Repair or replace plastic fender?
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From: Monticello, Kentucky
Repair or replace plastic fender? I have a small tear in the corner of my pass side fender, down by the wheel well. Should I try to have this repaired or should I bite the bullet and replace. I know I WANT TO replace it, but want to save $125+ if I can.
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From: Monticello, Kentucky
Well to me, it came down to paying $125 for a fender, and then paying the shop to paint it. Or they could repair the tear and paint it down to the molding, a good breaking point. I've heard some local guys say repair won't hold, others say it can be fixed. It's gonna have to be painted either way so I'd say it's a break even deal there which leaves the cost in the $125 fender.
I had a crack in the front of my passenger fender...from rolling into a truck 
I went ahead and got a GM fender and had it painted by a friend for not much. It doesn't fit exactly like the stock one, but pretty darn close. I say go for a new fender!
I went ahead and got a GM fender and had it painted by a friend for not much. It doesn't fit exactly like the stock one, but pretty darn close. I say go for a new fender! I've over the years have fixed many different types of injected SMC/ABS plastic bumer covers and fenders. My personal opionon would be to buy a OEM fender, used or new. Over time, the plastic's heating and cooling will shrink the repair materials down and you'll see it. If for some reason you do repair it I would V-groove and use SEM's "Problem Plastic" to fuse it back with a nylon mesh support on the backside. Finish off with Evercoat's "FiberTech" as your filler. Thats the best materials I've yet to have good luck with. I tryed to use almost every aftermarket style fenders for camoros and T/As, but they never fit for a ****. OEM all the way!!!
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Thread Starter
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From: Monticello, Kentucky
If I have to take the fender off, I'm going to put a new one back on. I can see from underneath the car where someone had tried to repair it before. I believe I am going to buy one. BTW, I put an aftermarket on my T/A once and it actually fit nicely. If I were going to buy (an aftermarket) one, I'd probably get it from the same people.
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