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Removing Fender Flares

7K views 11 replies 8 participants last post by  EnglishBulldog1 
#1 ·
I know this is kicking a dead horse, and I've gone through the forum and read all the threads on this, but I want to replace my fender flares. I'd like to take them off without damaging them, but it seems the nutserts keep spinning, and spinning, and spinning. I've tried to use a pair of pliers to grab from behind, and using a socket wrench on the bolt, but it's a no go. Just keeps on spinning behind.

Any clue on what to do from here, it's driving me a little crazy.

If anybody has any pictures, or videos, that would be awesome, I'm a visual learner.
 
#6 ·
The last picture was the nutserts & it looks like you got all the plastic retainers off. Use a set of channel lock (water pump) pliers to hold onto the nutserts. You'll get a much better grip with them and the screws should back right out. You can clamp down too hard with vise grips and actually hold the screws in place! Try a penetrating oil to loosen things up too. If all else fails, you can cut the nutserts off at the back of the fender & save your paint.
 
#9 ·
get some "PB Blaster" it's penetrating oil (the good stuff) spray it on there let it sit for an hour or so, then retry with the visegrip method. go to Lowe's they have clip-on nut plates to replace the bad ones. they're like 18 or 25 cents apiece. just slide the in place with the nut on the inside.
 
#10 ·
Thanks ya'll. Yeah, I read about the clip on nuts. I think that's going to be the way I go with the new fenders. I've had them since the summer, but now just getting time to work on them, they need to be sanded down and bedlined, but I had such a hard time getting the factory fenders off I figured i would do it as soon as I got a chance to do so. What a PIA! Tom, I can see how you got so upset, but I'm looking to sell mine now that I've got them off properly so i can at least make some of my money back on them. Does anybody know if Cherokees use the same flares, a buddy of mine was insisting on this the other day? Cheers, and thanks again for all the help.
 
#12 ·
So please help me out here, (NEWBE) I am new and kind of confused on this. I am in the same boat. I have all but the three closest to the door off. It appears that there is some sort of channel for these that I can hold then unscrew? I started taking these off to repaint thinking this would be a easy first project. Thanks
 
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