Car damage, how hard will it be to fix the rear driver fender?

[erikiksaz]

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I just visited my car at the car lot to take off my wheels and i found THIS!! Those bastards somehow managed to screw up my car again. I'm guessing it's how they tow the cars around the lot. Basically, it's like one of those Caterpiller dirt hauling trucks with two 10 foot forks at the front. Anyways, how hard is it to repair the fender? It's not like the front fender, where you could just pop it off and replace it. Would a bodyshop be able to do it?

 

Good luck Bondo buddy, it ain't going to be easy.

 

[sillymofo]

They can, but this will cost you. But why are you fixing this any way? Save your money so you can buy a new car already.

 

[Turkish]

wow that sucks man, i hate the way towing companies tow...
grrr... good luck.

 

You should try a used auto parts/salvage yard. They are cheap and usually know a place that can put it on for cheap.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: cr4zymofo
They can, but this will cost you. But why are you fixing this any way? Save your money so you can buy a new car already.

Well, my brother doesn't mind keeping the car. The car was a gift from his wife, but hell, i'm thinking, if it's too much, might as well get a new one. But i found out you can replace that piece, it's 391 new.

 

Phocus, you don't understand buddy, that is a rear quarter panel, it is a integrel part of the unitized body, you just can't unbolt it and replace it.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: Roger
Phocus, you don't understand buddy, that is a rear quarter panel, it is a integrel part of the unitized body, you just can't unbolt it and replace it.

on some cars you can. crx's I don't know..

 

[SammyBoy]

I really dont get how that happened....

and roger why couldnt you unbolt and replace? I mean i could imagine it'd be a pain, but what does that part do that a new part in its place would do differently? HELP ME LEARN!

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: SammyBoy
I really dont get how that happened....

and roger why couldnt you unbolt and replace? I mean i could imagine it'd be a pain, but what does that part do that a new part in its place would do differently? HELP ME LEARN!

look for a 'seal' or 'break' in the metal at the top. on my car, the roof and both rear fenders are ONE PIECE. i.e. they cannot be unbolted, they have to be cut out and a new piece welded in.

 

[alkemyst]

man people don't understand something they drive everyday.

The rear quarters are just held on by velcro, pop them off and trash them.

Then go to the local cash 'n' carry and ask them for a 1993 red with about 4 years of sun and about 40k miles of highway faded driver side quarter.

Within 2 mins they will have you on your way with a perfect match.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
man people don't understand something they drive everyday.

The rear quarters are just held on by velcro, pop them off and trash them.

Then go to the local cash 'n' carry and ask them for a 1993 red with about 4 years of sun and about 40k miles of highway faded driver side quarter.

Within 2 mins they will have you on your way with a perfect match.

wth are you talking about?

 

[erikiksaz]

Well, for the most part, i found the replacement here

I'm guessing it is welded on though

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: alkemyst
man people don't understand something they drive everyday.

The rear quarters are just held on by velcro, pop them off and trash them.

Then go to the local cash 'n' carry and ask them for a 1993 red with about 4 years of sun and about 40k miles of highway faded driver side quarter.

Within 2 mins they will have you on your way with a perfect match.

wth are you talking about?

I was making a joke with how people seem to think all cars just come apart with bolts...in this case the rear quarter panel is held on with a combination of nuts, bolts, welds, and probably some glue.

Even if you can weld and get the perfect match at the local salvage, you will need to do alot of repainting to cover up the welding's burns.

 

[Vette73]

I don't know what state you are in, but when I drove a tow truck, years ago, you can't damage the the vehicle you are towing unless it is a emergency. So if they did that damage towing it they should pay for it.

And NO you can't unbolt it like roger said. 2 choices. Cut it out and weld in a new panel, or get some body tools and pull it out and reshape it.

 

I was making a joke with how people seem to think all cars just come apart with bolts...in this case the rear quarter panel is held on with a combination of nuts, bolts, welds, and probably some glue.

Incorrect sir, this is a unitized body structure, in essence the body is nothing but a welded sheetmetal box, the front fenders and facia are bolted onto the box structure, the back however is part of the one piece box, therefor it must be cut out and a new repair panel must be wleded in.

This is difficult if you do not have a body jig, the proper cutting and welding tools and years of experiance repairing this type of structure.
It will be much easier if you hammer the panel straight and then bondo it.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Roger

I was making a joke with how people seem to think all cars just come apart with bolts...in this case the rear quarter panel is held on with a combination of nuts, bolts, welds, and probably some glue.

Incorrect sir, this is a unitized body structure, in essence the body is nothing but a welded sheetmetal box, the front fenders and facia are bolted onto the box structure, the back however is part of the one piece box, therefor it must be cut out and a new repair panel must be wleded in.

This is difficult if you do not have a body jig, the proper cutting and welding tools and years of experiance repairing this type of structure.
It will be much easier if you hammer the panel straight and then bondo it.

My quote is exactly what you are saying (although I doubt the years experience part like it's brain surgery).....

edit: yeah bondo is probably the best tool in this affair....bondo is not the deebil everyone makes it out to be if done right.

Doing it right means spending time tapping out the panel to as close to perfect as possible. As a result you are talking just a skim coat.

Now the shops that plop in a 1/4" - 1/2"+ of mud should be drawn and quartered on webcam.

 

[V00DOO]

Bondo is easy. The hard part is sanding the bondo to a smooth surface to prime before painting. If you don't do a good sanding there'll be little holes.

 

[erikiksaz]

I wonder if it'll be possible for the auto body shops to fix easily though. My bro knows a little bit more about what's possible, and he's going to take a look at the car tomorrow.

All i know is that that huge "dent" flattened the little fender flare that was originally there. After they hammer it out, will bondo be able to get it back to how it used to be?