Aftermarket Plastic Fender Liners Any Good?

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11-10-2018 | 02:43 AM

#16

downs

CF Veteran

Joined: Oct 2018

Posts: 1,096

Likes: 166

From: Hunt County Texas

Year: 1995

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0L

Quote:

Originally Posted by third coast

Thanks "Jeepwalker" and "downs". Hope your installs go effortlessly. Looking forward to hearing about the results. I don’t think you will have to remove the exterior flares unless the retainers that contain the studs are rotter and/or the studs break off during liner removal. I believe the flares snap onto the retainers but I am interested in what you find. I recall that the front edge of the flares on the early 90’s are riveted to the trim piece that goes across the front. I have not looked into how easy those rivets are to find/replace.

If you have to replace any retainers that contain the studs here are OE part numbers for the fronts that I got from the dealer. There are three per side, each different. Even if the dealer parts are not available or too expensive I have found that having the OE part numbers usually makes it easier to search for aftermarket parts.

Retainer, (front most) right: 55003232
Retainer, (front most) left: 55003233
Retainer, (center/top, maybe same both sides? ): 55003234
Retainer, (rearward) right: 55003236
Retainer, (rearward) left: 55003237

I saw that there are some individual Mopar retainers available on line but didn’t dig into details. It looks like Crown has a retainer replacement kit that covers Cherokee ’84 to ’96 with all retainers and fasteners for both front and rear. Part number 55003232K. It is a little pricy but possibly worth it in time and effort if your retainers are rusted and have broken studs. From what I found in the salvage yard you probably will not find good retainers there. If anyone has tried the Crown kit I would be interested in impression of quality and fit. Amazon has it listed but I didn’t see any reviews.

Yeah those little studs snap off if you look at them funny. I soaked them down with PB Blaster pretty good before I left for our family trip so hopefully by the time I get back they'll be good to go but I'm not holding my breath.

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11-10-2018 | 03:11 AM

#17

Ralph77

CF Veteran

Joined: Oct 2015

Posts: 7,421

Likes: 1,559

Year: 2000

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Quote:

Originally Posted by downs

I don't know if you can do this with '96 down brackets but there is a cheap easy fix for '97 and up when you bust them. Somebody did a write up on another forum and I tried to describe what I did at post #7.

https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/...te-up-3728009/

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11-30-2018 | 03:30 PM

#18

third coast

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2017

Posts: 535

Likes: 101

From: Northern Indiana

Year: 2000, 1991

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by downs

I ordered a set from RockAuto since I ordered a few other parts from them and got them in right before we left for a trip so I'll be putting them on this up coming week. They're flexible and look like they'll go in well. We will see. You definitely have to take the fender flares off to fit them in properly at least going by my previous shenanigans with fender liners.

I saw a photo of your new fender liners in the "what did you do to your Cherokee today" section. What do you think of them? How did install and fit work out? Thanks.

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11-30-2018 | 10:09 PM

#19

downs

CF Veteran

Joined: Oct 2018

Posts: 1,096

Likes: 166

From: Hunt County Texas

Year: 1995

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0L

They fit great. They have a few extra holes here and there I assume to accommodate different year models with different push fastener holes. I was able to salvage enough of the old fasteners to not have to buy new ones.

I suggest doing it in a heated garage or during warm weather. When I first took them out of the box they were nice and flexible but later that night when the temps dipped into the 30s they became a lot less flexible but they were still easy enough to get in but were reluctant to line up with some of the push fastener holes being so stiff in the cold weather.

I did have the tires/wheels off to rebuild the front brakes so that made it much easier. I pulled the nuts from one fender flare and left them on the other to see if it made a difference. It did. Everything lined up a little better on the side I took the fender flare nuts off. The other side when on easy enough but didn't quite line up quite as well.

Quality is IMO good enough. It's a plastic fender well liner. I have the advantage of parking my Jeep in a garage at home so I'm spared from many of the long term effects of UV exposure compared to a Jeep parked outside all the time so I can't speak to longevity. I guess we will see.

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