Need Help - x5 Fender Flare DIY Install
 

Hey Guys,

Need some tips from those of you who have installed your own Fender Flare's. I have purchased mine and tried to install them but didn't get very far. I think I'd be ok to put the rivets IN (I've purchased the rivet gun that DaRip mentioned in his thread), but I'm having a huge problem getting them OUT.

To access the rivets in the wheel well, it seems that I can't find a good tool to get in there to push the pins up. I've been reading some threads and some people said try pushing a screw or a nail and I've tried both of those, but pushing as hard as I could (with the wheels on), the rivet middle pin still wasn't pushed up hard enough to come out. I'm thinking the best way to get them out is to drill them, but my drill won't fit in that area between the fender and the tire (at least not with the wheels on). Seems like I would need a rack or take the wheels off the vehicle to access that area with a drill.

Can someone let me know if there is an easier way to access the rivets, or did you all take the wheels off (or put your x on a rack) before removing the rivets.

Thanks!

If you turn the front wheels hard to one side, you should be able to access the rivets to drill them out. You'll need to turn the wheels the other way to get the other half.

For the rears, you should be able to get at them without any issues.

If this doesn't work, you can remove the wheels (like changing a flat) and it will be easy.

Thanks wch...

Do you know if drilling them is a must, or how possible to get them out by prying with something like this? :
Amazon.com: 5 pc. No-Scratch Tools for Removing Fastener & Molding: Automotive

Probably removing the wheels wouldn't be an option for me as I'd have to buy a jack and a wrench to fit the lugs, etc. But if it's the only way, then it's the only way.

Hoping that someone had some success in the past with the prying but would like to know before I buy the tools.

flathead screwdriver to get underneath the head, then pulled with pliers

You need to push the center pin in through the rivet and then the rivet can easily be pulled out. Take a small screwdriver and a hammer and tap the center. You'll here it go in and when you take the fender off, it will be there.

Reading other posts I thought this would be the easiest way too, I tried but not enough room between the tire and the screwdriver to get a hard enough hit to push the rivet in...

Well thanks guys, I think I have enough options to at least give a few a try over the next couple days...

This will work too. It's just a lot slower than drilling them out.

I should have mentioned that it depends a bit on what wheels you have on at the moment. If you have 20" or larger, it's more difficult to access the rivets without removing the wheels.

Home Depot has a tool called an "auto punch". It is essentially a hand held punch that has a spring inside it that gives some added pressure. I think its about $6 or so? You should be able to push those pins in with this tool by hand. Then use a screw to pull the whole "beat to shit" rivet out. No prying with a screw driver needed.

OR, A simple leather/wood/metal punch will work too. It just may be more difficult to hold on to and may involve a hammer (not preferred)

Good Luck Aqua. To make it easier to remove the front fender flares just take the wheel off. I used a small Phillips screw driver that had the same or smaller circumference as the rivet pin and used a hammer to punch the rivet pin through until I heard it fall. Then I used automotive panel popper tool set that you can get at harbor freight ($5) to pull rivet out. Once you got the original fender flare off then you have to find the rivet pins that fell. I later found out by experimenting that you don’t have to push the rivet pin completely out but 3/4 in will do. Hope this helps. Oh and the back fenders are very easy to do compared to the front ones.

- DaRip