Fenders take hits from every direction: a car backing out of the next space, a garage pillar, a high curb, rocks thrown up from the road. Because a front fender sits between the bumper, hood, headlight and door, even a modest dent can throw off the gaps on all four sides.
We repair fender dents, creases and wheel-arch damage. When a fender is beyond repair, we fit a replacement panel matched to your vehicle’s make and model.
Fender damage we repair
- Door-edge dings and small dents
- Creases along the body line
- Dents and tears at the wheel arch
- Scrapes and paint damage from walls or posts
- Fenders pushed back into the door gap
- Rust bubbling at the arch lip after old damage
Repair or replacement panel?
A dent in the flat middle of a fender with unbroken paint may come out with paintless repair. Larger dents and creases are worked back into shape with hammer and dolly or stud pulling, then skimmed thinly with filler, primed and painted.
Replacement makes more sense when the metal is torn, the arch lip is crushed or kinked, old filler underneath is cracking, or the labor to straighten the panel would outweigh fitting a new one. Replacement fenders are sourced to match your car’s make and model, then fitted, adjusted for even gaps and painted.
Why wheel-arch damage needs a careful look
The arch is the edge of the fender, so it is shaped and stiffened. Damage there is harder to reshape than a flat area, and a bent arch can rub the tire when the steering is turned. We also check the inner fender liner and the mounting points, which often break in the same impact.
Front fenders
Usually bolted on, which makes replacement straightforward when repair is not practical.
Rear quarter panels
Often called rear fenders, these are welded into the body. Repair is usually preferred because replacing one is a much larger job.
Matching the paint
A repaired or new fender sits right beside the door and hood, so any color difference shows quickly. We usually blend into the adjacent panels, following the color matching and blending process we use on every refinish.
If the bumper corner took part of the hit as well, see our notes on bumper cover repair.
Get a fender estimate
Start a fender repair estimate with photos of the whole side of the car, close-ups of the damage and a shot of the wheel arch. Our shop is at 2606 Foster Ave in Nashville.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Can a creased fender be repaired?
Usually. A crease means the metal is folded, so it typically needs traditional repair and refinishing rather than paintless repair. Replacement is only needed when the metal is torn or stretched too far to reshape.
Why are the gaps around my fender uneven after a bump?
The fender may have been pushed back toward the door, or its mounting points may have shifted. Gaps are adjusted once the fender is repaired or replaced.
Is a replacement fender painted to match?
Yes. New fenders arrive unpainted or in primer and are painted to your paint code, usually with blending into the door and hood.
My tire rubs since the fender got hit. What should I do?
Avoid sharp turns and have it looked at soon. A bent wheel arch or liner rubbing the tire can damage the tire, and rubbing can also point to damage underneath that should be checked separately.
Is a rear fender the same as a quarter panel?
Generally, yes. Rear quarter panels are welded into the body rather than bolted on, so we try to repair them before considering replacement.