Front Plastic Fender Liners - Who needs 'em??

[HawkeyeC25]

Hey all,

After selling my 07.5 Sierra HD I picked up my Trailblazer and started with the front suspension lift. When I tried to get the inner fender liner out of the way to pull the upper control arm, I quickly realized this piece of plastic was just covering up a full steel painted fender liner... WHAT???? On my Sierra, you pulled the plastic fender liner as a means to access the engine from the side. So I don't really understand why there is both a painted steel liner AND a plastic liner.

Either way, since my bigger tires interfere with these plastic liners, I left them off.

My question is, for those who have removed theirs permanently, have you had any issues? They don't really seem to cover much more than the steel does (maybe a little by the exhaust manifolds).

Thoughts??

[DirtyBacon04]

only issue i've had is more dirt/mud getting in around my door hinges

[Anthony Hernandez]

//// em! Use a sawzall bro!!

[v7guy]

They'll keep road/trail grit from blasting the finish, bout the only beneficial thing I can think of. Lots of guys pull em.

[navigator]

Mine helps hold my bumper cover in place

[NC_IslandRunner]

Mine helps hold my bumper cover in place

I remeber bumper covers, don't miss them.

[DirtyBacon04]

I just want to have a garage of my own so I can mount my bumper cover on the wall

[HawkeyeC25]

I just want to have a garage of my own so I can mount my bumper cover on the wall

Haha great idea! I was wondering what to do with mine

Well, sounds like those that took them out haven't missed them. We'll see what I do when I get the steel bumper on. Just needed to find out if there wasn't something major to watch out for.

Thanks!

[navigator]

Living in the great salt North, I expect rust is your biggest issue and cleaning the salt/dirt out of all the crevices. I expect I am one of the few that still has mine.

[TBYODA]

Living in the great salt North, I expect rust is your biggest issue and cleaning the salt/dirt out of all the crevices. I expect I am one of the few that still has mine.

I still have mine for that very reason. The lovely sate of NY is fourth in road salt usage with Michigan # 1. I can see chips in the paint from small rocks becoming a big issue fast, you may want to rethink the liners.

[HawkeyeC25]

Hmm good point. Might have to put them on and trim them up to fit the tires.

[moose1]

i trimmed front and back cause i didn't think about removing them completely. i think a case could be made either way with rust potential. on one hand trimming them just allows dirt and grim build up that you can't see, with them removed you can easy see damage and stay in front of issues. either way only time would tell.

[HawkeyeC25]

What about leaving them out and hitting it with some rubberized coating? (spay liner). My painted steel looks new so I would like to prevent rust, but don't really see the need to have the plastic in there flapping around... which it probably will after being cut and not supported near the rocker OR the bumper.

[TBYODA]

What about leaving them out and hitting it with some rubberized coating? (spay liner). My painted steel looks new so I would like to prevent rust, but don't really see the need to have the plastic in there flapping around... which it probably will after being cut and not supported near the rocker OR the bumper.

I have thought about that also, so it could work. Maybe some plastic dip or bed liner. Try it out what do you got to lose just have to keep a good eye on it.

[KingBird]

3M panelbond should keep it from flapping around...

[HawkeyeC25]

Well, I drove through a ditch to check clearances of everything. With the front tires being this close to the inner fender well, I don't think I'm going to bother putting the plastic liners back in. I'll end up trimming them to the point of uselessness

I've used this product in the past on other trucks... I might try it on the steel inner front fenders.
http://www.amazon.com/3M-08882-Undersea ... ords=08882

[Jrgunn5150]

I trimmed mine back when I pulled the front bumper cover off, but they haven't ever interfered with anything.

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[HawkeyeC25]

Thanks for the feedback Jrgunn! Looking at your build thread you are running similar wheel spacers, but stock wheels which are 50mm offset. My wheels are 25mm offset so I think that extra inch is pushing my tire closer to the fender well at full lock. It's great to be able to compare other people's setups. Thanks everyone! I think I'm going to try the undercoating... When I do I'll post some pics!

[KingBird]

I ran around for a while with no front bumper cover during winter storm Goliath. 70 mph highway speeds, no bumper cover, and the inner fender liners loose from the actual bumper custom trimmed them to my tires. Well, in the front at least... Lol!

[Jrgunn5150]

If you accidentally drive into a pond, it'll look like this,