treemonkee

I removed my fender flares for cleaning and re-painting and now I can't get them to go back on. As I usually pretty good at breaking things I thought I would ask before I tried to hard to force fit them.

Thanks in advance

IJM

What's the issue? Are the bolts not lining up with the holes in the fender, or can you not get the brackets back on the fender flares?

exasemech

When you took them off did you do it by unscrewing the little, usually rusted, nuts on the studs on the clips so the clips remained attached to the flares or did you pull the flares off the clips. Based on my limited experience pulling the flares off the clips is a one way trip.

(And unless you are really lucky taking the little nuts off is also usually a one way trip as one or more of the studs will shear due to rust)

treemonkee

I didn't unbolt the brackets, just pulled em off. I guess I need to remove the brackets, duh? It's one of those profound moments, so simple and makes so much sense. When I removed the wheel well liners, they were the last to come out, so the first to go back in.

IJM

Those little bolts on the brackets have a tendency to shear off, even with liberal application of penetrating oil. What I did is just drill out the broken ones, tap them, and thread in a stainless steel machine screw and secure with epoxy or something to create another bolt. It's held up ever since.

Old Man Minimalist

That's a good idea. I have one that is bent. I thought I'd run a coupler nut down it after I straighten it as much as I can. If that doesn't work, I'll knock it out and add a screw.

Ralph77

When I removed my rear fender flares I broke a couple of the studs.
The part I circled I took to a bench grinder. Wear it down wafer thin. Put it on a piece of wood, that side down, and hit the broken stud with a hammer. This will push the part a I circled, picture is not mine and just one I grabbed off the internet,
out a little more to be able to grind it more. At this point you will be able to fish out what is left with a crappy screwdriver. Bought the following for each hole:
1 Bolt - M5x0.8X25 Hex Cap Screw 8.8
2 Nut - M5x0.8 Hex Nut
2 Lock Washer - 5mm
2 Flat Washer - M5
1 Flat Washer - 5/32 x 7/8
Take the bolt and small flat washer stick it in the bracket. Put on a small washer, lock washer, and a nut. Tighten good. Do the rest. Attach the fender flare. Put it on the Jeep. Take the big washer, lock washer, and another nut. Tighten. Once you get the hang of grinding you can whack out both brackets, on a fender flare, in about 5 minutes. It cost me about $6 to fix all the broken studs on my 2 rear fender flares.

treemonkee

Yep, you guys are correct. It's a lot easier to install the flares if you unbolt the brackets. lol I am embarrassed I had to ask.

exasemech

Hey, nobody is born knowing how to do this stuff. The only thing that bothers me is the folks that do everything with a you tube video, a BFH, and JB weld.