Adding New Fenders to my Jeep

Last week my new fenders arrive for my Jeep. In preparation of their arrival, I hit the tub bolts with penetrating oil every day for a week prior, the others that thread into the plastic backing nuts I hit twice – two days before the job. All the bolts came out fairly easy except one. The one that gave me trouble was related to the rivet nut spinning on the tub. I reached up from the undercarriage and placed some vice grips on it to prevent it from spinning and worked the bolt slowly an 1/8” inch back and forth, then hit it with penetrating oil again. I waited 10 minutes and worked it back and forth again about a 1/4” inch each time, hit it with oil again and waited for 10 minutes. I kept doing this and eventually it came out.

I then used my rivet nut tool to retighten the rivet nut that was loose. As I removed each fender, I cleaned up the area where the fenders attach to clean up the dirt and grim that had collected and clean up the paint. As I reinstalled each new fender, I added a nice helping of grease to each bolt to ensure the next time I remove the fenders – the removal process would be much easier.

It took me 1 hour on the troublesome fender, and 35 minutes each on the remaining fenders.

Best advice I can give to others planning to remove their fenders is… lots of penetrating oil, take your time and if a bolt does not want to come out – don’t force it. Instead take small turns back and forth and re-oil until it begins to come out.

I’m really pleased with the results!!!