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 A common problem the off-roading ZJ enthusiast encounters is that of the larger tires rubbing up against the fenders while on the trail with the sway-bar disconnected. After carefully bending my fenders back into shape after several such occurrances, the paint finally cracked and I realized I needed a more permanent solution.
On the left are some of the tools I used: high-speed cutting tool, drill, and a die grinder. Also shown is the door molding I used to make the edges look finished. On the right, my front fender before I began preparing to trim it.
On the left is my rear fender before trimming. On the right I have drawn my line using a marker and a compass.
Here I have pre-drilled some holes to guide the cutting tool. I took a quick picture while cutting (this is a little dangerous). I recommend keeping two hands on the cutting tool while in use!
The trimmed off portion can then be easily removed. I then went over the rough spots with a die grinder. Before putting on the rubber stripping (thanks to Kevin at KevinsOffroad for the suggestion), you will want to cover the exposed metal with a sealant such as Rustoleum. The right picture shows the rear completed with 3/4" removed. You end up cutting through the pinch seam inside the wheel well near the door, so you will need to seal it off with some kind of filler to keep the elements from getting behind your rocker panels.
Here are some shots on the trail of the front, with 1" trimmed from the fender. A lot of people running larger tires and smaller lifts cut out 3+ inches. If your tires are still pulling at your fenders when you're disconnected and turning, you can always take off some more!
This is the final result after taking the time to do it right. I like to keep my daily driver looking nice, and the fenders indeed look finished. |
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