How to properly install fender liners on a car

Wheel arches are the most exposed part of the car to mechanical stress. Nevertheless, some motorists are confident that the factory protection can fully cope with its responsibilities. Others are absolutely convinced of the need to take additional measures to protect the metal of the wheel arches, otherwise in a few years, as a result of driving on domestic roads, they will receive damage “incompatible with life.”

Let's figure out which one is right.

Wheel arch protection: why is it needed?

Stones and other objects flying out from under the wheels, driven by centrifugal force, rush upward, where they are met by the inner surface of the wheel arch. As you know, water wears away stones. In this sense, metal is a more pliable material for stone. But it's not only that. Modern anti-corrosion treatment copes quite well with such mechanical stress, while simultaneously protecting the metal from corrosion.

But if chemical factors come into play (remember winter reagents for ice), such protection turns out to be powerless. That's what fender liners are for.

Many automakers install their own protection on wheel arches. This is usually a thin plastic that breaks down over time under the influence of gravel, sand, screenings, salt and other factors. So the question of why you need to install fender liners on a car is still quite relevant, especially for older cars. Car owners just need to carefully monitor the condition of the inner cavity of the wheel arches (as well as the bottom), and if it gives rise to concern, take measures to avoid further destruction.

There is no better way to do this than installing additional protection. Therefore, let's look at what fender liners are, what they are like, and how you can install them yourself without resorting to the help of car services.

Tags: installing factory fender liners without screws and extra holes in the body

Comments 56

What perversions did you see?

the type of fender liner itself

I also set these for myself in the summer at 9k)

Somehow I found where to buy them)

Hi, what kind of fender liners are these?

Hello, the wheel arch liners from the VAZ 2114 are factory.

the plasticine will melt in the summer, cover it with a transparent silicone sealant, the fender liners are shaped like foreign or something, to me they’re like the factory fender liners for 2108, my wings are plastic, I don’t care about the cutter

I bet regular plasticine will melt, but auto plasticine will be just elastic

Wow, this is a useful post. I’ve had these fender liners lying around for two years now, I tried them on once, they didn’t fit, I thought for a long time about how to install them. I'll take note. Thank you!

You're welcome, installation is very simple and quick. Of course you'll have to cut off the excess

Good job, but there is one BUT, will this plasticine fly off the first time you wash the car? In my rear, almost all the anti-corrosion protection in the arches was knocked off at the car wash.

Thank you. The plasticine will not fly off, it holds very tightly. Once upon a time it was smeared on my 9, drove for 5 years, did not fly off

Read more: How to know when to change rear pads

Good job, but there is one BUT, will this plasticine fly off the first time you wash the car? In my rear, almost all the anti-corrosion protection in the arches was knocked off at the car wash.

Don't worry, it won't fly off. I have a couple of holes in the door sealed with it, and it will be fine for almost a year now. At the car washes, even the spray paint applied to it didn’t come off =)

Do you need regular car plasticine or some special one? Does it harden or stay the same soft?

I had some kind of blue box lying in my garage with the inscription “Autoplastelin with a rye converter.” They all seem to be like that. No, it remains plastic for the entire time of use. Moreover, this crap was in my garage for at least 7 years; it was still used in my father’s seven.

ok topic, I already bought a car with these

Thank you. It’s good that I already bought with these

They also make cars from this plasticine! hahahaha))))

What really holds up well? Will it come off metal normally?

Plasticine do you mean?

I used plasticine to fill small gaps between the wing arch and the fender liner so that dirt and water would not get in. In fact, I did not use the plasticine to hold the fender liner, but it rubs off the metal perfectly.

first time I heard about these

I myself found out not long ago that such things exist.

I would like the discs to be unwelded

I respect competent work, but I would just like to add from my personal experience I bought a fresh four and it wasn’t even a year old and these factory fender liners were standing there, in general, I was riding until after washing I noticed that in the part where the open space, or rather where the fender liner does not cover, there is a dent and also about 1.5 cm of metal was torn apart and it was all due to a stone that jumped out from under the wheel! I spat on everything, removed them, removed the metal rupture, processed them and installed those that completely cover the entire space, naturally, having sealed everything, only instead of plasticine I used silicone! But thanks for the tip with plasticine, autumn will come, I’ll take pictures of everything and then I’ll use plasticine. I set the task that every year I will monitor what’s happening there! Good luck on the roads

Thank you very much, mutually. I’ll take note and monitor what’s happening under the fender liners.

Types of fender liner

There are several ways to protect car arches. Let's look at the most popular and widespread of them:

plastic fender liners. Lockers made of soft plastic replaced metal fender liners, which were very common in Soviet times. They had a good resource, but were heavy and inconvenient to install. Plastic products have lost these shortcomings, being practically inferior to them in terms of mechanical strength. They are much more elastic, lighter, characterized by high wear resistance, and easy to install. In retail there are products of various shapes, designed for almost all domestic models and most foreign cars. And the cost of plastic is much lower than metal. Their main drawback is the need for fastening to metal using self-tapping screws - even if this area is treated with an anti-corrosion compound, over time this is where a rust spot can form;
Fiberglass fender liners in their characteristics are not much different from plastic ones - their light weight, strength and immunity to temperature and atmospheric factors make them a good, albeit more expensive, alternative to plastic;
liquid lockers have long become the de facto standard when applying an anti-corrosion/anti-gravel layer in a factory environment. You can create such an additional one yourself, using the appropriate liquid, of which there is an abundance in the retail chain. The main advantage of liquid lockers is the ease of processing any pre-cleaned surface, regardless of their geometry. The disadvantage is also quite obvious - the fragility of the coating (average service life is 2-3 years);
armoring film is a type of metal protection that appeared relatively recently. However, in factory conditions the technology has already proven itself on the positive side; it is used to protect all body parts exposed to external influences: bumpers, sills, optical instrument lamps. The strength qualities of such films are no worse than plastic, plus they are transparent, that is, they do not spoil the appearance of the car. The only significant drawback is the complex application technology;
fender liners made of ABS plastic have approximately the same set of pros and cons as regular polyethylene - with low weight and cost, they are not very durable, and also have low weather resistance. They are not recommended to be pressed too tightly against the arches due to the risk of cracks; the overall service life of such products is low;
Aluminum lockers, as well as galvanized ones, are practically not used today. Despite their high mechanical strength, they have a number of disadvantages (the need to use a rubber gasket, the risk of bursting at the fastening point or being subject to deformation).

Types of fender liner

In the modern car spare parts market, various types of wheel arch liners are widely represented. They differ in materials. Plastic, polyethylene, and fiberglass accessories are especially popular. Previously, there were also metal fender liners - they were made mainly of aluminum and galvanized sheet steel. But today metal fender liners are not relevant and are practically not used.

Also, in addition to solid fender liners, there are also liquid ones. These are special formulations in aerosol cans. They are applied to the space under the wing and are designed to protect the metal from moisture, dirt, and reagents. But over time, the protective coating wears off and you have to reapply the layer.

Fastening elements

Only liquid lockers do not require the use of fasteners. All their other varieties need to be fixed and secured somehow. Different manufacturers handle this differently. Thus, domestic car factories prefer to use self-tapping screws, while Asian car manufacturers use both self-tapping screws and clips. In the USA, plastic clips are mainly used, while in the Old World many types of fasteners are used.

Let's look at all the common ways to attach fender liners:

clips are used to attach not only the fender liner, but also other parts of the body and interior (for example, trim). An alternative name for this type of fastener is a spring clamp. There is a reason for this name: fixation occurs due to the expansion of the cut part of the clip after its installation;
latches, like clips, do not provide ideal fastening rigidity, but their main advantage is a non-traumatic installation method, used mainly for rigid types of fender liners (fiberglass, ABS plastic);
self-tapping screws are the easiest to use, have a longer service life, but leave behind holes in the body part. It is recommended to use only galvanized products, and treat the fastening area with an anti-corrosion compound;
Pistons can also be called a common and universal method of fastening automotive parts. The fixing ability remains high even in cases where the piston does not completely enter the hole;
bolt + nut – a type of threaded fastening, characterized by high reliability of the connection and its low aesthetics. Requires anti-corrosion treatment.

Features of protective elements

There are two ways to protect your car's wheel arches: install fender liners or treat the metal with a special layer of protective mastic. Installing fender liners is much faster and cheaper than treating the body, and in terms of efficiency there is practically no difference.

Almost all Renault models have a small flaw: the quality of wheel arch protection is, to put it mildly, low. In fact, the role of a protective coating is played by a layer of ordinary paint, and various external influences will lead to the destruction of this layer quite quickly - within a year or a year and a half. As a result, the wheel space will gradually begin to rust, forcing the car owner to spend money on very expensive body work. For a Logan car, the installation of rear fender liners must be performed immediately after purchase. Otherwise, the car owner will be able to detect the first traces of rust in the wheel niches within a short time. Considering the high popularity of the car in courier services and taxis, which contributes to considerable mileage, including on low-quality road surfaces, the installation of plastic protection is simply mandatory.

For Renault cars, fender liners (they are also often called lockers) are installed on both the front and rear wheel arches. Original products exactly repeat the shape of the arches, and for their production high-strength plastic is produced that is resistant to mechanical stress and temperature changes. Throughout their entire service life, regardless of conditions and temperature conditions, they retain their properties and are not subject to deformation.

It is worth noting that the installation of rear fender liners on a Renault Duster is extremely simple - the factory lockers have all the necessary mounting holes that exactly match those located on the body. If installed in accordance with all the rules, the fender liners are practically invisible and do not spoil the appearance of the vehicle.

Noise insulation

Wheel arches, along with the engine compartment, are one of the most accessible places in terms of penetration of external noise into the cabin. Usually, the sound insulation of the engine compartment is done at a good level, so the sounds of a running engine practically do not reach the inside of the car. Another thing is the arches, which perfectly convey the acoustics of the tires. So, along with installing anti-corrosion and anti-gravel protection, you should also think about additional sound insulation. There is also a considerable selection of means and methods, from liquid materials to special sealants. You can also purchase fender liners with a sound-absorbing coating already applied.

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).

What is needed to install the fender liner

It all depends on the type of lockers used. So you need to start with their selection. In the retail chain they are presented in sets, but you can purchase fender liners separately if necessary. Original products are expensive, but they are easy to install in a seat; in this case, there are no compatibility problems, unlike analogues.

What you will need besides lockers:

soundproofing material. The most common is vibroplast, which, in addition to soundproofing properties, will protect the body from moisture;
material for anti-corrosion treatment of those places where fasteners are used or where the locker comes into contact with the body;
construction hair dryer - used to cover the arch with vibroplast, to preheat some types of lockers, especially non-original ones;
fastening the fender liners (screws, clips, latches). Using clips, you can attach lockers to plastic bumpers, self-tapping screws are used for fastening to metal body parts.

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.

Do-it-yourself fender liner installation algorithm

Installing lockers on the front arches is in most cases a simpler operation. The reason is simple - there are more opportunities to install fender liners without screws. We will try to describe how to do this. The task is simplified by the ability to attach a plastic bumper to the side edge, which on most modern models is adjacent to the wheel opening. It is clear that the risk of corrosion in this area is reduced to zero. In addition, lockers can be installed in existing grooves; in this case, additional fixation is often not needed at all. Another simple option is to attach the fender liners to the mudguards; in this case, self-tapping screws can be used in the area of the arch pillar, where the metal of the body is well protected.

Installing rear lockers is more difficult:

you need to start by trying on the fender liner and trimming the protruding parts;
then you should prepare the metal surface (free it from dirt and rust) and immediately treat it with mastic or another similar substance;
Now it’s time to start installing the locker. If you cannot do without self-tapping screws, try to minimize their number without compromising the strength of the connection;
try to use plastic fasteners (clips, pistons, latches) where possible;
If you have doubts about reliable fixation, you can carefully glue the fastening points.

Over time, the lockers, which initially do not have a gap with the body, may move away, so this must be monitored during operation of the car. If such places are discovered, it is necessary to urgently take measures aimed at eliminating the deficiencies. Otherwise, the cracks will inevitably become a place for the accumulation of dirt and moisture, that is, a source of corrosion.

Advice from experienced drivers

To eliminate the relief discrepancy, during installation, individual sections of the plastic are deformed by heating them with a high-temperature hair dryer. If the fastening is done correctly, the tire should not touch the wheel arch protection even at maximum wheel inversion.
If the area of the wheel arches is already rusty, then after cleaning it needs to be primed with anti-corrosion agents, for example “ML”, “Movil”. The composition protects exposed metal in holes from the corrosion process. For the same purpose, during installation, screws should be screwed in, having previously treated them with sealant.

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.

Functions of fender liners, installation recommendations

To prevent the occurrence of corrosion processes and to increase the service life of wheel arches, fender liners are installed today. Their second technical name is lockers. Of course, it is very expensive to repair a niche today, so it is better to install the fender liners yourself if they were not installed at the factory. In addition, lockers improve the appearance of the car. Different materials are used to make fender liners:

polyethylene;
fiberglass;
polyvinyl chloride;
copolymers.

The following types of materials have excellent properties:

high strength;
elasticity;
environmental Safety.

It must be said that they are distinguished by low thermal conductivity. Therefore, snow adhesion and ice formation are not observed on the surface of the lockers. Auto parts stores provide every car owner with a wide range of wheel arch liners. Corresponding elements are produced for almost every car model.

The best quality installation of lockers can be done at a service station. But you can install fender liners on a VAZ yourself if you have certain skills and some specific knowledge. The service life of the VAZ wing depends on the tightness of the fender liners. A tight connection is much easier to make with special equipment. Before installing the wheel arch liner, you must:

wash;
dry;
coat with an anti-corrosion compound.

To carry out such technological operations, a special stand is used. The installation of the fender liners itself does not cause any particular difficulties. They are secured with self-tapping screws, which must be screwed into the “pistons” included in the kit. The wheel arches have special technological holes that coincide with the mounting holes for the fender liners.

Therefore, there is no need to do additional drilling. As a result, the paint coating that was applied to the surface of the wheel arch is not damaged. To install the front fender liner, you need to perform several operations:

a fender liner is inserted into the wheel arch;
the mudguard is fixed;
tighten three screws securing the locker to the front bumper;
all pistons are installed in the technological holes;
A self-tapping screw is screwed into each piston;
the upper fastening of the fender liner is performed;
Removing the fender liner is carried out in the same sequence, but in reverse.

To install the rear fender liners, follow these steps:

the rear fender liner is inserted into the wheel arch of the VAZ wing;
the mudguard is screwed on;
the top screws are tightened;
the lower screw screws the fender liner to the rear bumper;
Remove the rear fender liner in the reverse order.