shape, then they can be corrected by heating the polyethylene with a hair dryer;

If all of the above points are met, then the plastic fender liners will take their place perfectly and the wheels will not touch them even in the sharpest turns.

Algorithm for dismantling the wing

Of course, first of all it is necessary to jack up the car body. Removal of individual spare parts is carried out using socket wrenches. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

Use a screwdriver to loosen the mounting bolts.
After this, access to the apron opens, which can be removed using a socket wrench size 8.
Unscrew the car bumper to remove the wing. As soon as the bolts are unscrewed, you need to pull the left edge of the product, after which the right one will begin to come out of its grooves. First, remove the bumper, after which you will have access to the body element.
Remove the dirt protection cover.
Disconnect the headlight unit and the hood bumper.
The area where the metal joins the body is cleaned of mastic using a knife.
Using a 19mm wrench, unscrew the screws that secure the body element at the front and the bolts that secure it at the top. Then remove the screw that is hidden between the wing and the door. It is important to note that this procedure can only be carried out with the door open. Next, remove the bolt from the lower part of the structure.

We insulate the wheel arches to reduce noise in the cabin

There are literally dozens of options for soundproofing wheel arches. Many use traditional methods with the installation of insulation of various shapes and options, others prefer more modern solutions. In any case, you should remember about the effectiveness and durability of the chosen sound insulation method. You can choose to spray special chemical compounds on the fender liner, which will be done for you in a specialized center. You can also use the ideas of liquid sound insulation in the form of various resinous compounds applied to the metal in a thick layer. However, the most popular solution is this method of soundproofing car arches:

in a car store or on the market, a search is made for the optimal materials for sound insulation specifically for your car or universal ones;
the material in this case is a foil and fairly thin seal that should cover all metal surfaces above the wheel;
the material is mounted on mastic, as well as on special glue or other fasteners, which also reduces the possibility of corrosion;
sound insulation can be single-layer or multi-layer; often the effectiveness of all work performed depends on the number of layers of material;
the sound insulator is mounted with the foil side to the wheel, this helps to reflect sound and reduces unpleasant noise effects in the car interior;
A plastic fender is mounted on top of the insulation layer - this is a prerequisite for maintaining the durability of the insulation layer and the efficiency of its operation.

The process of installing sound insulation on fender liners is quite simple, so you can complete all the tasks yourself. Many sellers offer ready-made plastic fender liners with a layer of sound insulation and insulation applied. This is a completely adequate solution, but its effectiveness is somewhat lower than when carrying out high-quality insulation using special materials. You can use a variety of solutions to get the desired result. The main task is to ensure reliable protection of the body from the spread of corrosion. This is one of the first tasks when performing any work related to the installation of additional materials or devices. Therefore, it is recommended that work be carried out by specialists.

Wing cost

It should also be said about how much the wing costs for Kalina. Currently, the price for this car body element on average ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 rubles. Of course, you can find both more expensive and less expensive options.

Please note that the price will not include coloring of the product. Painted parts cost approximately RUB 1,000. expensive. The cost of products with anti-corrosion treatment, of course, will also be higher, but in this case you should definitely not skimp on quality. If you plan to install a new body part, then it is better to buy it painted, since handicraft anti-corrosion treatment or painting will most likely lead to the rapid appearance of corrosion spots on the new wing. Of course, it is better to avoid this scenario.

Selection and installation of fender liners on the front and rear wheel arches

The front wheel arches are somewhat easier to install plastic wheel arches. The fact is that there are many possibilities for conveniently securing the protection without screws. Firstly, the fender liner is inserted into the grooves and, provided the quality of protection is normal, may not be fixed at all by additional fasteners. Secondly, there is often a fairly large plane of the front bumper, which allows you to tighten the screws without the risk of corrosion. You can also mount the fender liner to the mudguard and tighten two self-tapping screws in the area of the pillar inside the wheel arch - the metal is well protected there and is rarely attacked by corrosion. Rear fender liners are much more difficult to install:

first you need to try on the fender liners themselves in order to cut out unnecessary parts, if any, in the plastic protection;
then you should prepare the surface, thoroughly clean the metal under the arch and examine it for the presence of corrosion;
all problems should be eliminated immediately and preserved in mastic and other anti-corrosion materials;
Next comes the direct installation of the fender liner, which is an important part of the process for preserving the metal parts of the arch;
you should screw the screw into the plastic bumper, but refrain from screwing into the metal parts of the body;
if there are special clips for mounting fender liners, you can use them, otherwise, installation should be carried out using a minimum number of fasteners;
a good and correctly installed fender liner will not fall off during operation, even when installed with a small number of screws.

What happens if you don't put fender liners on your car?

There are a number of negative factors that can arise if there are no fender liners on a car. We've already talked about some of the disadvantages, but now it's worth collecting them all into one list of specific disadvantages. There are many opinions about plastic fender liners, including among experts. Many will say that this part is not needed at all and is a big drawback of a modern car. Others will say that without the use of high-quality fender liners, your car will not be able to drive on our roads for even a year, remembering the salts on winter asphalt and various bitumen mixtures. The main reasons why many motorists install fender liners on their vehicles are the following:

a significant reduction in the risk of corrosion on the wheel arches, which significantly increases the reliability of the vehicle and its durability;
reducing noise in the car interior from the arches, which is especially important at high speeds when traveling on the highway or when operating the car on difficult roads;
there is significantly less risk of chipping the paint or protective layer of the body when driving on gravel and sand, certain protection of metal parts from destruction;
addition to the appearance of the car - without fender liners the car looks unfinished, some details and voids are visible that spoil the appearance;
When washing a car, it will be much more difficult to pour water into places where it is not needed, this will significantly increase the operating comfort of the car.

Less important advantages of using modern versions of fender liners are also mentioned. You can recall the special anti-noise compounds that are applied to the wheel arches only when installing fender liners. The use of modern fender liners with various installation options and convenient operation will improve the quality of use of your car and extend the potential life of the vehicle in order to save money on repair and restoration work. There are dozens of ways to install fender liners; their choice and purchase also turn out to be different for each buyer. Therefore, choose the options that are convenient for you, but do not leave your car without this protection option. We offer a short video on how to install fender liners on one of the popular cars:

After replacement

Once the main body of work is finally completed, you can also install new fender liners on the car. For example, for a Lada Kalina 2 car, Kalina 2 Petroplast fender liners, which are recommended by many professionals, would be a good option.

We recommend reading:

Brake system: stopping the Lada Kalina
Kalina Sport car seats
Firmware for Lada Kalina
Changing the look of Kalina Turbo
Diagnostic connector for Lada Kalina
Beautiful interior of Lada Kalina

Let's sum it up

Today, motorists are bombarded with constant advertising related to various methods of car protection, which are not always quite effective. It should be remembered that there is a basic set of protection against the spread of corrosion, and this is what you should use in your car. Anything that turns out to be excessive will ultimately just cost you money and significantly increase the overall cost of running the car. Fender liners are necessary and have not become the subject of popular advertising because they are quite cheap.

Otherwise, various methods of reducing sound effects when driving, the mythical insulation of wheel arches and other important manifestations of various methods of equipping a car with additional advantages end without results. You should not waste a lot of money on methods of improving a car that do not work and do not provide any results or practical benefits. Choose high-quality fender liners, install them using good fasteners and enjoy a pleasant ride. Have you installed wheel arch liners on your car?