A fender flare is a vehicle accessory that fits over the wheel wells of most truck and SUV models and is contoured to the vehicle’s fenders, available in a range of attractive choices. Besides adding unique touches of style to a vehicle, they can cover up rust, dents, dings, scratches, and scrapes—and protect that area of the vehicle from further damage. Plus, if the tires are large enough, they can be required by law.

This guide will walk you through the installation process.

Recommended Installation Tools

For easy installation, these tools are recommended:

• Socket Wrench
• 10mm Deep Socket
• 1/2” Socket
• 9/32” or 7mm Socket
• #2 Phillips Screwdriver
• 3/32” Drill Bit
• Right Angle Electric Drill
• Grease Pencil
• Floor Jack

Pre-Installation Preparation

Before you begin, here’s important information and helpful tips:

1. Use the hardware provided with the Enthuze fender flares during installation to maintain the warranty, and then carefully follow installation instructions.
2. Make sure the fender flares fit the vehicle. File, sand, or cut as needed for an appropriate fit. 
3. If you’d like to paint them, as mentioned in step 2, make sure you test fit them first and then clean and paint before installation.
4. Some tire-rim combinations may require the lowering of bump stops or the installation of steering stops.
5. Exhaust gases should not be vented directly on fender flares; to prevent this, modifications may be required to maintain the proper clearance (four inches).
6. Treat any exposed metal with rust-resistant paint BEFORE installing the flares. Inner-fender wells should be sprayed with undercoating AFTER the installation.
7. Remove any decals in the area before installation.

Important note: If your fender flares have the edge trim and pocket hardware already installed, please start with step three below. If they don’t, begin with step one.

Installation Instructions: Front

Step One: Edge Trim Installation

Peel the red vinyl backing from the Edge Trim tape—about two to three inches. Place the side with adhesive on the inner side of the flare at the top edge where the flare will come in contact with your truck or SUV. Then, in one-foot increments, press the edge trim along the top edge. As you work your way around the top edge, keep pulling the red vinyl backing free.

Step Two: Pocket Hardware Installation

Put a washer on each bolt. Then, place each one of these through a flare pocket hole with the head of the bolt and washer on the outside. Place and tighten nuts on the end of each one.

Step Three: Installation on Vehicle

For ease of installation, turn the front tire outward. Remove factory-installed wheel arch molding and, if applicable, mud flap fasteners. See which fasteners to remove here. You may need to use a pry tool to remove some of these fasteners.

Next, reinstall the wheel arch’s factory fastener from the rear underside and hold up the appropriate flare to confirm it will fit. Then, install screws that come with the fender flare into the two upper and lower factory holes but don’t tighten them all the way yet.

Use a grease pencil (or a marker) to indicate a hole for drilling. Use the upper rear hole in the flare as guidance. (If your vehicle came with factory-installed mudflaps, you won’t need to locate and mark that hole.)

Remove the flare so you can drill a hole in the marked spot.

Once again hold up the fender flare on the vehicle and install supplied screws in the upper and lower factory locations. Again, don’t fully tighten. Also, reinstall the factory fastener located in the front of the wheel arch molding. Don’t fully tighten. Now, install the self-tapping screw into the hole that you drilled. Push the flare towards the vehicle and fully tighten this screw.

Note: If your vehicle has factory-installed mudflaps, you won’t need to take this step. Instead, you’d reinstall the factory fastener that was removed from the mudflap.

Now, press the flare towards the vehicle and fully tighten all fasteners.

You can find more detailed installation instructions and images here. Plus, this link will provide instructions on how to install rear fender flares. Because those instructions are more detailed, the steps won’t be numbered in the same fashion as in this blog post.

Truck Fender Flares by Enthuze

Enthuze offers a wide range of truck fender flares, including for these vehicle makes, among others: 

• RAM fender flares
• Chevy fender flares
• Ford fender flares

 Enter the year, make, and model of your vehicle and then select from the search result options.

Additional Truck Accessories to Consider

Besides truck fender flares, Enthuze also provides plenty more cool accessories for your truck, including LED headlights, light bars, tonneau covers, Enthuze wheels, side steps, and more. Plus, here’s a guide to buying just the right floor liners for your vehicle.

Order Your Enthuze Truck Accessories Today

From RAM fender flares, Chevy fender flares, Ford fender flares, floor liners, and all sorts of other truck accessories that make your truck or SUV look cool and/or run better, Enthuze has what you need. Our company is constantly participating in product development so we can continually produce industry-leading aftermarket truck accessories. A product needs to be thoroughly tried and tested before it can wear the Enthuze name—and, once it does, you can count on the best value without any compromise in quality.

Our focus: Quality. Value. Customer Service.

Our products are exclusively distributed by CTP Distributors throughout Canada. CTP is Canada’s leading distributor for automotive aftermarket accessories. 

Our advice? Get Enthuzed today!