Is the fender spot welded to the wheel wells? If so how do I go about removing the fender completely to install the new one?

 

should just be bolted on. lift the hood, should be a few on the edge of the fender there. then open the door and look there too.

 

check inside the inner fender (the wheelwell) on every vehicle ive had they have been bolted from the outside going in

 

Got the fender changed, it turned out that my truck had about 30 spot welds holding the metal inner fender wells onto the fender itself. I took it down to the body shop and had to tear the whole front end apart and then drill out the spot welds to replace the fender. Now all I need is the black plastic headlight mount bracket deal that bolts to the fender itself, any idea where I can find one?

 

try any local salvage yards, its a long shot. I cant find **** for my dodge in any salvage yard up here, otherwise a parts store or the dealership should have or be able to get one

 

What a disapointment. I can deal with the fact that I've had to replace more sensors on this truck than I have on all of my other cars combined. But now that the fender is rusted out, and crumpled from a 'size under-estimation' when trying to park next to a concrete pillar in the garage, I wanted to change it. So I found someone selling new painted fenders. Bought it, shipped it, and had it sitting for a couple of weeks until I could get to it. Already looked everything over and figured which bolts to take out.

Today I had a completly free afternoon, so I decide to tackle it. Took out the battery, tray, headlight, fender liner, and all the bolts. Didn't budge. WTF? looked all over, and no bolts left. Then I looked at that lip on the inner fender. SOB, that couldn't be spot welds, could it? wiped off the mud.. fark!... I don't have the tools to properly take out spot welds without making a big mess.

So it all went back together... Waste of a couple hours on a beautiful day I could have taken the Miata out for a drive.

I don't mind the fact that I had to replace the converter, the u-joints, and a handful of sensors in the 14k miles I've had it. But this has made Dodge lose major brownie points with me. Now I need to find a body shop to do this with out ripping me off on labor since I have my own parts.

 

Inner fender is attached to fender. Plastic in wheel well is removed. Fender and inner fender are replaced as one unit. Why they sell fenders that are separated is beyond me....

 

Six year old thread. I would like to think he has this dealt with by now.