Mystery Bulge?
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Keller, Texas DFW
Mystery Bulge? this panel has been like this on my car since i got it, and only on the drivers side. and every other 98-02 camaro that i can remember seeing in person has been the same way. did they all come like this, and if not, what caused it?
its less noticeable in the pic, and it drives me crazy when i think about it too much. i really only notice it when i wash, but thats at least once a week!
anyway to fix it?
its less noticeable in the pic, and it drives me crazy when i think about it too much. i really only notice it when i wash, but thats at least once a week!
anyway to fix it?
Someone who put your car on a lift didn't know what they were doing and crushed your fender tab. What you can do is get a 2x4 and a rubber mallet and beat on it a bit to get it straight again (it should hang straight down right underneath the car). I've had it happen twice, and it pissed me off both times...I was able to bang it back into place though.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 152
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From: Baton Rouge
like others said, its a bent pinchweld. put your finger on the bulge, then trace it down about 5 inches and look at where the bolts connect. just loosed the bolts, line up the fender, then tightern them. the good thing about having plastic fenders it you can bend and twist them every way possible
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 607
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From: Anna, OH
Be careful if you try to straighten it out. Do what you can to get the bolts out first. If you go banging on the plastic flange you might bust up the plastic. It happened on 1 of the 4 I straightened, so I learned the hard way. 
Our Firebird and Camaro both had this problem. It is from lifting it improperly.
Our Firebird and Camaro both had this problem. It is from lifting it improperly.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 152
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From: Baton Rouge
i didnt say bang on it, LOOSEN the bolts, then hold the fender with the proper gap, while someone else tightens the bolts. if you need to move the flange that the fender bolts to undo the fender first so its out of the way
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What exactly is it that they do wrong to cause that? Sooner or later I'm gonna need tires or exhaust or something I don't have the equipment to fix, so it would be helpful to know how to tell them to lift it. Never used a lift myself....
Originally Posted by GoldenBird
What exactly is it that they do wrong to cause that? Sooner or later I'm gonna need tires or exhaust or something I don't have the equipment to fix, so it would be helpful to know how to tell them to lift it. Never used a lift myself....
Now, if you actually want them to do it right, point out the fender tabs to them, and then point out the fact that the subframe is actually about 6" or so more towards the center of the car where they need to grab it. It also depends on the kind of lift they are using...there are some with planks on both sides of the car that slide in, inevitably catching the tabs. In that situation, you are pretty much just screwed.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 152
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From: Baton Rouge
the ta i just bought is totaled, the salvage auction uses a big forklift to move around all of the cars, even if they run and drive. needless to say, mine are bent, and there will probably be a bulge in the pass side floor, seems like there always is on the cars at work
